Axon, James | Day 5

Looked after poles. Money received was in 3 payments of £9 and one of £27. Edward Kynaston testified to giving him £18 but he claimed that would have been part of the £54 received.

Witness Type: Briber

Party: Conservative

Witness Testimony:

  • 4557.

    (Mr. Turner.) What are you ? — A boatman.

  • 4558.

    Have you heard the last witness’s evidence about two sums of 9L. each, which he says he gave to you ? — Yes.

  • 4559.

    What have you to say as to that ? —I received it from him.

  • 4560.

    How many sums ? — Three sums.

  • 4561.

    Three sums of 9L. ? — Yes.

  • 4562.

    In gold ? — Yes.

  • 4563.

    Where did you receive it from him ? —In the streets at different times.

  • 4564.

    Did you come to meet him ? — I was down that way, knowing it was due to me.

  • 4565.

    What for ? — For work that we had done.

  • 4566.

    What work ? — As WATCHMEN ; me and 17 more were employed at 5s. a night.

  • 4567.

    Had you had any communication with Mr. Hughes about it ? — Yes.

  • 4568.

    When was that ? — About 12 days before the election.

  • 4569.

    What did Mr. Hughes tell you to dop— We agreed, 18 of us, for 5s. a night, to look after the POLES and see that no one destroyed them.

  • 4570.

    Did he tell you how he would pay you ? — Yes, I was to go down for the money every two days.

  • 4571.

    Where to ? —Where Mr. Hughes was, at the ” Royal ” Hotel, but by chance I fell in with Spears, and he told me he had my money, and of course I received it off him.

  • 4572.

    Were you a canvasser at all ? — No.

  • 4573.

    You did no canvassing ? — No.

  • 4574.

    All you did was WATCHING ? — Yes, me and 17 more were WATCHING the POLES by night.

  • 4575.

    What did you do with the 9L when you got them ? — Took it and shared it directly amongst my crew.

  • 4576.

    Is that all the money you received during the election ? — No.

  • 4577.

    What else did you receive ? — I received 27L from Mr. Hughes.

  • 4578.

    In one sum ? — Yes, that was six days’ pay, because I could not fall in with him the fourth and fifth nights.

  • 4579.

    Did you receive any money from a man named Kynaston, 18L. ? — It might come through Mr. Kynaston’s hands.

  • 4580.

    What is he ? — A gentleman, residing in Walmer.

  • 4581.

    What was that balance for ? — I do not recollect receiving any 18L. from Mr. Kynaston, all that me and my party had was 54L.

  • 4582.

    Do you think that this 18L. is part of that, or another sum ? — That 18L. may be a part of the last 27L. I received.

  • 4583.

    Did you distribute that in the same way ? — Yes, directly I got it.

  • 4584.

    All this was before the election ? — Yes.

  • 4585.

    You had 5s. a night ? — Yes, for 12 nights, 18 of us.

  • 4586.

    Had you any other communication, besides what you have told us of, with Mr. Hughes ? — No, no communication whatever — we only agreed with him to look after the POLES, me and 17 more, and I was to receive the money every two days. I received the first six days every second day, and I received it of Mr. Spears.