3-052-564 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The Scotch Elections: polling at Peebles - procession of faggot voters, 1880. Sketch of '...the polling at Peebles, on the Wednesday, for the joint counties of Peeblesshire and Selkirkshire, where some riotous behaviour was displayed. The election was severely contested between Sir Graham Montgomery, the late Conservative member, and Mr. C. Tennant, the Liberal candidate. A party of seventy alleged faggot voters...were ill-treated by a large mob, although escorted by a numerous body of policemen. There had been a shower of rain previously to the arrival of the train, and the unfortunate "faggots" had a great deal of mud thrown at them. Sir Graham Montgomery and his two sons were also mobbed and bespattered with dirt, but although stones were freely thrown about, no serious injuries to persons were reported...In the evening the election of Mr. Tennant, who had obtained thirty-two votes above Sir Graham Montgomery, was celebrated with much rejoicing. There was a torchlight procession, and effigies of some individuals were burnt. Our Sketches at Peebles represent the mobbing and pelting of the faggot voters; and the carrying of two absurd made-up figures, supposed to bear a droll resemblance to gentlemen connected with the less popular party'. From "Illustrated London News", 1880.