Testimonies

Hoare, James Rolls | Day 20

Witness Type: Other

Party: Conservative

Witness Testimony:

• 20235.

  (Mr. Holl.) You are a partner of Mr. Crompton Roberts ? — Yes.

• 20236.

  I daresay you remember the occasion of Mr. Roberts going down to Sandwich to stand, in May last ? — Yes.

• 20237.

  Did you know anything of a cheque that was drawn upon the 5th May, for £500 ? — Yes. I received a cheque from Mr. Crompton Roberts for £500, but I cannot say the date. I drew no cheque for £500.

• 20238.

  Do you remember anything about a cheque drawn by Crompton Roberts whilst he was at Deal, for £500 ? There is the entry of it in the pass book ( handing the book to the witness) ? — Yes, that is perfectly correct.

• 20239.

  Tell me what you know about the cheque ? — I received the cheque, and cashed it into bank notes, and took the notes over to . Mr. Spofforth’s office as I understood he was going down to Deal, to take it with him. Mr. Spofforth then informed me that he was not going down to Deal, so I went back to my office with the money, and I was thinking what should be done with the money, as I believed Mr. Crompton Roberts wanted it, knowing he left in a very great hurry, and while I was thinking about it a messenger came in for the money.

• 20240.

  Do you know who it was ? — No.

• 20241.

  Was it Thomas, the witness who has been here today ? — I should not recognise him again because I do not think I saw him.

• 20242.

  Do you know from whom he came ? — No, I do not, he simply came and asked for the money.

• 20243. [Mr. Turner.) Would you give him £500 without knowing something about him ? — I imagined it was a straightforward transaction, and therefore I did not hesitate. I certainly took no receipt for it.

• 20244.

  Did he tell you that he came for the £500, the proceeds of the cheque ? — I think he brought no paper with him at all; he simply came and said that he had come for a parcel that was to go down to Deal, and I assumed by “parcel” he meant the money because I had no other parcel.

• 20245.

  (Mr. Holl.) Whom did you receive the cheque from ? — I received it by post.

• 20246.

  From Mr. Crompton Roberts ? — Yes.

• 20247.

  Have you got the letter enclosing the cheque ? — No.

• 20248.

  Do you remember the contents of the letter ? — No. In fact I could not read it myself when it came. I could only gather that Mr. Crompton Roberts wanted this done. It was evidently written in a great hurry, and I could not read the whole letter. I remember that it was written in pencil.

• 20249.

  In substance it was a request to you to send down the proceeds of this cheque ? — Yes, that was the substance of the letter, but the exact words I do not recollect. It was written very shortly indeed.

• 20250.

  Then there is a cheque in this passbook drawn payable to you on the 11th May, for £600 ? — I know nothing of that cheque.

• 20251.

  Do you say that you know nothing of that cheque at all ? — No, I do not.

• 20252.

  That cheque did not come to you ? — No, it did not come to me at all.

• 20253.

  It was cashed without passing through your hands at all ? — Yes; I never saw the cheque at all, and knew nothing about it.

• 20254.

  Then I understand you gave to a witness who has been called, of the name of Horne, a cheque for £1400 ? — I gave somebody a cheque for £1400, but I cannot say who it was.

• 20255.

  What led to your giving that cheque ? — I received a memorandum saying that Mr. Hughes required money, and would I assist him in some way with the money. It stated no more, and there was a letter from Mr. Hughes saying the sum he required was £1400.

• 20256.

  (Mr. Turner.) You mean a memorandum from Mr. Crompton Roberts ? — Yes, I believe so.

• 20257.

  (Mr. Holl.) As nearly as you can, tell us what sort of memorandum was it? What was it written upon, and what was it written with ? — I forget whether it was written in pencil or ink, but the substance of it was that Mr. Hughes required money, and Mr. Hughes’ own letter named the sum.

• 20258.

  Did it direct you to let him have what he required ? — Yes.

• 20259.

  That memorandum was, as I understand it, enclosed in a note from Mr. Hughes himself ? — Yes, I believe so.

• 20260.

  Stating the amount he required to be £1400 ? — Yes.

• 20261.

  Do you remember who brought you that note ? — No, I do not think I saw the messenger – it was brought into my office.

• 20262.

  And handed to you by one of your clerks ? — Yes.

• 20263.

  I understand you to say you do not think you saw the messenger yourself ? — No, I did not.

• 20264.

  What did you do upon receiving that memorandum from Mr. Crompton Roberts with Mr. Hughes’ note ? — I cannot say whether I handed it to the messenger myself or whether somebody else did, but I believe I handed the messenger a cheque for £1400.