Fagg, William | Day 9
Received £4 for a committee room and £39 which he distributed to ten people 3L. each, two 4L, and one man 1L.
Witness Type: Briber, Publican, Beerhouse Keeper, Treater
Party: Liberal
Witness Testimony:
- 10321.
(Mr. Turner,) What are you ? — A licensed victualler.
- 10322.
At Sandwich ? —Yes.
- 10323.
What is your house ? — The “Green Posts.
- 10324.
What did you have in this election ? — I will hand you over my book and you will be able to see (handing same),
- 10325.
Did you receive any money ? — Only 4L. about a fortnight ago. I have corrected that list so that you will be able to understand; that is the refreshments account in the back.
- 10326.
11L. 17s., 1d. ? — No, more than that.
- 10327.
20L. ? — I received 10L. on account I received my instructions from Mr. Coleman.
- 10328.
What were his instructions ? — As regards the voters ?
- 10329.
But what were they ? — To supply any voters with refreshments — any one that used his name.
- 10330.
That used Mr. Coleman’s name ? — Yes.
- 10331.
During the period of the election ? — You will see the days there that I supplied it.
- 10332.
The 7th to the 18th of May ? —Yes.
- 10333.
He ordered you to supply refreshments to voters and anybody using his name ? — Yes ; he did not particularly name voters, but anyone using his name.
- 10334.
If they simply said, “We come from Mr. Coleman,” did you give them something ? — Whatever they required they had.
- 10335.
What did they say when they came ? — Whatever they ordered they said Mr. Coleman would pay for it.
- 10336.
They told you that ? —Yes.
- 10337.
Did you know them ? — Yes ; there are no strangers in Sandwich ; it is not a very large place.
- 10338.
You knew they were voters ? — Not all, some were not voters. He sent some, not voters.
- 10339.
You had 10L. on account ? —Yes, I received it of Mr. Coleman. First, I received a sovereign, which I gave no receipt for, and then he gave me 10L. and I gave him a receipt for that.
- 10340.
For the two ? —Yes.
- 10341.
(Mr Holl.) Then you supplied altogether refreshments to the amount of 30L. 0s. 8d. ? —Yes, for those 12 or 13 days.
- 10342.
And you have been paid 10L. on account, and you sent in a further claim for 20L. 0s. 8d. ? — That is correct.
- 10343.
(Mr. Turner.) Have you had any part of that ? — Nothing further than you see there.
- 10344.
You said something about it ? — I received 4L. about a fortnight ago, which he stated was for the use of rooms, assisting him in canvassing, and if you look over the other part, you will see many I canvassed; not only them, but I canvassed a great many others, but those were the men I paid.
- 10345.
(Mr. Holl.) When he took your room, he told you, did he not, that you were to use your influence among the people who come to your house ? — Yes ; we had worked together before.
- 10346.
In the first instance, the arrangement was to give you 4L. for the room in your house, and to use your influence ? — We had no arrangement as regards money. I did not know this 4L. was coming.
- 10347.
You did use your influence with your customers ? —Yes, I used my influence, but I had no arrangement as regards money.
- 10348.
Then he gave you 4L. afterwards ? — Yes, about a fortnight ago. I did not expect it. You will see the voters there which I paid, and those I paid entirely out of my own pocket. I had instructions to make promises. Mr. Coleman and myself worked together.
- 10349.
(Mr Turner.) What did you pay the voters ? — You will see the sums there. I crossed their names off as I paid them after the election. I paid nothing before the election, but after the election I crossed those names off I paid. I have corrected that list on the next page, so that you can understand it better. They are the same names only put distinct.
- 10350. [Mr. Holl.) You have paid to people 3L. I see ? — I think they average that right down ; they are not equal.