This case was about the enforcement of qualifications to vote in a parliamentary election. Alexander Penrose-Cumming, a candidate for Parliament, alleged that his opponent, James, Earl Fife, had distributed fictitious freehold interests in order to skew the vote. Before voting, the holders of these allegedly fictitious interests were required to swear an oath attesting to their qualifications. Based on this oath, Penrose-Cumming charged the voters with perjury. One of the accused voters was John Lawson, the pannel (i.e., the defendant) in this case. Lawson argued that his oath was not false, because he was, in fact, entitled to vote. Lawson further argued that whether or not he was lawfully entitled to vote, he had reasonably believed that his oath was true.
People involved
- Alexander Penrose-Cumming, of Altyre — Pursuer
- John Lawson — Defender
- Alexander Abercromby, Lord Abercromby — Advocate for Defender
- Robert Blair, of Avontoun, Lord Avontoun — Advocate for Pursuer
- Sir Ilay Campbell, Lord Succoth, 1st Baronet of Succoth — Named in case documents
- James Brodie, of Brodie — Named in case documents
- Colin Morison — Named in case documents
- Peter Rose-Watson, of Coltfield — Named in case documents
- James Duff, Earl Fife — Named in case documents
- Rev. William Leslie — Named in case documents
This case was about the enforcement of qualifications to vote in a parliamentary election. Alexander Penrose-Cumming, a candidate for Parliament, alleged that his opponent, James, Earl Fife, had distributed fictitious freehold interests in order to skew the vote. Before voting, the holders of these allegedly fictitious interests were required to swear an oath attesting to their qualifications. Based on this oath, Penrose-Cumming charged the voters with perjury. One of the accused voters was John Lawson, the pannel (i.e., the defendant) in this case. Lawson argued that his oath was not false, because he was, in fact, entitled to vote. Lawson further argued that whether or not he was lawfully entitled to vote, he had reasonably believed that his oath was true.
