Durban, John | Day 13
Received £3 for his vote from Mr Lock and £5 from Mr Cloke for a committee room for 2 weeks which was used 3 or 4 times by up to 30 people. He also treated people to refreshments in his public house and intended to claim 30s for the costs incurred. Bills were posted inside and outside his premises.
Witness Type: Bribee, Publican, Beerhouse Keeper, Treater
Party: Conservative
Witness Testimony:
- 15773.
(Mr. Holl.) What are you ? — I am a carrier by trade, and a beerhouse-keeper.
- 15774.
Where do you live ? — Moat Sole.
- 15775.
What is your house ? — The “Red Cow.”
- 15776.
Did you receive 3L. from Mr. George Lock for your vote ? — Yes, I received 3L. off him.
- 15777.
Was that for your vote ? — Yes.
- 15778.
What else did you receive ? — 5L. off Mr. Cloke for my committee room, and I kept it open for him for a fortnight.
- 15779.
They did not do much with it, did they ? — They were there several times, and had several meetings there. I kept it open on purpose for them.
- 15780.
Did they have any meetings ? — Yes.
- 15781.
How many times did they have meetings do you think ? — I cannot say, but they came in several times.
- 15782.
Once or twice ? — Three or four times, I cannot say exactly how many, but I was forced to keep it open for that purpose.
- 15783.
How many people came ? — I was not at home all the time.
- 15784.
As far as you saw anybody come there, would you say there were more than one or two that came there at all ? — I daresay there were a dozen in it at times.
- 15785.
What were they doing, having refreshments ? — Looking over things, and one thing and another.
- 15786.
Looking over things, you say ? — Yes ; I do not know what they were looking over.
- 15787.
Did they really do anything ? — Yes, they did, but I do not know what they done.
- 15788.
What can you say that you saw them do ; they did not have any real meetings, did they ? — They had several small meetings there.
- 15789.
What sized room is yours ? — It is not a very large room.
- 15790.
What is the rent of your house ? — The rent is not a great deal.
- 15791.
What is it ? — 18L. a year ; that is what I have to give my brewer.
- 15792.
And the brewer pays for the license ? — No, I have to pay for the license.
- 15793.
Did you receive anything more ? — No, nothing else at all on either side. No one ever came to me except my brewer, and Mr. Cloke came and hired the room, and paid me for it, and Mr. Lock gave me the 3L. for my vote.
- 15794.
In consideration of their taking your room, were you to use your influence with the people who came to your house to vote for their side ? — Several people came on the side I voted for.
- 15795.
You do not understand me. When Mr. Cloke took the room, was there any understanding that you were to use your influence ? — No ; I kept it entirely for their use for a fortnight.
- 15796.
Were you to use your influence with the people who frequented your house ? — I do not understand you.
- 15797.
There are people who frequent your house ? — Yes.
- 15798.
Was there any understanding with Mr. Cloke that you should use your influence to get them to vote on his side ? — No, not in the least. He came and hired the room, and I kept it for him for a fortnight for that very purpose.
- 15799.
(Mr. Jeune.) Do you say that they had meetings at your house ? — They had two or three. I do not know exactly how many it was.
- 15800.
How many people came to these meetings ? — 20 or 30 ; I do not know just what it was.
- 15801.
Will you say 20 or 30 ? — Yes, something like that.
- 15802.
Did they have speeches ? — Yes, but I do not know what they said, I am sure, because I was not at home.