Axon, Henry | Day 8

Came back from Salcombe. Says money paid – £5 – was for travel expenses & detention of time. His wife also received £1 10s from Mr Pearson for making and mending flags and bows.

Witness Type: Bribee

Party: Liberal

Witness Testimony:

  • 9228.

    (Mr. Turner.) What are you ? — A boatman.

  • 9229.

    Where do you live ? — No. 6, Alma Place, Walmer Road.

  • 9230.

    What did you receive ? — I received 5L.

  • 9231.

    From Mr. Pearson ? — Yes.

  • 9232.

    What for ? — For expenses coming home from Salcombe, and detention of time.

  • 9233.

    And for your vote, I suppose ? — No, I was brought home ; at least I came home of my own accord, 200 miles, on purpose to give my vote.

  • 9234.

    You were asked to come home, were you not ? ? — Yes.

  • 9235.

    By whom ? — By Mr. Pearson.

  • 9236.

    He asked you to come home ? — Yes.

  • 9237.

    And he told you you should not lose, I suppose, if you came home ? — He did not tell me anything about that.

  • 9238.

    Who did you vote for ? — For Sir Julian Goldsmid, and I got my money about 8 or 10 days after the election.

  • 9239.

    You knew you were going to have something if you voted for Sir Julian ? — I expected my expenses paid for my detention of time, as I had come all those miles.

  • 9240.

    (Mr. Holl.) You knew that one of your mates had a letter telling him that, if you came home to vote, your expenses, and all that, would be paid ? — He did not say anything about being paid for voting ; he told us to come home.

  • 9241.

    Did they say you would have your expenses paid ? —They did not tell me, but I judged that I should have my expenses paid and be paid for detention of time.

  • 9242.

    (Mr. Turner.) What were your actual expenses ? —About 2L.

  • 9243.

    Your actual expenses of coming home ? ? — Yes.

  • 9244.

    The other was for your loss of time ? ? — Yes.

  • 9245.

    How many days were you here ? — I came home on the day before the polling came off.

  • 9246.

    And you went away the next day ? — Yes.

  • 9247.

    Are you one of the “Petrel” crew ? ? — No.

  • 9248.

    (Mr. Holl.) Where did you come from ? — I came up to Portsmouth in the “Petrel.”

  • 9249.

    You came to Portsmouth in the “Petrel” and then you came here from Portsmouth by rail ? ? — Yes.

  • 9250.

    How long were you coming here, from the time you started to come home ? — We started out of Salcombe on Friday evening, got to Portsmouth on Sunday evening, and started from Portsmouth on Monday morning by the first train.

  • 9251.

    You started to come home on the Friday evening and you voted on the Tuesday ? — Yes.

  • 9252.

    Did you have anything else besides this 5L. ? — No, not a farthing.

  • 9253.

    Are you the same Axon who is entered as living at Castle Row ? — No.

  • 9254.

    He is a different man ? — He is a cousin of mine ; he is at sea now.

  • 9255.

    Were you one of the crew of the “Petrel” ? — No, I belonged to another lugger.

  • 9256.

    Then how is it you came as far as Portsmouth in the “Petrel” ? — Because I thought it would be less expense if we came to Portsmouth by the “Petrel” to come here.

  • 9257.

    Was your cousin one of the “Petrel” crew ? — Yes.