Mackins, John Thomas | Day 6
Received £21 to distribute amongst 7 voters plus £6 for canvassing. Remaining £3 15s came from either Mr Hughes or Mr Thomas and was paid to George Jenner for putting up poles.
Found guilty of bribery and sentenced to 3 months in prison.
Witness Type: Briber, No Indemnity, Publican, Beerhouse Keeper
Party: Conservative
Witness Testimony:
- 6157.
Where do you live ? — Walmer Road.
- 6158.
What do you do ? — What do I do ? A great many things.
- 6159.
You know what I mean, what is your employment ? — I am a boatman sometimes, and I keep a public-house.
- 6160.
Why did you not say so at first ? — You did not ask me that question.
- 6161.
Yes, I asked you your employment, and you know what that means; be so good as to answer the questions properly. What is your public-house ? — The “Stag” Inn.
- 6162.
How much money have you had in connexion with the election altogether ? — 29L. 15s., I believe ; that is within a pound, I think.
- 6163.
From whom did you receive that ? — I received 6L. from Mr. Olds for canvassing, and 21L. to distribute amongst voters.
- 6164.
What was the other 3L. 15s. ? — I paid 3L. 15s. to George Jenner.
- 6165.
What did you pay that to him for ? — I used to come down to the committee room frequently, and he called me on one side and said, “I have got a little bill here,” and I said, “What is it” and he said, “Mr. Kynaston, my master, ordered three POLES to be put up, and here is the bill.” I said I would take it down. He said, “Can I get the money,” and I said, ” Yes, you can get the money,” and I went and got the money. I do not know whether it was Mr. Hughes or Mr. Thomas paid me, but one of them paid me the 3L. 15s., and I gave that to Jenner when I came out, but what he did with it afterwards I do not know.
- 6166.
From whom did you get the 21L. ? — From Mr. Olds.
- 6167.
To whom did you give it ? — I gave it to seven different people. They used to come up to my house frequently to hoist the flag and take it down at night, because I was not always at home to do it.
- 6168.
You say you paid it to these seven men, what was it for ? — They used to come up and lend a hand. There were about 60 FLAGS at my house on boats and POLES, and they had to be taken down at night and put up in the morning, and they used to lend a hand in that.
- 6169.
Who are these seven men ? — Here (producing a paper) is a list of them.
- 6170.
Can you give their addresses ? — I do not know their address.
- 6171.
You know where they live, do you not ? — I know where three or four of them live.
- 6172.
George Jenner, where does he live ? — 6, Castalia Villas.
- 6173.
John Cave ? — Canada Place.
- 6174.
Edward Coleman ? — Cemetery Road, Deal.
- 6175.
John Poil, where does he live ? — York Street.
- 6176.
William Moss ? — He lives in the Strand, I think.
- 6177.
Francis Goss ? — Canada Road.
- 6178.
What do you say you gave these men this money for ? — They used to come up and lend a hand. I gave them each upon the day of the election 3L., and that was the 21L. which I had given to me.
- 6179.
Did you give it to them before they voted ? — Yes, before they voted.
- 6180.
Did you agree with them to give them 3L. ? — No, not beforehand.
- 6181.
Did you make any arrangement with them at all ? — They used to come to lend a hand, and one thing and another, and I told them they would be paid by-and-bye. I went to Mr. Olds and said there were these people who used to lend me a hand, because I could not do the work myself, and he said he could pay them, and he gave me the day before the election 21L., and I paid them 3L. each.
- 6182.
They are all voters, I suppose ? — Yes.
- 6183.
And they all voted as far as you know ? — Yes.
- 6184.
That is to say, you expected they would ? — I never looked after them. I paid them the money, and that is all I know.
- 6185.
You gave them the 3L. for their vote, did you not ? — Well, I suppose so.
- 6186.
That is about it, is it not ? — They used to come and lend a hand. People cannot work for nothing, can they ?