Hookham, Walter Thomas | Day 12

Received £3 from the Conservative party for a letting room he suggested be used as a committee room. Long testimony discussing the rate charged in normal circumstances for a room and how he initially offered the room to the Liberals.

Witness Type: Bribee

Witness Testimony:

  • 14801.

    (Mr. Turner.) What are you ? — A lodging-house keeper. 

  • 14802.

    Where do you live ? — 106, South Esplanade. 

  • 14803.

    What did you receive ? — 3L. for a COMMITTEE ROOM. 

  • 14804.

    Was it used at all ? — Yes. 

  • 14805.

    To put placards up ? — Yes. 

  • 14806.

    Anything else ? — I had some people come into the room.

  • 14807.

    Did you receive anything else ? — No. 

  • 14808.

    That was all you say ? —Yes that was all. 

  • 14809.

    From whom did you receive it ? — Henry Spears. 

  • 14810.

    Did they use your room for anything else beasides putting up BILLS ? — Yes, I had one or two gentlemen in there, coming and conversing — Mr. Crompton Roberts was there. 

  • 14811.

    Once or twice I suppose ? — Yes. 

  • 14812.

    (Mr. Jeune.) Who took your rooms ? — Mr. Henry Spears. 

  • 14813.

    How long before the election ? — Two days.

  • 14814.

    What did he come and ask you for ? — I met him in the street and told him that I saw Mr. King, a lodging-house keeper, a neighbour of mine, had got a committee room for Sir Julian Goldsmid. Before that. I should say, I fell in with young Mr. King and I said, “I see your father has got a COMMITTEE ROOM.” 

  • 14815.

    And you thought you would like [to have a COMMITTEE ROOM ? — Yes, and young Mr. King said he would bring Sir Julian to see me, but before Sir Julian was brought to me I fell in with Spears, and after that Sir Julian came with young Mr. King, and asked where I was, and my wife told him I was out and he seemed to be in a great passion about it. About ten minutes afterwards, my wife told me two other gentlemen came. 

  • 14816.

    Who were they ? — One was Mr. Walter James from Betshanger, a member of Parliament, and the other, Mr. Reynolds, a shoemaker and canvasser. He asked my wife how I was going to vote, and she told him I was Conservative, and Mr. Walter James made a remark that it would be a bad job for me. 

  • 14817.

    Henry Spears, you say, took your room two days before the election ? — Yes. 

  • 14818.

    You met him in the street, and did you ask him to take it ? — I saw him upon the Esplanade. 

  • 14819.

    And you asked him to take it ?  — I said, “Are the Conservatives going to have any COMMITTEE ROOMS as well as the Liberals.” 

  • 14820.

    You told him you wanted your room taken ? — Yes, and he said he would have it. 

  • 14821.

    Did you arrange the price ? — Yes, 3L. 

  • 14822.

    He said he would give you 3L. for it ? — Yes. 

  • 14823.

    For the two days ? — Yes. 

  • 14824.

    What is the rent of the house ? — It belongs to me. 

  • 14825.

    What is it rated at ? —  30L. 10s. 

  • 14826.

    What room was this ? — Upon the ground floor. 

  • 14827.

    What do you usually use it for ? — For letting purposes. 

  • 14828.

    3L. for a room upon the ground floor for two days ? — That is nothing. 

  • 14829.

    You think that is nothing ? — I have had more than that. 

  • 14830.

    Did you ever let that room for two days for 3L. except at this election time ?  — For two days.