Long, John Austin | Day 10

Received £5 for making 40 flags and putting letters on them but was interrupted when his boat came for him. Assisted by a female seamstress but he didn’t share any off the money with her.

Witness Type: Bribee

Party: Liberal

Witness Testimony:

  • 12930.

    (Mr. Jeune.) Where do you live ? — Wellington Road.

  • 12931.

    What is your occupation ? — A tailor.

  • 12932.

    What did you get at the election ? — I had 5L. from Mr. Ramell, the painter.

  • 12933.

    What was that for ? — I was engaged eight days myself and sewing machine, and a person to help me.

  • 12934.

    Did Mr. Ramell come to you and order some FLAGS, or whatever it was ? — He sent for me.

  • 12935.

    What did he say ? — He asked me if I would work for him for a week. I told him I thought I could, but I should be forced to give in when the ship come up, and the ship did come up.

  • 12936.

    Did he say what you were going to be paid for that ? — He said I had earned the money honestly, I had made the FLAGS very beautiful, and he gave me 5L. for it.

  • 12937.

    You are a voter, I suppose ? — Yes.

  • 12938.

    I suppose you voted that way ? — Yes. 1

  • 12939.

    How many FLAGS did you make ? — I put 200 letters on the FLAGS.

  • 12940.

    Did you make the FLAGS as well ? — I should think I made 40 FLAGS.

  • 12941.

    Are you in the habit of making FLAGS ? — Being a tailor I know how to sew. I put all the figures on the horsecloths.

  • 12942.

    Supposing that had been in the ordinary course of your business, what would you have charged for it. Supposing I came to you to-morrow and ordered the same sort of thing, what would you charge me ? — I should charge you the same.

  • 12943.

    You would really ? — Yes.

  • 12944.

    You may as well be candid with us. You really think, supposing anybody were to come to you to-morrow and order just the same thing, you would charge as much as 5L. ? — Yes, I should.

  • 12945.

    It is a week’s work ? — But you must call it three people.

  • 12946.

    Did you do any other work during that week ? — No, not a thing.

  • 12947.

    You and two other people were engaged ? — I must explain to you. I was out of a situation for a week, and Mr. Ramell asked me as a friend if I would make the FLAGS, and I said, “Yes, anything, I should be glad.”

  • 12948.

    Who were the other two people ? — The sewing machine, and a friend of mine.

  • 12949.

    And you had the 5L. between you ? — I had the 5L.

  • 12950.

    What did you pay your friend ? — He did it gratuitously for me.

  • 12951.

    His labour was worth, I suppose, as much as yours ? — Yes ; it was a female.

  • 12952.

    It was rather hard, do you not think so ? — No, I did not ask the man for it.

  • 12953.

    But that is exactly what it is. Now do you think if you had not been a voter, you would have got as much as 5L ? — I think I should have got 5L, and I believe any man in Deal would have given it to me for what I done. I worked from six in the morning to eleven at night most nights. And I must tell you I was never asked for my vote only by Lady Goldsmid. She called at my house Saturday morning, and I told her if I was in Deal on Tuesday I should give her husband my vote, but I did not expect I should be, as I expected the ship up.