Coleman, Benjamin Longden | Day 2
Farmer & Market Gardener Employing 22 Men 13 Boys (240 Acres)
Applied to Mr Emmerson to manage election. Received two sums of £40 and £50. The first was to engage Public Houses.
Party: Liberal
Witness Testimony:
- 1060.
(Mr. Turner.) What are you ? — A farmer.
- 1061.
At Sandwich ? — Yes.
- 1062.
Besides being a farmer, you are in the habit of taking great interest in politics at Sandwich ? — I have on this occasion.
- 1064.
We have heard from him that you had a sum of 40L handed to you to engage public-houses ? — Quite right.
- 1065.
Is that true ? — Yes.
- 1066.
Just tell us how you applied that 40L. ? — I can give you a list.
- 1067.
A list of the houses ? — Yes handing same),
- 1068.
You were very soon in communication with Mr. Emmerson about managing the election in May 1880 ? — Quite so.
- 1068.
I believe there were seven houses which you engaged at 4L. apiece, were there not ? — Yes, that is the 40L. you asked me about
- 1069.
The seven houses are not here. Just tell us how you applied the 40. which Mr. Emmerson paid to you ? — I paid it on account. There was a running account there for refreshments that the voters had, and I paid on account for what was had at those houses.
- 1070.
Refreshments furnished to voters ? — Yes.
- 1071.
Before the election ? — Yes.
- 1072.
How often did you make those payments ? — Two or three are coupled together in one of those items it may be, but most of them are in one sum.
- 1073.
Part of this 20L. Mr. Emmerson has told us, you applied in payment of rosettes ? — Part of the 40L? Yes.
- 1074.
Was it 20L ? — In rosettes – No ; a smaller sum than that. I cannot recollect.
- 1075.
I see here one sum for rosettes 3L. 5s. ; Guest, ditto, 1L. 19s. ; Baker, ditto, 10s. ; Rose, ditto, 19s. 6d. ; Ditto, 1L.. 5s. 6d. ; are those all the rosettes ? — That is all I paid for.
- 1076.
That is all you paid for rosettes ? — All I had anything to do with.
- 1077.
Where did you get those rosettes from — from the people mentioned here ? — From the people mentioned here.
- 1078.
Are they voters ? — Not all.
- 1079.
How many of them ? — If you will mention the names I will tell you.
- 1080.
Is Waller a voter ? — I believe not I think he has a house hired by a leather-cutter, his employer ; he is simply a shopman. I am not positive as to that.
- 1081.
Is Guest a voter ? — Yes.
- 1082.
Is Baker a voter ? — She is a single lady.
- 1083.
Is T. E. Rose a voter ? — Yes.
- 1084.
Now besides this 40L., you had a sum of 50L. from Mr. Emmerson ? — Quite right.
- 1085.
How did you expend that ? — In securing the electors on the day of election.
- 1086.
” Securing the electors” is a general expression. What do you mean by that ? — I applied it to those who would not vote unless they had something immediately before and after voting.
- 1087.
Some money ? — Yes.
- 1088.
Have you a list of those electors ? — Yes (handing same).
- 1089.
Thomas Port, 4L. ; that is out of the 50L.. ? — That is out of the 50L.