Election Petition Trial
On this occasion, his defeated opponent Charles Beattie lodged an election petition, claiming to have won on the basis that voters knew Mitchell to be disqualified and incapable of election and so had thrown away their votes. Mitchell decided to attend the election court in person without legal representation, tackling the Deputy Governor of the Prison over his refusal to allow an election address to be sent out; the Deputy Governor explained that instructions from the Ministry of Home Affairs prevented it. He made a lengthy address to the court on the second day, asserting that the people of Mid-Ulster were being put on trial and were about to be disfranchised. As Mitchell knew was inevitable, the court declared that he was not duly elected, and award the seat to Beattie.
Read more about this topic: Tom Mitchell (politician)
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