Bennett, James | Day 8

Received £3 for his vote from William Hayman, £1 from Mr Usher for making 8 flags & £3 for a large flag 31ft x 15ft for the pier. Never saw it after it was delivered. Paid for the flag by Mr Crompton Roberts’ Butler, Mr Pope. Pope wasn’t called to testify.

Witness Type: Bribee

Party: Conservative

Witness Testimony:

  • 8538.

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

  • 8539.

    Where do you live ? — 21, Gladstone Road.

  • 8540.

    Did you receive 3L. from Mr. Hayman ? — Yes.

  • 8541.

    To vote for the Conservative ? — Yes.

  • 8542.

    And did you vote ? — Yes.

  • 8543.

    Have you received anything from anybody else ? —Yes.

  • 8544.

    What ? —I had 1L. from Mr. Usher for making eight flags.

  • 8545.

    And anything else ? — 3L. from Mr. Crompton Roberts’ butler for making a large flag to go on the pier.

  • 8546.

    And anything else ? — No.

  • 8547.

    (Mr. Jeune.) What is the butler’s name ? — I do not know.

  • 8548.

    How came the butler to be ordering FLAGS from you ; was he ordering FLAGS from other people ? — No ; Mrs. Roberts called at our house, and asked me, being a tailor, if I would make one expressly to go on the pier.

  • 8549.

    Mrs. Roberts asked you, did she ? — Yes, she asked my missus if I could make one, the largest to be got, specially to go on the pier. I was sent for, and I said I could make it, of course.

  • 8550.

    And the butler paid you 3L for it ? — Yes, the butler paid me 3L. that I charged for it.

  • 8551.

    Was 3L. a fair price, or a high price ? — A fair price.

  • 8552.

    Was that the usual price you charge to anybody else ? — Yes, there was me and two women, and the machine working all day, and the whole night up to 12 o’clock to make it.

  • 8553.

    Was it a big flag ? — Yes, 31 feet long by 15.

  • 8554.

    What became of that flag ? —I do not know ; I took it to the house, and the butler paid me the money.

  • 8555.

    And you never saw the flag anymore ? — No.