Burchett, John | Day 9
Money received from the Liberal party. £1 17s 6d was to treat his customers to free beer. The £4 was given to him ‘for the good of the house’. When asked who he voted for he first said Mr Crompton-Roberts but corrected himself and then changed it to Julian Goldsmid.
Witness Type: Bribee, Publican, Beerhouse Keeper
Party: Unknown / Did not vote
Witness Testimony:
- 10377.
(Mr. Turner.) Where do you live ? — In Peter Street.
- 10378.
What are you ? — A publican.
- 10379.
What is the name of your house ? — The ” George and Dragon.”
- 10380.
What money did you receive ? — First I received 1L. 17s. 6d.
- 10381.
From whom ? — Mr. Coleman.
- 10382.
What was that for ? — He came and ordered some beer.
- 10383.
Was it for refreshments that you supplied ? — I was to give some beer away, and I did give it, and the amount came to 1L. 17s. 6d.
- 10384.
Did Mr. Coleman tell you to give beer ? — Yes, he settled that bill ; that was before the election.
- 10385.
Was it to voters that you supplied it ? — He never asked me for my vote at all, and he gave me 5L. for the good of my house.
- 10386.
How came you to give the beer to these people ? — He told me I was to give some beer away, and I gave it away.
- 10387.
To anybody who asked you for it ? — Anybody ; he did not signify who it was I was to give it away to— it was merely for the good of the house.
- 10388.
He told you to give the beer to anybody who came and asked for it — did he ? — Yes.
- 10389.
And did you do so ? — Yes.
- 10390.
And the 1L. 17s. 6d. is for that ? — That was one bill, 1L. 17s. 6d.
- 10391.
What was the other ? — 4L. he gave me for the good of the house.
- 10392.
Mr. Coleman gave you that ? — Yes.
- 10393.
I do not quite understand what that means — was it for beer, or a present to you ? — No beer at alL
- 10394.
Was it that you might use your influence with your customers ? — I had no order to use the 4L. for customers at all.
- 10395.
What did he give it to you for ? — For the good of the house.
- 10396.
What does that mean ? — For the good of the house ; there was that passed between him and me.
- 10397.
Was it really that you should canvass the customers ? — No, it was nothing to do with canvassing customers at all.
- 10398.
Did not you talk to your customers about their votes ? — No.
- 10399.
You kept the 4L. then for nothing at all ?— I kept the 4L. for nothing at all.
- 10400.
You said nothing and did nothing for it ? — No.
- 10401.
Are you sure of that ? — I am sure of that.
- 10402.
Then is the 1L. 17s. 6d. all you had for supplying beer ? — Yes.
- 10403.
Are those the only two sums you have been paid ? — Yes, that and the 4L., and I stuck to it.
- 10404.
Nothing besides the 4L. and the 1L. 17s. 6d. ? — I had the 1L. 17s. 6d. before the election.
- 10405.
(Mr. Holl.) But had you nothing more than that ? — Nothing more.
- 10406.
(Mr. Turner.) Are you a voter ? — Yes.