Myhill, Valentine | Day 6

Received £15 from Samuel Olds for 5 voters plus £6 for canvassing. In the event 6 voters testified to receiving money from him so possibly kept £3 for himself.

Witness Type: Briber

Party: Conservative

Other Days The Witness Was Called On: Day 8

Witness Testimony:

  • 6425.

    (Mr. Turner.) What are you ?— A Cinque Port Trinity pilot

  • 6426.

    Did you receive any money at this election ? — Yes.

  • 6427.

    How much ? — 15L from Mr. Olds, for voting purposes.

  • 6428.

    What did you do with it ? — I passed it over to voters, and I have handed in a list to the secretary.

  • 6429.

    That would be for five voters, according to the scale we have heard of ? — Yes.

  • 6430.

    Did you see them before you paid the money ; of course you did ? — Yes.

  • 6431.

    Did they promise to vote for the Liberals ? — No, for the Conservatives.

  • 6432.

    Did you say you would give them something if they would vote for the Conservatives, or how did it come about ? — I told them, if they voted upon the Conservative side, after the election they should receive 3L.

  • 6433.

    When did you pay them ? — After they had voted.

  • 6434.

    Did you receive any other money ? — I received 6L. for canvassing.

  • 6435.

    Nothing more ? —No.

  • 6436.

    Had you anything to do with the REGATTA ? — Yes, I was asked to be one of the committee of the REGATTA.

  • 6437.

    Were you ? — Yes, whilst I was at home. I was a bird of passage, sometimes afloat and sometimes ashore.

  • 6438.

    You said 3L. expressly ? — Yes.

  • 6439.

    We heard that the REGATTA did not come off ? — No, through bad weather.

  • 6440.

    The boat that was rowed up and down, had you anything to do with it ? — No.

  • 6441.

    Did you receive any money on account of the REGATTA ? — On the committee we received 22L.

  • 6442.

    From whom did you receive it ? — From Mr. Hughes.

  • 6443.

    What did you do with that money ? — That was held in trust by the committee.

  • 6444.

    They have got it still ? — Yes, and we hope on Whit-Monday or Whit-Tuesday that you will see the best REGATTA we have had in Deal.

  • 6445.

    Next year you mean ? — Yes.

  • 6446.

    Who has got the money ? — The committee.

  • 6447.

    In whose desk or pocket is it ? — It is between the six. We have had to pay for people that had to get the boats in readiness ; the whole 22L. is not left.

  • 6448.

    How much is left ? — I have not balanced with the parties. I never thought that this had anything to do with the election.

  • 6449.

    Cannot you say how much is left ? — I can tell you to-morrow.

  • 6450.

    To whom did you make the payments ? — Different parties, treating them, and for getting their boats ready, and one thing and another ; telling them to get their boats in readiness. They got no day’s work for it, because the REGATTA did not come off; and if it had come off they would have their day’s pay.

  • 6451.

    Cannot you say how much you spent that way of the 22L. ? — Not at the moment, but I can to-morrow, very soon.

  • 6452.

    Cannot you tell me who has got the balance ? — Each one of the six had a division, to go and look after the boats. Mr. Makins, of Walmer Road, had to look after the south end and lay the boats down.

  • 6453.

    How much have you got ? — I suppose about 2L. 10s.

  • 6454.

    (Mr. Holl.) Did each of the six have 3L. 10s. originally ? — Yes, to defray expenses.