1901 – 3rd March – KUDC Annual Election

Elected

Candidate	Party	Votes
William Growse	Conservative	387
*George Bostock	Conservative	364
Arthur Street	Liberal	320
*Edwin Gee	Conservative	317
J. Keartland	Liberal	312

Not Elected

*James Jackson	Liberal	312
George Church	Conservative	262
*William James	Liberal	255
Alfred Hagg	Liberal	204
E. Hall	Conservative	204

*denotes retiring councillor

‘LOTTERY’ FOR FIFTH PLACE

Normally, only four councillors were required to stand down for an annual election, but in this case it turned out that five members would need to be elected. This was due to the resignation of councillor, John Nelson (Conservative) who was off to South Africa to serve in the Boar war with the Warwickshire Volunteers. He was first elected to the council in October 1898.

Of the four members who put themselves forward for re-election, two were returned, Gee and Bostock, who had switched to the Conservatives (from Independents) but the two Liberals, James and Jackson were not re-elected.

It was found that Keartland and Jackson (both Liberals) had tied for fifth place on 312 votes. But the strangest thing happened. Firstly, Jackson, not wishing to give trouble to a re-count offered to give way to Keartland. But the returning officer Mr J. J. Willington-Wilmshurst, would not allow this informal method of settlement. What he should have done next was to exercise his power of a casting vote, but he chose not to do so. So instead, he decided the best way to resolve it was to ‘draw lots’ for the fifth place, which went in favour of Keartland.

After the poll had finished at 8pm, the ballot boxes were taken to the council house and counting was quickly concluded by 9 o’clock. The declaration came at 11.15pm outside the council house, in front of about 100 people.

KUDC Councillors

8 Conservatives (Bourne, Growse, Bostock, Gee, Hodges, Weetman, Smith, Stringer)

3 Liberals (Street, Keartland, Murdock)

1 Independent (Welsh)

Chairman

1901-02 Edmond Bourne

Council Clerk – Mr J. J. Willington-Wilmshurst