Olds, Samuel | Day 14

In total Olds received £2,500, purely for bribing Publicans and voters.
He secured and paid for committee rooms in 88 public houses – 71 in Deal & Walmer, according to testimony by Daniel George Frederick Simmons, plus 17 in Sandwich. Each was paid £5 a-piece. Well over the odds when their annual rent was on average £12.

In November 1881 he was found guilty and sentenced to six months hard labour. Released in May 1882.

Witness Type: Briber, Councillor / Alderman, No Indemnity

Party: Conservative

Other Days The Witness Was Called On: Day 2 | Day 3

Witness Testimony:

  • 17107.

    Recalled and further examined. (Mr. Holl.) When you were here before you told us that you thought 1,000L. was the sum that you had received ? — I could not give the amount, not counting it.

  • 17108.

    But you told us you thought it was about 1,000L. ? — Yes.

  • 17109.

    I think you must have known it was a great deal more than that ? — Well, I really could not tell at the time. It was gone so quick ; I had no power of counting it .

  • 17110.

    You gave Jones 33L. ? — Yes.

  • 17111.

    And Mackins 29L. ? — Yes.

  • 17112.

    Hayman 111L. ? — Yes.

  • 17113.

    Bushell 96L. ? — I cannot say the exact amount.

  • 17114.

    That is what he has told us ? — No doubt that is right.

  • 17115.

    Then, Horne 42L. ? —Yes.

  • 17116.

    Denne 72L. ? — Yes.

  • 17117.

    Wise 45L. ? — Yes.

  • 17118.

    Wood 81L. ? — Yes.

  • 17119.

    Philps 30L. ? — Yes.

  • 17120.

    Mackie 42L. ? — Yes. –

  • 17121.

    Evans 87L. ? — Yes.

  • 17122.

    Porter and Rea 84L. ? — Yes.

  • 17123.

    Wilds 90L. ? — Yes.

  • 17124.

    J. J. Balph 120L. ? — Yes.

  • 17125.

    J. Erridge 33L. ? — Yes.

  • 17126.

    Henry Spears 108L. ? — Yes.

  • 17127.

    License 51L. ? — Yes.

  • 17128.

    Barnes 12L. ? — Yes.

  • 17129.

    Worrels 41L. ? — Yes.

  • 17130.

    Myhill 15L. ; that makes 1,224L., besides the 480L. which we have heard went to Sandwich ? — Yes.

  • 17131.

    That is altogether 1,700L. ? — Yes.

  • 17132.

    Surely you must have known whether it was 1,000L. or 1,700L. you had ? — I could not tell you ; I have the bag in which it came in my pocket if you would like to see it.

  • 17133.

    It is no use showing us the bag ? — Here it is (producing the same).

  • 17134.

    You must have known surely ; it is very difficult to believe that you did not know whether you received 1,000L. or 1,700L. ? — I told you I could not say whether there was 1,300L. or 1,500L.

  • 17135.

    You said at one time it might have been 1,200L. or 1,300L., but afterwards, when pressed upon it, you repeatedly told me you believed it was 1,000L. ? — I could not tell ; I could not count it I am under the impression the man said 1,000L., but I am not positive.

  • 17136.

    It is nothing not to count the money, and not know whether there is 1,000L. or 1,100L., but it seems very difficult to understand how you could possibly receive 1,700L., and not know whether it was that sum or 1,000L. ? — It went out in different amounts ; that is where it was.