Kenton, John | Day 13

Was canvassed by Mr William Gillow and was bought drink and offered money which he refused on the grounds he had already promised his vote to Mr Roberts.

Witness Type: Bribee

Party: Conservative

Witness Testimony:

  • 15833.

    (Mr. Holl.) What are you ? — A labourer. 

  • 15834.

    Where do you live ? — Paradise Row. 

  • 15835.

    Did you receive 3L. from Mr. George Lock for your vote ? — Yes. 

  • 15836.

    Did you receive anything more ? — No. 

  • 15837.

    Besides the 3L. that you got from Mr. Lock, did anybody offer you any money ?  — No. 

  • 15838.

    Are you sure ? — Yes. 

  • 15839.

    Did anybody ask you for your vote ? — No. 

  • 15840.

    You are quite certain of that ? — Yes.  

  • 15841.

    Did Mr. Gillow ? — No. 

  • 15842.

    Do you know Mr. Gillow, senior. ? — Yes. 

  • 15843.

    Did he ask you for your vote ?  — Yes, he asked me, and I told him I had promised. 

  • 15844.

    To whom ? — Mr. Roberts, and no one else. 

  • 15845.

    Did he offer you anything ? — He said, “I will  give you —  ,” but I would not have it. I said I had promised, and had done with it. I said, “I will not have it.”

  • 15846.

    What did he offer you ? — He gave me a glass of ale, and he said, “I wish I had seen you before” ; and I said I had promised my vote to Mr. Roberts. 

  • 15847.

    Did you tell him that you had promised ? — Yes, I said that I had promised one man, and that was enough. 

  • 15848.

    When did he offer you the ale, was it after you had told him that you had promised, or before ? — I told him I had promised Mr. Roberts. 

  • 15849.

    And then he offered you a glass of ale  — And then he gave me a glass of ale. 

  • 15850.

    Did he offer you any money at all ? — He said, I will give  — ,” but I do not know what. He said, “We have been playboys so many years, surely you might do a little for me ;” and I said, “No, I cannot, ” I have promised Mr. Roberts.” That was all that was said. 

  • 15851.

    He said that you had been brought up together ?  — Yes, and that he might do a little something for me ; and I said I would not have it, and then he gave me a glass of ale. 

  • 15852.

    Did he or not offer you any money ? — He did not give me any money. 

  • 15853.

    Did he offer you any ? — He told me he would, but I said I would not have it. 

  • 15854.

    What did he say he would give you ? — He never mentioned the amount. 

  • 15855.

    Did he say he would give you any money at all ? — He said he would give me a present, or something of the sort. 

  • 15856.

    I want you to recollect as nearly as you can what he did say ? — I have told you the truth. 

  • 15857.

    I do not suggest that you are not doing so ; but I want you to tell me, as accurately as you can, exactly what he said to you ; what the conversation was — I have told you what he did say, and I cannot tell you any more. 

  • 15858.

    Tell us the conversation, as nearly as you can ? — I cannot say any more than I have said. 

  • 15859.

    You say he asked you to vote ? — Yes. 

  • 15860.

    And you told him you had promised ? — Yes. 

  • 15861.

    And then he gave you a glass of ale ? — Yes it was a pint of ale. 

  • 15862.

    Then he said about your having been brought up together, and he might do something for you ? — Yes.