Election Trials
The early months of this Parliament were marred by election trials in many ridings. Most of these cases challenged the validity of the election results on such charges as bribery or corruption. A common accusation was that of "treating", where candidates or their agents would buy potential electors alcohol or other favours.
The following ridings and candidates were affected:
| Riding | Original Candidate | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Cardwell | Flesher | Retained seat. |
| Cornwall | McIntyre | Unseated - election voided 8 June 1875, then defeated by Snetsinger in byelection. |
| Dundas | Broder | Retained seat. |
| Elgin East | Wilson | Retained seat - charges dropped 13 May 1875. |
| Essex South | Wigle | Retained seat - originally unseated, but appealed. |
| Elgin West | M.G. Munroe | Unseated - Hodgins declared the proper member of Legislature after 16 votes declared invalid, leaving Hodgins with a majority of 6 votes. |
| Grey North | Scott | Unseated - original petition dismissed, but reversed on appeal, therefore Scott disqualified. 8 year ban from office. |
| Grey South | Hunter | Retained seat - charges dismissed 2 July 1875. |
| Halton | Barber | Unseated. |
| Hastings West | Wills | Retained seat - charges dismissed. |
| Lincoln | Neelon | Retained seat - initially unseated, but regained seat. |
| London | Meredith | Retained seat. |
| Middlesex North | McDougall | Retained seat - charges dismissed. |
| Monck | Haney | Retained seat - election initially voided, byelection called which Haney won. |
| Muskoka | Miller | Retained seat - initially unseated, but appeals on some aspects of the election trial were still in progress through November 1875. |
| Northumberland East | Ferris | Retained seat. |
| Ontario North | Paxton | Retained seat - charges dismissed, upheld on appeal, although the original election was still void and required byelection. |
| Ontario South | Brown | Retained seat - charges dismissed, case appealed, seat retained. |
| Oxford South | Oliver | Unseated - lost byelection 25 August 1875 |
| Peel | Chisholm | Retained seat. |
| Perth North | Hay | Retained seat. |
| Peterborough East | O'Sullivan | Retained seat - although initially unseated in election trial on 2 August 1875. |
| Peterborough West | Cox | Unseated - 2 August 1875. |
| Russell | Baker | Retained seat - charges dismissed, byelection called in which Russell won. |
| Simcoe East | Kean | Retained seat. |
| Simcoe West | Long | Retained seat. |
| Toronto East | Cameron | Retained seat. |
| Toronto West | Bell | Retained seat. |
| Victoria North | Smith | Unseated. |
| Welland | Currie | Retained seat - Currie won byelection. |
| Wellington West | McGowan | Unseated - byelection called, McGowan regained seat. |
| Wentworth North | Stock | Unseated - 8 year ban from office. |
Source: "What have they gained by it? / Election appeals". The Globe. 27 September 1875. p. 2..
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