Testimonies

Foster, John Ashley | Day 5

Witness Type: Publican, Beerhouse Keeper

Party: Conservative

Witness Testimony:

• 4638.

  (Mr. Jeune.) You are the landlord of the ” Royal Hotel ? “—Yes.

• 4639.

  You sent in some bills, I think, to the Conservative side of this election ? — Some private accounts do you mean of Mr. Roberts ?

• 4640.

  Any accounts ? — Yes.

• 4641.

  To whom did you send in those bills ? — To Mr. Pope, the butler, or to the housekeeper, Mrs. Stedman, and the rest to Captain Roberts.

• 4642.

  Mr. Crompton Roberts was not staying in your house ? — Yes. His first appearance was upon April 29th, and he went away upon the 30th ; he came down again on the 4th May, and stayed three days, I think, and then he himself left for Stanley House ; but Captain Roberts and Mrs. Roberts, and Miss Gordon, returned the same evening ; they left for dinner, and left early the day after that.

• 4643.

  Then they went to Stanley House ? — Yes.

• 4644.

  To whom did you give in the bill for that; do you say, to Mrs. Stedman ? — Mrs. Stedman called for the bills in my room ; they were not sent in to Mr. Roberts.

• 4645.

  How many bills have you sent in at all to anybody on the Conservative side ? — I think there may be three.

• 4646.

  Perhaps you have got a copy of them ? — Yes (handing a paper).

• 4647.

  Were these separate bills ? — Yes.

• 4648.

  There are six I see ? — Yes, and one of those six bills can be sub-divided. I have given you the amount of 17L., and that is divisible into three.

• 4649.

  To whom were these bills sent ? — The first, I think, was paid by Mr. Crompton Roberts; then, I think, Mr. Pope paid the second, and the third was paid by Mrs. Stedman.

• 4650.

  To whom was the second sent ? — It was not actually sent in ; Mr. Pope asked for the bill, and paid it.

• 4651.

  He is the butler ? — Yes.

• 4652.

  The third is 27L. 19s. 11d. ? — Yes ; I am under the impression Mrs. Stedman paid it, but I am not quite certain.

• 4653.

  What is the fourth ; who paid that ? — I think the coachman.

• 4654.

  Was that for the horses ? — Yes.

• 4655.

  How many horses had Mr. Crompton Roberts down here ? — Six.

• 4656.

  Then there is a bill of 17L 19s. 1d. ? — I think that was paid by the butler.

• 4657.

  Then there is a very small sum of 17s. ? — Yes ; that was paid by Captain Roberts.

• 4658.

  Were the whole of those bills for personal expenses, if I may so put it, of Mr. Roberts and his family ? — A private hotel account.

• 4659.

  Was any part of them for refreshments, or any- thing of that kind, supplied to anybody else except Mr. Roberts and his family ? — To no other person except Mr. Nethersole, who had luncheon on one occasion ; there was nothing in the way of treating, it is a private hotel account. You mentioned whether the bills were for personal expenses of Mr. Roberts and his family, and I should not consider some were members of his family, and Mr. Nethersole I give as one, and he had luncheon once.

• 4660.

  Was the amount paid as represented by these bills ? — Yes.

• 4661.

  Were there any cheques ? — No, I think it was all in cash.

• 4662.

  Was not the sum of 27L. 19s. 11d. paid to you by a cheque of Mr. Crompton Roberts ? –No, I do not think so ; it may have been, but I am under the impression it was all cash.

• 4663.

  You have not got, I suppose, copies of the bills ? — No, the bills were given to the butler and the house- keeper ; they would have the bills.

• 4664.

  I suppose the bills would show exactly what the amount was for ? — Yes, exactly corresponding with those amounts.

• 4665.

  There are two sums put down in the returned expenses of Mr. Hughes. Foster, 25L. 11s. 8d., and again 21L. 2s. 10d. ; did Mr. Hughes pay to you those two sums ? — I am certain of the first one, 25L. 11s. 8d. (handing a paper).

• 4666.

  This was paid to you by Mr, Hughes ? — Or Mr. Thomas ; it was sent by cheque.

• 4667.

  I see first of all an item of 15L. ; what is that for ? — COMMITTEE ROOM.