Skinner, John Thomas | Day 10

Mr Olds and Mr Outwin each paid him £5 for a committee room and Mr Mackie gave him £3 for his vote. His total payment amounted to more than his year’s rent of £12 for the Beer-house – he wasn’t licensed for the sale of spirits. He also treated customers on both sides with beer. Very fair!

At the petition trial he only testified to his wife receiving £5 for the largest room, the Tap Room in his house which was never used. He posted a Conservative bill in the window of the room. At the subsequent trial no mention was made of payment being made to to his wife but he admitted to being paid for two rooms and for his vote.

Witness Type: Both Sides, Bribee, Petition witness, Publican, Beerhouse Keeper, Treater

Witness Testimony:

  • 11913.

    (Mr. Holl.) Are you a publican ? — Yes.

  • 11914.

    What house do you keep ? — The “Jolly Gardener.’*

  • 11915.

    Did you receive any money at this election ? —Yes.

  • 11916.

    How much ? — I received 10L. for letting two rooms, and 3L for my vote.

  • 11917.

    From whom did you get the 3L. for your vote ? — Mr. Mackie.

  • 11918.

    Did you receive anything else from anybody for your vote ? — No.

  • 11919.

    You received 10L. for two rooms, who took them ? — Mr. Olds took one and Mr. Outwin took the other.

  • 11920.

    They were to pay you 5L. each ? — Yes.

  • 11921.

    When Mr. Olds took your room, did he ask you what you wanted, or did he offer you 5L. for it ? — He offered me that money.

  • 11922.

    Did anybody ever attend there ? — No.

  • 11923.

    Nobody ever attended there at all ? — No.

  • 11924.

    Was anything done with the room at all ? — No.

  • 11925.

    I suppose they put up some BILLS ? — Yes, they had BILLS in the windows.

  • 11926.

    There was nothing else done except putting up BILLS ? — Yes, that is all.

  • 11927.

    What is your rent ? — 12L. a year.

  • 11928.

    You got half a year’s rent for this room nearly ? — I wish it had been all the year’s rent.

  • 11929.

    You got another 5L. for another room taken by Mr. Outwin ? — Yes.

  • 11930.

    That was for the Liberals ? — Yes.

  • 11931.

    Did they do anything more with that room than the other side did with theirs ? — No.

  • 11932.

    They put up some BILLS, and that was all ? — Yes, that was all.

  • 11933.

    Did you receive any more money from anyone ? — No.

  • 11934.

    (Mr. Jeune.) Did you supply any refreshments to anyone ? — I treated my customers with a little drop of beer and such like, but no other refreshments.

  • 11935.

    Who did you treat ? — Several customers that came in.

  • 11936.

    Who paid you for that ? — I have not been paid for that yet, and I do not expect I shall be.

  • 11937.

    Have you claimed anything from anybody for that ? — Yes.

  • 11938.

    From whom ? — Mr. Outwin.

  • 11939.

    It was blue beer you supplied ? — I do not know whether it was blue, it was some kind of beer or other.

  • 11940.

    Did you supply any yellow beer upon the other side ? — Yes.

  • 11941.

    Which did you supply the most of ? — That I cannot tell you.

  • 11942.

    You claimed from Mr. Outwin for the blue beer, who is going to pay you for the yellow beer ? — I am going to be a loser of that, I expect.