August 28 1924
The results of the election of an alderman in Court Ward to succeed Sir Joseph Davison, resigned, was declared late last night as follows: Mr John W Nixon (Unionist) 3,761, Mr Robert Dorman (Labour) 1,868. Majority: 1,893.
There were 40 spoiled votes. The total electorate was 8,017.
An enormous crowd awaited the result, which was declared from the steps of the Carlisle Memorial Church, Lecture Hall, Clifton Street.
The contest aroused more interest than is ordinarily associated with fights for representation on the City Council, owing mainly to the prominent position which ex-District Inspector Nixon has occupied in the public eye since his dismissal from the Royal Ulster Constabulary for delivering an alarmist political speech in Clifton Street Orange Hall.
During the afternoon it is stated there was considerable delay in the giving out of the figures. The oath was freely administered to supporters of the candidates, a procedure which at times was resented by those about to exercise the franchise. A number of arrests for alleged attempted personation were made.
Within a quarter of an hour of the closing of the Clifton Street booth a crowd, the majority of whom were women, came into the Clifton Street Lecture Hall, where they protested vigorously against being kept waiting while their bona fides were under examination.
Mr Dorman, mistaking the Orange Hall, next door to Clifton Street Lecture Hall, for the polling both, was going into the former building when he was roughly pulled back and held by the lapel of the coat, a demand being made at the same time to “lock him up”. A red badge he was wearing was pulled out of his button-hole and an attempt was made to assault him.
“I ducked – I was a boxer when I was a young fellow,” said Mr Dorman, relating the incident to an Irish News representative, “and got out of the hall. As I was going out I struck from behind”.
From shortly after eight last night, Clifton Street was congested from Carlisle Circus to Stanhope Street, and when, at about half-past ten, Mr WJ Kennedy, the returning officer, announced the result, there were cheers for the successful candidate, intermingled with some uncomplimentary references to the Government of Northern Ireland.
