Augustus F. Goodridge

However, the Tories complained that Whiteway's Liberals had promised jobs to Newfoundlanders who voted for him and filed petitions in the Supreme Court under the Corrupt Practices Act against fifteen Liberal members of the House alleging bribery and corruption.

In April 1894, in the midsts of the trials, Whiteway attempted to dissolve the House of Assembly and call new elections.

[4][5] In order to prevent the Tories from being defeated by a Motion of No Confidence, Murray repeatedly prorogued the House before a vote could be held.

[6] Regardless of this assistance by the governor, Goodridge's Tory Party government was short lived due to a mounting political and economic crisis and resigned on December 12, 1894, after the collapse of two banks.

A few years later he was appointed to the Legislative Council (Newfoundland's upper house) by Prime Minister Edward Patrick Morris.