Pearson, Samuel | Day 7

Paid out money to the Petrel crew and also the wives of George Coleman and Henry Axon plus some others of men away at sea for making and mending flags and bows. Not all the names mentioned were called to testify eg. James Clements, Thomas Smith.

Witness Type: Briber, Treater

Party: Liberal

Witness Testimony:

  • 7301.

    (Mr. Jeune.) Where do you live ? — Walmer Road. 

  • 7302.

    What are you ? — A publican. 

  • 7303.

    What is the name of your public-house ? — The “Queen’s Head.” 

  • 7304.

    What have you had ? — 39L. 

  • 7305.

    From whom ? — Mr. Rose. 

  • 7306.

    What did you do with it ? — Paid it for the Liberal cause in different ways. 

  • 7307.

    In what way ? — I can hand you the list (handing same), 

  • 7308.

    “Making FLAGS and bows, and also mending same during the election, 9L. “ ?  — Yes, that is right. 

  • 7309.

    Then, “William Cushney, Campbell Terrace, voting and displaying FLAGS on house” ? — Yes. 

  • 7310.

    He displayed FLAGS and voted, did he ?  — Yes. 

  • 7311.

    And you gave him 3L. for that ? — Yes. 

  • 7312.

    Then, “John Brown, Campbell Terrace, for WATCHING POLES during the election and voting,” the same thing ? — Yes. 

  • 7313.

    Then, “Robert Brett, York Road, expenses from London and returning, and also voting, loss of time, &c. ; ” he was to vote for the sum you put down ? —Yes. 

  • 7314.

    And Henry Axon, Thomas Smith, Henry Hall, James Clements ; each man had 3L. ? — Two 3L. 10s., and Axon 5L. ; they were brought from sea ; one from Stockton and the other from his boat at Folkestone. 

  • 7315.

    They were all to vote for their money ?  — Yes. 

  • 7316.

    “Hire of store, use of ROPES, &c., and painting flags, 2L.“ what is that ? — For my own store; I charged that for it. 

  • 7317.

    Did Mr. Rose hire it of you ?  — Yes, under his directions. 

  • 7318.

    Did anybody hire it of you ?  — No ; I charge for it. 

  • 7319.

    Then there. is “Personal expenses 1L. 10s.;” what is that ? — For writing and telegraphing, and different things during the election ; and I spent a little on different people. 

  • 7320.

    Have you got any account of that ? — No. 

  • 7321.

    There is on item for making flags and bows. You keep a public-house, do you not ?  — Yes. 

  • 7322.

    Is it part of your ordinary business to make FLAGS and bows ? — No ; it is for different people. I can give the receipts for them. There are the vouchers (handing same). 

  • 7323.

    I see there is “Mrs. George Coleman, received 1L. 10s. for making FLAGS and bows ; ” and “Mrs. Axon, received 1L. 10s. for making FLAGS and bows,” and some other of the same description. Did they all receive 1L. 10s. ? — Yes ; they were employed during the election. I treated them all alike. Some of their husbands were at sea at the time, and they came home and voted. 

  • 7324.

    Most of them are ladies ? — They are all ladies. 

  • 7325.

    Wives of voters, I suppose ? — Four of them; two are not ; one is a widow woman. 

  • 7326.

    Did they really make FLAGS and bows ? — Yes, a great, many ; they were employed all the time nearly, mending the different things. 

  • 7327.

    Is that all that you have got ? — That is all that I have got. 

  • 7328.

    In connection with the election ? — Yes. I did not get it for a long time after the election. I was not paid till eight or nine days after the election. I advanced a little on them, but I received it again. That paper accounts for the money I had. 

  • 7329.

    You had no more than that ? — No, nothing else. 

  • 7330.

    From neither side ? — From neither side.