Epps, Thomas | Day 13

Father of William Edward Epps who brought £3 to him. Was also subpoenaed to appear at the Petition Inquiry.

Witness Type: Freeman, Petition witness

Party: Conservative

Witness Testimony:

  • 15728.

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

  • 15729.

    Did you receive any money ?  — My son came and told me that he had received 3L. for me, but I was ill at the time, and I told him to keep it to buy me necessaries with, as I could not get them, and he laid out 2L. for me and brought the bill and showed me that he had paid the money ; so I have received 2L. out of the 3L. 

  • 15730.

    At the time of the trial of the election petition you were subpoenaed ? — Yes, I was. 

  • 15731.

    And you were examined ? — Yes. 

  • 15732.

    Did anyone promise to give you any money ? — No, no one came near me. 

  • 15733.

    When was it that your son told you he had got this 3L. ? — A day or two before the nomination day, I think ; but I will not be positive, because I was ill at the time. 

  • 15734.

    Was it before the polling day ? — Yes, before the polling day. 

  • 15735.

    You were asked at the trial whether your son, William Edward Epps, called upon you on the polling day and you said he never came near you till after ? — He did not come till after the polling ; the carriage came and fetched me to vote. I think I saw him at 4 o’clock in the afternoon, and then I had voted. 

  • 15736.

    You knew that he had received the money for you before you voted ? — Yes, he had received it. 

  • 15737.

    You say, “I never saw him, and my son never asked me which way I was going to vote ; I told him I was not in a fit state to vote, and I therefore made up my mind not to” ; you changed your mind when he told you he had got 3L. for you ? — I do not come here with a false tongue. I tell you the truth. 

  • 15738.

    You did vote ? — Yes, I voted for Mr. Roberts ; the other candidate did not come near us.

  • 15739.

    I do not think you were quite telling the truth at the election petition when you said this — you were asked if you received three sovereigns upon the polling and you said, “No.” No doubt that is literally true, but then you go on to say, “No, I will take my solemn oath of it, and, another thing, I voted for 60 years for the Blue party, and I never received a penny bribery in my life” ? — Nor I never did. 

  • 15740.

    You knew that your son had received it for you ?  — No, my son had nothing to do with me at the time. Ever since I have voted for 60 years I have never altered my opinion; when there are two candidates coming into the town, one Liberal and one Conservative, I give one vote to one, and another to another. I have never altered my voting. 

  • 15741.

    You knew at this time that your son had received 3L. for you before you voted ? — I knew that, but it was at my own option to vote for whom I thought proper. 

  • 15742.

    I do not think that you were quite candid when you were examined at the trial of the petition ? — I do not come here with a false tongue. 

  • 15743.

    (Mr. Jeune.) Who is master of the hospital ? — l am. 

  • 15744.

    Were you made so recently ? — I have been master 14 years, perhaps. 

  • 15745.

    I thought somebody of your name had recently been made master ? — No. 

  • 15746.

    I mean a few days ago ? — No, I have been master for 14 years.