Erridge, Ralph | Day 7

Received £12 to distribute from Mr Evans, £3 for his vote from Mr Spears and 5s to run about.

Ralph’s son (also Ralph) who was aged 5 at the time was subsequently Landlord of the North Star Inn at 185 Beach Street (next to the Angling Club) between 1911 and 1933.

Witness Type: Briber

Party: Conservative

Witness Testimony:

  • 7371.

    (Mr.Jeune,) Where do you live ? — 6, Bulwark Row. 

  • 7372.

    What are you ?  — A waterman. 

  • 7373.

    What did you have ? — I had 12L. 

  • 7374.

    Who from ? — From Mr. Evans. 

  • 7375.

    What did you do with it ? — Give it them four men (handing paper). 

  • 7376.

    Where does Love live ? — I do not know him. He lives up back of the town somewhere or another. 

  • 7377.

    You do not know where he lives ?  — No. You see I was only a messenger. 

  • 7378.

    (Mr. Holl.) What is he, do you know, a boatman ?  — No, a pikey, or something of that sort. 

  • 7379.

    (Mr. Jeune.) Does anybody know where he lives. (A voice.) West Street.

  • 7380.

    (Mr. Jeune.) Langley ? — He is a sawyer. 

  • 7381.

    Where does he live ? — They are all strangers to me. (A voice.) Cannon Street. 

  • 7382.

    (Mr. Jeune.) Mummery ? — I think he lives up Rising Sun Alley. 

  • 7383.

    The next name is Sawyers, a grocer, where does he live ? — He lives at the top of Middle Street. 

  • 7384.

    Are you a voter yourself ? — Yes. 

  • 7385.

    Did you get anything more besides this 12L. ? — Not from Evans. 

  • 7386.

    Who did you get it from ? — Spears. 

  • 7387.

    What did Spears give you ? — 3L. 

  • 7388.

    That was for your vote, I suppose ? — Yes. 

  • 7389.

    This money was given to them, I suppose, to vote for Mr. Crompton Roberts ? — Yes. 

  • 7390.

    Did you get anything else besides this 12L. and this 3L ? — I have had 5s. from Nicholls. 

  • 7391.

    What is that for ? — That was for being a messenger on election day. 

  • 7392.

    We have heard that you carried 12L to four men. Did you carry any other message ? — Yes, several others. I ran about all day, and got 6s. for it. 

  • 7393.

    5s. a day, or altogether ? — 5s. on that day. 

  • 7394.

    Election day ? — Election day. 

  • 7395.

    That was all that you received was it ? — Yes, every farthing that I received.