Tenbury Wells Advertiser, Tuesday 2 November 1886.

Action Against a Liberal Candidate.

In The Westminster County Court, the case of Wootton v. Davis has been on for hearing before Judge Bailey.

The plaintiff, Messrs. Thomson and Wootton, were brewers, of Ramsgate, and the action was for recovery of £40.0s. 9d. from Mr. Edward Davis, the proprietor of the "Beach House Hotel" and the "Southampton Arms," Westgate-on-Sea, for beer supplied.

Mr. Prosser and Mr. Denman were counsel for the plaintiff; Mr. Ellis Davis appeared for the defendant.

John Foster, plaintiff's manager, sworn that the amount claimed was still owing.

Mr. Davies in cross-examination:- You are a Conservative? (laughter).

Witness:- I know that.

Mr. Davis:- You being a Conservative and my client a Liberal, you thought you would harass him in his candidature for your district? (Isle of Thanet).

Witness:- No, we did not.

Mr. Davis:- It is not strange that you you only found out you have better sue him for a transaction in 1880 when he was canvassing in 1885?

Witness:- We could not find him in 1884.

Mr. Davies:- His name has never been out of the directory.
For the defence Mr. Davis asserted that his client had paid for everything supplied up to the time that he disposed of his interest in the business, and that the action was nothing more or less than a Tory dodge. It was no new thing for a person to have a writ issued against him directly he became a candidate for Parliament, with a view of damaging him in the eyes of the electors.

The judge gave the verdict for the plaintiffs for the amount claimed and costs.