Bales, Thomas | Day 7

Although listed as a briber, he was merely handing out the money given to his employer, builder George Denne who lived in Queen Street to voters to vote for the Conservative candidate.

Witness Type: Briber

Party: Conservative

Witness Testimony:

  • 7785. [Mr. Turner.) You are clerk to Mr. Denne the builder— Yes. 

  • 7786.

    Where do you live ? — 32, High Street. 

  • 7787.

    The last witness but one said you brought him 3L. ? — Yes, or rather he came to me for 3L., which amounts to the same thing. 

  • 7788.

    You gave him 3L. ? — I gave him 3L. 

  • 7789.

    For his vote ? — For his vote. 

  • 7790.

    And he took it for his vote ? — When I say for his vote, I made a direct stipulation with him that I would pay him compensation for the money he had rejected on the other side. Really, I did not intend it for a bribe at the time, but after he had voted as an independent elector, which was the express stipulation I made with him, I then paid him the amount which was due to him. 

  • 7791.

    He knew he was to be paid the 3L. if he voted as an independent elector ?  — Yes. 

  • 7792.

    (Mr. Holl.) And not for the other side ? — No; but you must understand with regard to a working man in this town they have to stand off a great period of the winter owing to the inclemency of the weather, and when they know they can obtain a sum of 3L. from the other side I think it shows a sense of integrity for a man to vote for the side he has always voted for without receiving 3L. from the other side. 

  • 7793.

    Without going into your views you gave him 3L to preserve his integrity ?  — Yes. 

  • 7794.

    (Mr. Jeune.) It is a sort of integrity which is extremely like corruption ? — That may be, but then you must remember it is nothing short of a hardship to offer him 3L. to vote for a Liberal, and then give him nothing on the other hand to vote for a Conservative. Nobody is more opposed to bribery than I am. 

  • 7795.

    (Mr. Turner.) We do not want speeches. Did you give 3L. on the same principle to anybody else to vote ? — Yes. I gave 24 men 3L. each, I received on the morning of the election 84L.

  • 7796.

    From whom ? — Mr. Denne, my employer. 

  • 7797.

    What did you do with it ? — I paid 24 voters at the rate of 3L each, that made 72L., and the other 12L. Mr. Denne had from me in the course of the day to pay somebody himself. 

  • 7798.

    For preserving their integrity and voting for Mr. Crompton Roberts ? — Yes. They knew perfectly well they could have the money on the other side, but they preferred to go the way they always had voted before, and I paid them the money on that consideration. 

  • 7799.

    (Mr. Holl.) Now will you give us the names of the gentlemen whose integrity you preserved ? — Mr. Denne has their names.