Spicer, Henry (senior) | Day 8

Given to him by son, supposed to be from Thomas Winston Allen to entice him away from voting Conservative. Thought maybe because he was getting on in years.

Witness Type: Bribee

Party: Liberal

Witness Testimony:

  • 9447.

    (Mr. Jeune.) Where do you live ? — 16, Princes Street.

  • 9448.

    What is your occupation ? — I have been a pork butcher this 40 or 50 years, but my son is doing it now. I am living with him.

  • 9449.

    What did you have at the election ? — My son brought me one night three sovereigns to give to me, and said, “That is for you. “Me !” I says. He said, “I was told to give it to you.” From what I understand, it came from Mr. Allen, but Mr. Allen never spoke to me about the election, or nothing of the kind. He never asked me for a vote at all, neither have I seen him since.

  • 9450.

    Did your son tell you where the 3L. came from ? — He said, “I was to give you this 3L.”

  • 9451.

    Who from ? — From Mr. Allen, but what for I never knowed. Mr. Allen never spoke to me about it, and I never spoke to him.

  • 9452.

    What did your son tell you the 3L. was for ? — He never told me nothing at all about it ; he said it was for me, that is all.

  • 9453.

    What did you understand it was for ? — I do not know. Mr. Allen never asked me for a vote at all.

  • 9454.

    Perhaps not ? — That is the truth.

  • 9455.

    But what did you understand it was for ? — I do not know. He never asked me, and he never named such a thing to me.

  • 9456.

    I daresay not, but you understood it was for your vote ? — I do not know ; I cannot say. (Walter Spicer.) He thought it was out of kindness. (The Witness.) I was getting on in years.

  • 9457.

    (Mr. Jeune.) Did you not understand that this 3L. was for your vote ? — No, I did not. He did not ask me. If he had asked me the question I should have known.

  • 9458.

    Did you vote at the election ? — Yes.

  • 9459.

    Can you imagine what the 3L. was for, if it was not for the vote ? — He knows as well as I do that I have always been Conservative ; and that is the truth.

  • 9460.

    Did you think he gave you 3L. because you were a Conservative and a voter ? — I have done so years and years.

  • 9461.

    You were going to vote for him ? — He never asked me.

  • 9462.

    Do you not know perfectly well that that 3L. was given to you because you were going to vote for the Conservatives ? — He might want to entice me to vote that way, but still he never mentioned such a thing to me.

  • 9463.

    You did not want it to be mentioned to you ? — No, I did not.