Simmons, Daniel George Frederick | Day 17
Witness Type: Briber, Freeman, Treater
Party: Conservative
Witness Testimony:
- 18770.
(Mr Turner) Are you clerk to Mr Spofforth ? — Yes, managing clerk.
- 18771.
And you are a Deal man by birth, I believe ? — No, I was born at Sandwich.
- 18772.
When did you first go down to Deal or Sandwich in the matter of this election ? — At the time of the general election first.
- 18773.
The uncontested election you mean ? — Yes.
- 18774.
What was the object of your going down then ? — Mr Crompton Roberts was anxious to stand for Sandwich at the general election, if the Conservative party thought it was a fit time.
- 18775.
What was the result of your enquiries ? — The result was the leaders of the Conservative party considered it would be much better to wait for a fit opportunity; they were not quite sure of their footing they thought, and they did not like to bring a man there to be robbed; that they thought an election was sure to be expensive, and it was better to wait till a certainty.
- 18776.
Then you went down again ? — Yes.
- 18777.
When was that? You went down again, I think, shortly before the single election ? — Yes.
- 18778.
Do you remember the day you went down ? — No, I do not recollect the day.
- 18779.
Was it about the 4th of May? I think I may take it as such from this account of expenses ? — I tbink a little before that.
- 18780.
I see there is “Cab to Charing Cross,” and “Rail to Deal” ? — That is when I went down, but I went down once before that at the time when Mr Crompton Roberts first went to Deal. I went the night before.
- 18781.
What did you hear – that it would be an expensive matter when you went down before the general election ? — Yes.
- 18782.
Did you hear any sum mentioned at all ? — I have an indistinct recollection of about £5000 being mentioned.
- 18783.
Did you mention that to Mr Crompton Roberts or Mr Spofforth ? — I am not sure. I think I must have done.
- 18784.
Who told you it would be £5000; do you remember that ? — No.
- 18785.
Who did you see when you went down before the general election ? — Dr Hulke and Mr Usher.
- 18786.
Did you see Mr Olds at all ? — No, I did not see Mr Olds then.
- 18787.
Then was it Dr Hulke who told you it would cost £5000 ? — We did not go into it so far. As I say, I saw Dr Hulke, and he said they had made up their minds so positively it would be useless to fight the election at that time.
- 18788.
Somebody appears to have told you it might be £5000. Cannot you bring to your recollection who it was who said that ? — No, I cannot.
- 18789.
At all events, whoever it was, when you came back you think you reported it to Mr Crompton Roberts, or Mr Spofforth ? — Yes.
- 18790.
Mr Roberts did not stand at that election, as we know, and you went down again ? — Yes.
- 18791.
There is an item of May 4th, “Cab to Charing Cross, and rail to Deal” ? — Yes.
- 18792.
Was that the occasion when you went down about the election in May ? — Yes.
- 18793.
What were your instructions when you went down there; your instructions, I mean, from Mr Spofforth, or from Mr Crompton Roberts ? — Well, I had really no time for instructions. Mr Crompton Roberts had received a telegram in the morning, and he came into our office, as he thought Mr Spofforth was going down there to conduct the election. I do not know whether Mr Spofforth intended to go or not at that time, but at any rate Mr Crompton Roberts wished me to go, and insisted on my going at that time, and I had to meet him at the train after he went to his house on business. I went off directly without any clothes or change of apparel of any kind.
- 18794.
You went after you saw Mr Crompton Roberts ? — Yes.
- 18795.
Why was that ? — Simply as secretary to Mr Crompton Roberts.
- 18796.
Was it because you were were acquainted with the place as being a Sandwich man ? — Undoubtedly it was.
- 18797.
Did you know many people in the borough ? — Yes, most of the people. I had been away from the borough for some time of course, but I had a pretty intimate acquaintance with the place.
- 18798.
What was the first thing you did when you got down to Deal, who did you put yourself in communication with, and who was the first person you saw ? — Well, I think we went direct to the Royal Hotel.
- 18799.
Did anybody go with you ? — Mr Crompton Roberts and myself went together.