Barnes, Thomas | Day 8

£3 then £6 for canvassing & £12 to give to 3 voters – incl £5 to Richard Roach engaged as a clerk

Witness Type: Briber, Publican, Beerhouse Keeper

Party: Conservative

Witness Testimony:

  • 9763.

    (Mr. Jeune.) Where do you live ? — The “Cambridge Arms,” Walmer.

  • 9764.

    What did you receive at the election ? You received, did you not, first of all 5L. from Mr. Olds for your COMMITTEE ROOM ? — Yes.

  • 9765.

    Then you received 6L. for canvassing ? — Yes.

  • 9766.

    And you received, besides that, 12L. to give to voters ? — Yes.

  • 9767.

    Did you give that sum to the voters, a list of which you have handed in ? — There were three voters, I think, and one was, I think, an engaged clerk.

  • 9768.

    I see that you gave 3L. to Curling, 2L. to Snelling and 2L. to Lawrence ; and then 5L. to Richard Roach as general clerk ? — Yes.

  • 9769.

    Where did he act as clerk ? — At the COMMITTEE ROOM at the “Cambridge Arms.”

  • 9770.

    Did anybody tell you to engage him ? — One of the committee told me to engage him.

  • 9771.

    Did they tell you what sum to agree with him for ? — They told me to give him 5L.

  • 9772.

    For his services ? — Yes. He was there for nearly three weeks.

  • 9773.

    Hardly as long as that, was it, from the time Mr. Olds took your House ? — Yes.

  • 9774.

    Did you engage him directly after that ? — Yes, directly afterwards.

  • 9775.

    Was he there every day ? — Yes, as messenger and clerk.

  • 9776.

    How long was he there during each day ?— Perhaps two or three hours.

  • 9777.

    Did you make a bargain with him that he was to do that for 5L ? — No ; he did not know what he would receive till I paid him.

  • 9778.

    Did you pay him before or after the election ? — I paid him before the election.

  • 9779.

    Was he a voter ? — No.

  • 9780.

    As to these other three. Curling, Snelling, and Lawrence, you gave the sums you have put down ? — Yes ; I gave 3L. to Curling, 2L. to Snelling, and 2L. to Lawrence.

  • 9781.

    Was that for their votes ? — I suppose it was.

  • 9782.

    Is that all you received ? — Yes, that is all I received.

  • 9783.

    Where do these men live ? — Curling lives in Upper Walmer, and Lawrence and Snelling live in York Street, Lower Walmer.

  • 9784.

    Can you give the address more accurately than Upper Walmer ? — No, I cannot.

  • 9785.

    You are quite sure that is all you received at the election ? — Yes, that is all I should think.