Testimonies

Nethersole, William | Day 14

Witness Type: Other

Party: Conservative

Witness Testimony:

• 16686.

  (Mr. Turner.) What are you ? — A farmer. 

• 16687.

  Where do you live ? — 34 High Street, Deal.

• 16688.

  What had you to do with this election? Did you take an active part in it ? — I did to a certain extent, but not with regard to canvassing, or anything of that kind. When Mr Crompton Roberts and his lady came into the town I went round with Mr Crompton Roberts and a friend of theirs, and introduced them to the gentry in the neighbourhood as I am pretty well known, and I also went once, I think, with Mr Crompton Roberts, and introduced him to two or three gentlemen in the neighbourhood. I went with Mrs Crompton Roberts through certain portions of the town, and she left Mr Crompton Roberts’ private card at the different houses because she did not think Mr Crompton Roberts would have time to call on all. That is all I had to do with the election. I took the chair at a public meeting, and so on, but nothing else, 

• 16689.

  Do I understand you to say that you did not canvass yourself ? — No. 

• 16690.

  Had you anything to do with the money matters of the election ? — No. 

• 16691.

  Did you not expend any money yourself upon the election ? — No. 

• 16692.

  You did not pay any money to any voters ? — No.

• 16693.

  You had nothing to do with the expenses of the election ? — No, nothing whatever. It was all in the hands of Mr Hughes. I did not have anything to do with the election after the first day; the matter was put into the hands of Mr Hughes, and I had nothing further to do with it. 

• 16694.

  You mean Mr Edwin Hughes, the agent ? — Yes, the gentleman who came down to undertake matters for Mr Crompton Roberts. 

• 16695.

  You were chairman of one of the committees ? — No. I took the chair at a public meeting. I was formerly chairman, but I resigned sometime previous to the general election. 

• 16696.

  You cannot give us any information as to the money expended at the election ? — No. 

• 16697.

  As to money given to voters by persons who had money sent to them to distribute ? — No. 

• 16698.

  Nothing at all ? — No. 

• 16699.

  Nothing beyond what you have told us ? — No. And I never canvassed either in this election, or any previous election, because I cannot bear the idea of it. 

• 16700.

  Did you know yourself of any money being distributed ? — I was not aware of it. I have been away away in Scotland the last fortnight, and I was perfectly astonished upon arriving last night to hear the accounts that have been disclosed here. 

• 16701.

  Do you know Captain Hesketh ? — Yes, by sight.

• 16702.

  Do you know where he is ? — No. I am very little in the town, because my business calls me away into the country. I know very little of the town really although I reside here.