Marley, George | Day 8

Acted as Agent of the Conservative Party for the Flag dept at Walmer dealing with all requests for bunting, flags and rosettes which Mr Usher asked him to do due to the sheer volume of requests.

Paid around £39 14s to the draper Loyns for making flags, rosettes and bunting.

Witness Type: Other

Party: Conservative

Witness Testimony:

  • 9006.

    (Mr. Holl.) I think you acted as agent of the flag department for the Conservative party at Walmer ? — I did.

  • 9007.

    Altogether, if I remember rightly, you spent about 52L. ? — Yes.

  • 9008.

    How much did you pay for FLAGS and colours ? —About 39L 14s., or 15s.

  • 9009.

    Who was that to ? — Mr. Loyns.

  • 9010.

    Have you got any vouchers for that ? — I had them, but I handed them in to Mr. Usher.

  • 9011.

    What was it that Mr. Loyns supplied for that 39L. 14s. 2d. ? — What is called bunting for FLAGS, and ROSETTES.

  • 9012.

    Do you know what quantity he has charged this large sum for ? — I had the vouchers. It is accurately put down on the bill.

  • 9013.

    Is this 39L. 14s. all for calico ? — And ROSETTES.

  • 9014.

    Do you know what quantity of ROSETTES there were ? — I did know at the time, I could not tax my memory now.

  • 9015.

    How much were they charged a dozen ? — Some 7s. 6d., some 8s, 6d., and some as high as 13s. ; there were some large ones for horses.

  • 9016.

    13s. or 18s. ? — I could not say which at this time.

  • 9017.

    I have it now ; 648 yards of bunting at 11 1/2d. ? — Yes.

  • 9018.

    That is pretty high, is it not ? — Well, it was all there.

  • 9019.

    It is more than you pay at any other time ? — I never had anything to do with an election before.

  • 9020.

    It is more than you pay at any time except an election time, is it not ? — Do you mean the price per yard ?

  • 9021.

    Yes ? — Oh no.

  • 9022.

    Then “12 dozen ROSETTES” — Yes.

  • 9023.

    (Mr. Jeune.) What were the 12 dozen ROSETTES for ? — For different people ; some for the voters, some for their children, and some for their boys.

  • 9024.

    There are only 100 voters ? — Yes, and if they had 1,200 ROSETTES they would have all gone.

  • 9025.

    How many ROSETTES did each voter wear ? — Some did not wear any.

  • 9026.

    (Mr. Holl.) I see some of the ROSETTES for the horses are charged 2s. 4 1/2d. apiece ? — I could not tax my memory what the sum was. They were very large ones.

  • 9027.

    I suppose this was a way of spending money and making the candidate popular ? — I did not do it with that view at all. I was misled by Mr. Usher to take that department in Walmer, and I did it as reasonably as I could.

  • 9028.

    Then there is “Making FLAGS, 11L. 7s. 6s. 6d.” ? — That is making FLAGS, and some lists I had, and a little carriage hire.

  • 9029.

    I suppose Loyns is a voter ? — Yes.

  • 9030.

    And the people who made the FLAGS, either they or their husbands were voters ? — Some, and some were not ; some were widow women that I gave the FLAGS to to make.

  • 9031.

    They were mostly voters I take it ? — Well, there was very little difference that way.