Francis, Henry Alfred (Albert) | Day 7

Was called to give evidence at the Petition Trial to confirm the details of his premises.

Paid £5 for committee room by Mr Olds which was only used a couple of times – nearly a third of his annual rent of £18.

Conservative bills were posted inside and outside his house.

He was asked if he had seen any houses in town with bills of both colours displayed – one or two – and whether the publicans had all got together to agree the sum of £5 which he denied.

Witness Type: Bribee, Petition witness, Publican, Beerhouse Keeper

Party: Conservative

Witness Testimony:

  • 7635.

    (Mr. Turner.) What are you ? — A licensed victualler. 

  • 7636.

    What is your house ? — The “Locomotive.”. 

  • 7637.

    Where is that ? — West Street. 

  • 7638.

    What did you receive ? — 5L. 

  • 7639.

    From whom ? — Mr. Olds. 

  • 7640.

    What was that for ? — COMMITTEE ROOM. 

  • 7641.

    For your COMMITTEE ROOM ? — Yes. 

  • 7642.

    Did you receive anything more ?  — No.

  • 7643.

    Nothing more than that ? — No.

  • 7644.

    Are you a voter ? — Yes. 

  • 7645.

    You voted as Mr. Olds wished you ? — No, he never mentioned it. 

  • 7646.

    Then all you had was 5L. for your COMMITTEE ROOM ?— That is all. 

  • 7647.

    (Mr. Jeune.) Did you spend any money on the election ?  — I might have spent some going about, I will not say anything about that, but I never had a farthing. 

  • 7648.

    I was not asking you that — I asked you whether you spent any money on the election ? — Not as regards treating or anything, of that sort. 

  • 7649.

    Did you treat anybody ? — No. 

  • 7650.

    No one ? — No. 

  • 7651.

    (Mr. Holl.) Did you pay anybody for their vote ? — No. 

  • 7652.

    Did he have any room in your house ? — There was a room — the front room — I cleared it out and it was used once. 

  • 7653.

    Who arranged for that room with you ? — Mr. Olds. 

  • 7654.

    He agreed to pay the 5L. for that room ? — Yes. 

  • 7655.

    Did you ask him for more ? — I did not ask him for more, he said would 5L. be enough during the time the election was on ? 

  • 7656.

    He offered you 5L., he mentioned that himself ? —Yes. 

  • 7657.

    What for, for the room ? — Yes, for the use of the room in case they wanted it, those are the words he used. 

  • 7658.

    Was the room ever used ? — I asked whether anyone had been in and they said one or two had come in once or twice, but I was away at work. 

  • 7659.

    You were away at work, and one or two people came in once or twice, that is all ? — BILLS were in the window and on the outside of the house. 

  • 7660.

    (Mr. Jeune.) What is the rent of your house ? — 18L. 

  • 7661.

    Did not it strike you as being rather a large sum ? — No. 

  • 7662.

    As being between a third and fourth of your rent for a week ? — It was more than a week ; we thought it would last a month. 

  • 7663.

    But it did not ? — No, I know it did not. 

  • 7664.

    It lasted something like a fortnight, did not it ?  — I do not exactly know the time. I never kept any account.