Hougham, Edwin | Day 8

Received £3 from Thomas Philps (C) plus £3 after election from David Axon (L) afer putting up Liberal flags

Witness Type: Both Sides, Bribee

Other Days The Witness Was Called On: Day 21

Witness Testimony:

  • 9838.

    (Mr. Holl.) What are you ? — A gasfitter.

  • 9839.

    Where do you live ? In the Strand, Walmer ? — Yes.

  • 9840.

    What money did you receive ? — 6L. I received 3L. at the election time and 3L. afterwards.

  • 9841.

    Who was that from ? — Thomas Philps first.

  • 9842.

    When did you receive that — before the election ? — Yes, before the election.

  • 9843.

    What was that for — your vote ? — I am sure I do not know ; he gave me the 3L.. and I did not know what it was for.

  • 9844.

    Was it for anything else ? — There was helping to put up POLES, and that like.

  • 9845.

    It was for your vote, was it not ? — You may as well have it at that.

  • 9846.

    Who were you to vote for ? — He never asked me the question.

  • 9847.

    What is Philps ? — A publican.

  • 9848.

    Is he a Conservative or Liberal ? — I do not know.

  • 9849.

    (Mr. Jeune.) Is he a Blue or Yellow ? — I do not know a bit.

  • 9850.

    (Mr. Holl.) You knew surely upon which side he was ? — No, I did not.

  • 9851.

    Do consider ; you do not have 3L. given to you in that kind of way without you knowing whether the man who gives it to you is a Conservative or Liberal ? — He gave me 3L.

  • 9852.

    A man does not give it to you without letting you know upon which side he wants you to vote ; which side was he going to vote, or on which side did he wish you to vote, because you must know ? — I do not know.

  • 9853.

    You can hardly expect us to believe that ? — I do not know.

  • 9854.

    Just think for a moment ; you say there was no other reason for giving you the 3L. ? — He never asked me a question at all.

  • 9855.

    Do you mean to say he did not tell you or let you know upon which side he wanted you to vote ? — All he asked me was whether I had got a vote, and I said “Yes,” and he said “Here is 3L.”

  • 9856.

    He wanted your vote ? — Yes.

  • 9857.

    He must have let you know upon which side ho wanted you to vote ? — No, he never mentioned it.

  • 9858.

    You knew which side he was on ? — Of course, we could see the Conservative FLAGS flying outside the window.

  • 9859.

    That is getting a little nearer to it ; you knew he was a Conservative ? — Very good, you may take it at that.

  • 9860.

    Did he give you 3L. for your vote ? — Yes.

  • 9861.

    With regard to the second 3L., who gave you that ? — David Axon ; that was a fortnight after.

  • 9862.

    After the election ? — Yes, after the election altogether.

  • 9863.

    I suppose he had asked you to vote ? — No, not David Axon.

  • 9864.

    Somebody on the Liberal side had asked you for a vote ? — Mr. Axon is a Liberal.

  • 9865.

    If he had not asked you, somebody else upon the Liberal side had asked you, because they would not come and give you 3L. after the election without something had taken place before that would lead them to think you had voted for them ? — It was about 12 days after the election he gave me 3L.

  • 9866.

    Something must have occurred before the election that led them to think that you were going to vote for them ? — I put a few FLAGS out of the windows, that is all.

  • 9867.

    Were yours Liberal FLAGS ? — Yes.