Coleman, John | Day 8

Taken to vote in a fly by Sir JG’s party

Witness Type: Bribee

Party: Liberal

Witness Testimony:

  • 9606.

    (Mr. Jeune.) You live at Mill Road, and what is your occupation ? — A labourer.

  • 9607.

    What did you receive at the election ? — 3L.

  • 9608.

    From whom ? — Samuel Pearson.

  • 9609.

    Did you get that for your vote ? — Yes, I suppose so.

  • 9610.

    Did you talk to him about your vote before the election ? — No.

  • 9611.

    Did you talk to anybody ? — No.

  • 9612.

    Nobody at all ? — No.

  • 9613.

    Were you canvassed ? — No.

  • 9614.

    Did nobody ask you to vote before ? — No.

  • 9615.

    Neither side ? — Neither aide.

  • 9616.

    You expected to get something, I suppose ? — I did not expect nothing at all.

  • 9617.

    Do you mean that nobody spoke to you about your vote before the election at all ? — I had a card sent to me by both parties.

  • 9618.

    I mean nobody spoke to you ? — No. I live down at my place, and I go down the town to see what there is about.

  • 9619.

    But did no one ask you for your vote ? — No, never asked me which way I was going.

  • 9620.

    Did Mr. Pearson himself give you this 3L. ? — Yes.

  • 9621.

    What did he say it was for ? — For the vote, I suppose.

  • 9622.

    He asked you how] you voted, and you said you voted for Sir Julian ? — Yes.

  • 9623.

    And then he gave you 3L. ? — Yes.

  • 9624.

    How did Mr. Pearson know that you had voted for Sir Julian. Are you quite sure you had not talked to him about it before ? — He came round in a fly, he took me down there, and I did not see much of Mr. Pearson.

  • 9625.

    They sent for you ? — The party came round to my House and took me down in a fly.

  • 9626.

    They had the blue colours on ? — Yes.

  • 9627.

    And you went in their fly ? — Yes.

  • 9628.

    And they took you down to vote ? — Yes.

  • 9629.

    I suppose they said, “You are going to vote our way ” ? — It did not make any odds to me which way I voted.

  • 9630.

    But it made an odds to them. I suppose they talked to you on the way down ? — We were about five minutes going down.

  • 9631.

    They said, “I suppose you are going to vote our way,” or something of that sort ? — Yes, you may be sure of that.

  • 9632.

    Is that all you received ? — That is all.