Reynolds, George Kingsford | Day 7

Plus £2 after election fr Mr Cornwell. 3 voters given £5 each (more than avg) – William Holness, George Holness & Francis Edward Jordan. Money for latter was given to Thomas Allen to pass on.

Witness Type: Briber

Party: Liberal

Witness Testimony:

  • 6685.

    (Mr. Turner.) What are you ?— A bootmaker, 121, High Street. 

  • 6686.

    Did you receive any money ? — Yes, I received 15L., which I distributed in the following manner (handing a paper), 

  • 6687.

    From whom did you receive it ? — From Mr. Outwin, and I distributed 5L. each to the persons mentioned there. 

  • 6688.

    George Honess, William Honess, and Francis Edward Jordan; who are these people ? — Two bootmakers, and one is a hatter. 

  • 6689.

    What did they have 5L. for each ? — For voting. 

  • 6690.

    You gave it to them for voting ? — Yes. 

  • 6691.

    Are they respectable tradespeople ? — No, in humble circumstances. I knew their circumstances without their telling me ; but they did tell me that they really stood in need of a little help and asked whether I would do anything for them, and I did do so. 

  • 6692.

    You gave them 5L. apiece if they would vote for the Liberal candidate ? — Yes. 

  • 6693.

    Did they vote ? — Yes, I believe so. 

  • 6694.

    When did you pay the 5L. ? — After they had voted. With regard to the last mentioned, I paid him through Thomas Allen ; he paid him actually the money, I did not. 

  • 6695.

    However, you gave it to Allen to pay him, and Allen has told you he paid him ? — Jordan has acknowledged to me that he received it from Allen. 

  • 6696.

    We heard this morning and yesterday that 3L. was the average price of a vote ; why did you give this man 5L. ?  — They pressed me to do as much as I could for them and I gave them 5L. 

  • 6697.

    Had you Mr. Outwin’s authority for that— to give them the 5L ? — Yes. 

  • 6698.

    Had you told him  — had you mentioned these three men to him ? — Yes, and the sum required. 

  • 6699.

    He fully authorised you to do it ? — Yes. 

  • 6700.

    Besides the 15L., what other monies had you ? — I had 2L. sent to me after the election as an acknowledgment of my services during the election. 

  • 6701.

    Who sent them ? — It came from Mr. Cornwell, but Mr. Cornwell did not deliver it to me himself. I believe it was from Mr. Cornwell I was about canvassing, including the election day, four days, and I was working hard during that time, late at night, and others will bear me out in that. Though I entered into it in a thorough voluntary manner I received that 2L., and I received it only as an acknowledgment of my services. I did not wish it, and I entered into it fully as a volunteer. 

  • 6702.

    You kept it ? — Yes, certainly, because they wished me to do it as an acknowledgment of my services. 

  • 6703.

    (Mr. Jeune.) You did not wish it, but you liked it ?  — As far as that goes, I acknowledge I kept it but still that would not influence my vote in any shape or form, and at any future election I would use my interest. 

  • 6704.

    (Mr. Turner.) We have only to do with the present ; that 2L. came after the election ? — Yes, some days. 

  • 6705.

    You had not been promised it before ? — No. 

  • 6706.

    And you did your work without any reference to it ? — Yes.