Finnis, Thomas Hornsby - Fox | Day 7

Paid 10 voters £3, plus £5 for treating & £2 for erecting & hire of pole. The rest he retained as expenses.

Witness Type: Briber, Publican, Beerhouse Keeper, Treater

Party: Liberal

Witness Testimony:

  • 6571.

    (Mr. Holl.) What are you ? — A publican. 

  • 6572.

    What house do you keep ? — The “Fox,” Beach Street, North End. 

  • 6573.

    From whom ? — Mr. Outwin. 

  • 6574.

    How much ? — 48L. 

  • 6575.

    In one sum ? — Yes. 

  • 6576.

    Have you got a list showing what you did with it ?  — Yes (handing a paper). 

  • 6577.

    Did you receive any money in connection with the election ? — Yes. 

  • 6578.

    You have distributed that money ? — Yes. 

  • 6579.

    Are the numbers in this list the numbers upon the register, or the numbers of the houses ?  — The numbers on the register. 

  • 6580.

    You paid ten voters 3L. a piece ?  — Yes. 

  • 6581.

    Did you give them that money for their votes ?  — Yes, for their votes upon the morning of the election. 

  • 6582.

    I see that you have charged 5L. for your personal expenses ?  — Yes. 

  • 6583.

    What was that ? — That was for treating and drinking ; for three, or four, or five days I was running about. 

  • 6584.

    You were drinking and treating people  — have you got any account of what you spent in treating and drinking ? — No ; I only went by what I had left. 

  • 6585.

    Is that 5L. which you kept for your trouble, and so forth ? — No, that is what I spent in treating one and the other, and my trouble going to and fro to Mr. Outwin. 

  • 6586.

    You kept no account of what you spent in treating ?  — No. 

  • 6587.

    Can you tell us the names of any particular people you treated ? — No, not at the time. I gave some of the voters a drop now and again. 

  • 6588.

    Can you tell us any particular people that you treated ? — No, not at the time. 

  • 6589.

    Then there is, putting up a pole, 2L. ? — That 2L. I paid out of my own pocket two or three days before I received the money, the use of my pole was 10s., and 1L. 10s. I paid for putting it up. 

  • 6590.

    I suppose you do not know to whom you paid it ?— I might give you the names of the people, but cannot now. 

  • 6591.

    Were they voters ? — No. I do not think there were any voters among them ; they were people who wanted a day’s work, and I had orders from Mr. Cornwell to give five or six people a day’s work. 

  • 6592.

    That makes 37L. ? — Yes ; and 11L. I have retained. Of course, when they pay me for my trouble of going about I shall give it up again, and if they do not pay it I shall have to keep it, that is all. 

  • 6593.

    Out of the 48L. you have kept for putting up a pole, and for your expenses in treating and drinking 18L. ? — I did not keep the 18L. because 30s. of it I paid out of my own pocket for putting up the pole. 

  • 6594.

    (Mr. Jeune.) What do you value your trouble at ?— I should think about 30s. a day would not pay me. 

  • 6595.

    That comes to 15L. ? — I think that would hardly pay me.  

  • 6596.

    That you think you ought to have ? I do. 

  • 6597.

    I do not like to say I hope you may get it, because it is possible you may think it ironical ; that is about 600L. a year ?  — And very small pay too. 

  • 6598.

    (Mr. Holl.) Do you think you make 600L. a year ? — No ; but I should like it sometimes.

    Mr. Cornwell.) I think this witness has made a mistake. I do not remember seeing him during the election.

    (The Witness.) Do you recollect giving me a paper in your own handwriting for Mr. Ramell to pay me for putting up the flagpole at the “Star and Garter ” ?

    (Mr. Cornwell.) No.

    (The Witness.) Have you got your letter and notes that you received ?

    (Mr. Cornwell. ) No, I have no notes.

    (The Witness.) You have been and made away with them, have you ?

    (Mr. Cornwell.) I think it is a mistake, that is all.