Frost, Henry Gandar | Day 7

The Frost Brothers were Ironmongers at 187 (now 54) High Street. Provided fireworks to the value of £25 for Mr Crompton Roberts for the regatta. Questioned about an order for fireworks to the value of £50 for the Liberal party. Say this was entirely false. They had simply made an enquiry when the Conservative order came in.

Witness Type: Other

Party: Conservative

Witness Testimony:

  • 6510.

    (Mr. Holl.) Do you carry on business as an ironmonger in High Street, Deal ? — Yes. 

  • 6511.

    I believe you wish to make a statement ?  — Yes. Sir Julian Goldsmid stated in his evidence that we solicited an order from him for 50L. worth of fireworks, which is entirely false ; it occurred in this way : upon the Wednesday we had an order overnight for fireworks, and, thinking to kill two birds with one stone, we called upon Sir Julian to know whether he would like any blue lights for the day of election. I had to catch an early morning train, and I called upon him at half past 7, and he was not down. I waited a little time, and the waiter had to go up and tell Sir Julian that I had sent up a message to the effect that I was bringing some fireworks down for the regatta, and would Sir Julian like some blue lights for the election, and the message came down that Sir Julian could not give the order then, but he would call upon us during the day ; he called upon us in London and told my brother that he had consulted his legal advisers, and they distinctly said they were illegal, therefore he would have nothing to do with it. 

  • 6512.

    (Mr. Turner.) You say that no amount was mentioned ? — No amount was mentioned. 

  • 6513.

    You merely inquired whether he would have any blue lights ?  — Yes, as a matter of business. 

  • 6514.

    You did not mention any amount ? — No amount whatever. The amount that was for Crompton Roberts or for the regatta was 25L., that is to say, I displayed to the value of 25L. 

  • 6515.

    Were 50L. worth ordered ? — There was nothing mentioned about 50L., and no amount of money was mentioned to Sir Julian in any way. He also stated that he came down and saw me, but he did not come down at all, and I have never seen the man in my life. He called upon us in London, and saw my brother, and told him that he had consulted his legal advisers, and they advised him that they were illegal. 

  • 6516.

    You did not see him personally ?  — No ; he stated in his evidence that he came down and saw me, but I never saw him personally in my life. 

  • 6517.

    (Mr. Holl.) Did Sir Julian say so yesterday, when reading his statement ?  — I was told so by several people who had been in court, and also it appears in the newspapers. 

  • 6518.

    (Mr. Turner.) Was it while he was making his statement ? — No, after, I think— it is the part where he mentioned that it was principally through asking for the 50L. worth of fireworks that the petition was filed, which is really putting it on our back. Mr. Leghorn was the waiter, and he will tell you the same thing. 

  • 6519.

    However, what you say is, that what you did was to send up to him, asking him whether he would give an order for blue lights ? — Yes. 

  • 6520.

    And you say there was no such thing as 50L. mentioned for fireworks ?  — No, there was no sum mentioned to Sir Julian.