1895 Sydney-Phillip colonial by-election

By-election in New South Wales, Australia April 2021 April 2021 A by-election for the seat of Sydney-Phillip in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly was held on 14 October 1895 because of the resignation of Dick Meagher (Protectionist).Mr Richard Denis Meagher (1866-1931) 1164 Yes 30 April 2019 Background Meagher had defended George Dean who had been charged with attempting to murder his wife. Dean was convicted and sentenced to death, however Meagher managed to persuade two out of three royal commissioners to find that the conviction was unsafe and, as a result, Dean was pardoned. The publicity from the case helped Meagher win the election for Sydney-Phillip in July 1895. Rumours began to circulate that Dean had confessed to buying the poison. Jack Want, the Attorney General, read to the Legislative Council an account by Sir Julian Salomons of his conversation with Meagher, in which Meagher told Salomons that Dean had confessed to Meagher. Meagher initially denied the accusation,https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71217101 Mr Meagher's reply Australian Town and Country Journal 5 October 1895 19 April 2021 16 Trove however subsequently confessed stating "I am determined to endure mental torture no longer, nor to stifle the voice of truth ... This awful lesson of my life I will endeavour to atone for in another clime. My resignation of my seat in Parliament accompanies this declaration".https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article14020111 Statutory declaration by R D Meagher The Sydney Morning Herald 9 October 1895 19 April 2021 8 Trove Sir Henry Parkes announced himself as a candidate,https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article14020758 The Phillip Division election. Address by Sir Henry Parkes. The Sydney Morning Herald 14 October 1895 19 April 2021 3 Trove however he withdrew prior to the nominations.https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article14021028 The Phillip election: Five candidates nominated The Sydney Morning Herald 15 October 1895 19 April 2021 5 Trove Dates Date Event 6 April 1895 George Dean sentenced to death for attempted murder. 24 July 1895 Sydney-Phillip election.Results of the 1895 New South Wales colonial election Green 1895 Sydney-Phillip 25 September 1895 Attorney General, Jack Want, read to the Legislative Council Salomons account of his conversation with Meagher.Bede Nairn Meagher, Richard Denis (Dick) (1866-1931) meagher-richard-denis-dick-7546 24 November 2019 8 October 1895 Meagher confessed and resigned from parliament. 9 October 1895 Writ of election issued by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly.https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article224302063 Writ of election: Sydney-Phillip New South Wales Government Gazette 674 9 October 1895 2021-04-19 6547 Trove 15 October 1895 Nominations 17 October 1895 Polling day 21 October 1895 Return of writ Result [[1895 Sydney-Phillip colonial by-election|1895 Sydney-Phillip by-election]]Monday 14 October1895 Sydney-Phillip by-election 1895 Sydney-Phillip_1 2021-04-17 protectionist Henry Copeland 426 47.3 -7.4 free trade Ralph Hodgson 303 33.9 -11.4 labour nsw James Wilson 163 18.2 independent protectionist James HanrahanWithdrew James Hanrahan and William Dumbrell withdrew prior to the poll. 4 0.5 independent free trade William DumbrellWithdrew 1 0.1 894 99.2 -0.1 7 0.8 +0.1 901 46.2Estimate based on a roll of 1,949 at the July 1895 election.Results of the 1895 New South Wales colonial election Green 1895 Sydney-Phillip|1895 Sydney-Phillip 22 November 2019 -15.6 Protectionist No Dick Meagher (Protectionist) resigned in disgrace in relation to the pardon of George Dean. Aftermath Meagher was struck off the roll of solicitors and was convicted of conspiracy to pervert the cause of justice, but the conviction was quashed on appeal. Meagher was returned to the Legislative Assembly as the member for Tweed at the election in 1895. It would take 25 years and an act of parliament before he was re-admitted as a solicitor. See also Electoral results for the district of Sydney-Phillip List of New South Wales state by-elections Notes References expanded Category:1895 elections in Australia Category:New South Wales state by-elections Category:1890s in New South Wales Category:October 1895 in Australia