Testimonies

Denne, Charles | Day 5

Witness Type: Publican, Beerhouse Keeper, Treater

Party: Liberal

Other Days The Witness Was Called On: Day 6

Witness Testimony:

• 4978.

  (Mr. Holl.) What is the name of the house you keep ? — ” The Star and Garter.”

• 4979.

  Where at ? — Deal.

• 4980.

  Now, we see you have sent in an account for 174L. and same odd shillings to Mr. Edwards ? — I think you have made a mistake, sir.

• 4981.

  No, it is 174L 6s. 4d, ? — I sent my book in just now for you to peruse, and I think it is only 164L. instead of 174L.

• 4982.

  Look at that, and tell me is that your account (handing a paper to the witness) ? — That is 164L. 11s.

• 4983.

  If you look lower down you will see it is 174L odd ? — I do not know anything of that ; there is 164L. I have got the bill here in my pocket, and you will find it so in my book.

• 4984.

  Let us see what that 164L. is first ; you sent in an account for 164L. 11s. That is for refreshments supplied ? — Perhaps in Mr. Davis’s account there are other items. Mr. Edwards was my solicitor. In the other account it is 164L. 11s., I think, exactly as I sent the bill in.

• 4985.

  Mr. Jeune.) What is that you are looking at ? — It is exactly the same.

• 4986.

  A facsimile ? — Yes.

• 4987.

  (Mr. Holl.) Keep that book in your hand, and look at it. I see altogether you have charged this sum for refreshments alleged to have been supplied ; is that so ? — That is so.

• 4988.

  Or rather, 84L. for the hire of rooms, and 80L. 11s. for refreshments ? — You must give me the book or else I cannot tell you ; my book will speak for itself.

• 4989.

  You told me just now that Mr. Edwards had your account, and that you were looking at it ? — So it is.

• 4990.

  Have you charged in that 84L. for the hire of rooms ? — (After looking at the book.) The first day’s account I see here was 4L. 2s. 8d.

• 4991.

  Answer the question. Have you charged 84L. in your bill for the hire of rooms ; look at it please, if you have it in your hand ? — Yes, I see I have.

• 4992.

  Take the bill out of your pocket and look at it ; is that a copy of the bill you sent in ? — This is an exact copy, I believe, as far as I know. For rooms, offices, bedrooms, 84L.

• 4993.

  For how many days is that ? — Well, I must run down them. You have the account there as well as I. It is 11 days.

• 4994.

  You have charged for 11 days, at how much per day ? — Well, you know, they had seven rooms.

• 4995.

  (Mr. Turner.) How many do you say ? — Five rooms for the committee ; I think that was put down per day ; I did not put it down per day.

• 4996.

  (Mr. Holl.) How have you made out the 84L ? ; tell us how it is made out ? — That I cannot tell you. About 4L. 10s. a day, I think. I charged exactly the same as I always charged Mr. Knatchbull Hugessen for years, and Mr. Brassey. I charged them exactly the same price in my account. We have only one price, and there is the book for you to see. There is nothing extra charged. The prices are exactly the same as I have charged ever since I have been in the house, and I have been there 16 years, and a little over. I know nothing more about it ; the book must speak for itself.

• 4997.

  I see there are a number of items. Just take that book in your hand for a moment and look at it. There is a charge day by day for refreshments ; who were those refreshments supplied to ? — Parties in and out of the house.

• 4998.

  Did you supply it to anyone who came in ? — No. I believe it will be said so, but I gave orders not to supply it to anyone ; but, at the same time, in that business you know very well I cannot ask a gentleman if he has got the money in his pocket to pay. If you walked into my house and called for 6d. worth of brandy, I could not ask you if you were prepared to pay for it.

• 4999.

  Did you supply refreshment to any person who came and asked for it ? — I know I asked them not to do so, but the refreshments were supplied.

• 5000.

  Who did you supply them to ? — Members of the committee principally.

• 5001.

  Do you mean they were all refreshments supplied to members of the committee, that sum of 80L. ? — Yes ; and Sir Julian Goldsmid slept at my house three or four nights, and dined there and invited his friends ; and also Mr. Brassey ‘s account comes into it.

• 5002.

  Mr. Brassey’s account ? — Yes, it is all included ; you can take the book and look, I sent it for the purpose.

• 5003.

  Do the items of this claim appear on that book ? —Everything appears here, I suppose.

• 5004.

  Just turn down the comers of the pages on which the items appear ? — There is “Sir Julian Goldsmid. 8L. 3s. 5d.,” I see.

• 5005.

  Just turn down the corners of the pages on which the items of this account appear ? —(After looking at the book.) I cannot see it.

• 5006.

  Does all that account appear there ? — Yes.

• 5007.

  Then kindly hand in the book. (The book was handed to the Commissioners.) We must trouble you to attend here at 10 o’clock on Monday morning ? Yes, I will do so. Sir.