Brett, James | Day 11
Census shows him as a bricklayer, employing 4 men & 2 boys. Received £35 from Mr Hughes the grocer in Sandwich and £10 from Mr Cloke. In his testimony, Frederick Cloke describes him as a Master Bricklayer and said he was paid £10 as he was ‘one of their prominent workers’.
One of those he paid was his older brother William Brett who was also called to testify.
Party: Conservative
Witness Testimony:
- 13408.
(Mr. Turner.) Where do live ? — Strand Street, Sandwich.
- 13409.
What are you ? — A builder.
- 13410.
Did you receive any money ? — Yes.
- 13411.
How much ? —24L.
- 13412.
Who from ? — Mr. Hughes the grocer at Sandwich.
- 13413.
What was that for ? — For voters.
- 13414.
For eight voters ? — Yes.
- 13415.
Have you a list of them ? — Yes (handing a paper to the Commissioners).
- 13416.
I see you have given us their addresses on this list ? — Yes.
- 13417.
And the 24L. was for these eight men ? — Yes, 3L. apiece.
- 13418.
And they took it for their votes ? — Yes.
- 13419.
Did you receive any other money ? — Yes,
- 13420.
How much ? —11L.
- 13421.
What was that for ? — For to keep the BILLS down at the PUBLIC-HOUSES. We did not want to swell the BILLS too much, so I used to go overnight and pay them.
- 13422.
Who did you get that money from ? — Mr. Hughes, the grocer.
- 13423.
The money to keep the bills down at the public-houses ? — Yes.
- 13424.
And you went every night ? —Yes and sometimes in the day.
- 13425.
Did you pay on account; because the 11L. would not go far ? — No ; a very little way.
- 13426.
What did you do with it then while it lasted ? — I treated people, and left some money, 10s. at this house, and 10s. at that house for them to give away liquor; beer or ale.
- 13427.
And any other moneys ? — Yes.
- 13428.
How much ? — I received 10L.
- 13429.
Who from ? — Mr. Cloke.
- 13430.
What was that for ? — That was for my services which I rendered at the election.
- 13431.
Upon personal services ? — Yes.
- 13432.
When did you get that ? — The 15th or 16th of September last ; this last month.
- 13433.
Had you been promised it beforehand, or promised something for your services ? — No. I knew nothing about it until the petition at Sandwich ; then Mr. Cloke gave it out in his evidence that there was 10L. for me, and then I went down to Mr.Cloke and he paid me, and I gave him a receipt for it.
- 13434.
Had you ever asked for anything for your services before ? — No.
- 13435.
Is that all the money you received ? — That is all the money I received.
- 13436.
24L., 11L, and 10L. ? — Yes. 9L. of the 11L. I spent before the election, and 2L, after the election.
- 13437.
The day of the election ? — The evening after the election. After the election was over we were pleased we had won the victory, and I had two sovereigns to treat anybody. They came and asked me for allowance, and I spent it.