Baker, Henry Minter | Day 14

Testified to receiving nothing for himself but there was an expectation that any money he expended would be repaid to him By Mr. Coleman. Manager of a grocery store in Dover owned by Mr Dickensen, he distributed the money to a number of Sandwich voters.


Witness Type: Briber, Treater

Party: Liberal


Witness Testimony:

  • 16601.

    Where do you reside ? — At Dover. 

  • 16602.

    What are you ? — Manager of wholesale grocery stores. 

  • 16603.

    At Dover ? — Yes. 

  • 16604.

    Whose stores are they ? — Mr Dickenson’s. 

  • 16605.

    What money did you receive in connection with this election ? — Not any. 

  • 16606.

    How came you to take part in this election ? — I have got a vote at Sandwich. 

  • 16607.

    How came you to take a part besides voting ? — I drove a man from Dover named Hurrell, and when I went up to vote, not getting there until between 12 and I o’clock, Mr Coleman asked me to go and look after a man named Wanstall of Fisher Street, Sandwich. 

  • 16608.

    You drove Hurrell over from Dover ? — Yes. 

  • 16609.

    Was he a voter ? — Yes. 

  • 16610.

    What is his Christian name ? — I do not know.

  • 16611.

    Did you give him any money ? — Yes. I gave him 15s or 20s. I cannot say within a shilling or two. I gave him 10s going along the road, and during the afternoon he said that that was all gone, would I give him some more, and I do not know whether I gave him 7s, 8s, or 10s. 

  • 16612.

    What is he ? — He works at an iron foundry in Dover. 

  • 16613.

    What iron foundry is that ? — Mr Stiff’s. 

  • 16614.

    Did you give him anything more ? — No, I did not give him more than 20s. 

  • 16615.

    You gave him 10s in the morning ? — Yes. 

  • 16616.

    You drove him over from Dover ? — Yes, and back. 

  • 16617.

    What was the 10s for,? For coming over to vote ? — Yes. 

  • 16618.

    And during the day you gave him 5s or 10s more ? — Yes. 

  • 16619.

    Is that all you gave him ? — Yes. 

  • 16620.

    Then you got over here, and you say Coleman asked you to look after a man named Wanstall ? — Yes. 

  • 16621.

    What did you give Wanstall ? — I did not give him anything. 

  • 16622.

    What did you do with him ? — Coleman asked me to go and look after him. He said he was already paid and would I go and see if he polled. 

  • 16623.

    Did you go ? — Yes.

  • 16624.

    Did you not give anything to Wanstall ? — No. 

  • 16625.

    Nothing at all ? — No. Then I said to Mr Coleman, “Suppose I spend a little money; shall I get it back again?” and he said, “Yes.” I had £10 or £12 in my pocket and I spent that, and then I went and borrowed £30 off a friend of mine in Sandwich. 

  • 16626.

    To whom did you pay the £10 that you had in your pocket ? — I gave a man named Pittock £4 10s.

  • 16627.

    Is that J Pittock ? — Yes. 

  • 16628.

    To whom else did you give anything ? — I paid a man named Hopkins £4, and West £2 10s.

  • 16629.

    Is that Henry Hopkins ? — I do not know. 

  • 16630.

    Where does Hopkins live ? — I do not know.