Harper, Thomas | Day 20
Coachman to Mr Crompton Roberts.
Witness Type: Other
Party: Conservative
Witness Testimony:
- 20191.
(Mr. Jeune.) You are coachman to Mr. Crompton Roberts ? — Yes.
- 20192.
You were with him at Deal ? — Yes.
- 20193.
You took down his horses and carriages, and brought them away ? — Yes.
- 20194.
I see that you had for going to Deal the sum of £10 ? — Yes.
- 20195.
Who gave you that, Mrs. Stedman ? — Yes, Mrs. Stedman.
- 20196.
And leaving Deal you had the sum of £15 ? — Yes.
- 20197.
Then there was your book which came to £5 1s. 6d : what would be in your book ? — All the items I expended with the stables.
- 20198.
Would you put down everything you spent in connexion with the stables in that book ? — Yes, everything I spent in connexion with the stables.
- 20199.
I see besides those items I have given you you had upon the 6th May a sum of £15 given to you ? — Yes.
- 20200.
Who gave you that ? — That would be all in my expenses.
- 20201.
Who gave you that ? — Mrs. Stedman.
- 20202.
What was that £15 for ? — It was all for my expenses and wages, and stabling expenses.
- 20203.
What wages did you pay to anybody else ? — I had three or four men down there besides.
- 20204.
How many men had you ? — Three men.
- 20205.
What were their wages a week ? — About 30s. a week.
- 20206.
Apiece? — Yes.
- 20207.
Were they grooms and helpers of your own ? — Yes, of my own; and another was engaged at Deal.
- 20208.
You say you had three down there ? — Yes, three at 24s. or 25s. a week. I cannot say exactly the sum.
- 20209.
You paid those men ? — Yes.
- 20210.
How long were you there; a fortnight ? — Yes, or it might have been more. I cannot say exactly to the day, unless I had my book.
- 20211.
Supposing they had 90s a week, you would pay £9 to those people for wages during that time. Besides the £16 which you had upon the 6th May, you had £15 upon the 16th May ? — Yes.
- 20212.
That makes £80 altogether that you had from Mrs. Stedman, besides the other items that I have given you ? — Yes.
- 20213.
What did you do with that 30s. ? — It was all spent in my expenses, wages and so on, and board and lodging, and different things that I had to pay for.
- 20214.
Did you keep any record of those ? — Yes.
- 20215.
You told me you put down everything in your book ? — Yes, everything; every shilling is accounted for.
- 20216.
We have got your book, and that comes to £6 1s 6d. Where did the other £30 go ? — There would be the railway expenses up and down.
- 20217.
We have got those besides; because you had £10 going to Deal, and £15 leaving Deal, and over and above this, you had £30. Do you say everything is in your book ? — Yes. (Mr. Crompton Roberts.) I think that the Commissioners are only wasting time; I think a great deal of time will be saved if you will allow this witness to drive home and get the books. (Mr. Jeune.) I think that will be a convenient course.
- 20218.
(To the witness.) You will go and get the book that you had at Deal ? — Yes.
- 20314.
Recalled and further examined. (Mr. Jeune.) Have you got your book ? — Yes (producing it). You will see the whole of my expenses are included. (Mr. Jeune.) I think that will be a convenient course. (Mr. Jeune.) Yes, that does explain it thoroughly. (The witness) I have been trying to refresh my memory with regard to that remark about “Bribery agent,” and I am under the impression that I had seen this man first of all, and marked him “Liberal,” and I think you will find in the book it is afterwards rubbed out, and on seeing this man, having rubbed out the remark that he was a Liberal I was told by the man who went round with me that he was bribery agent for the Liberal party upon two previous occasions. That is my impression now, and upon being told that by the man I made the memorandum. The man described to me that he had been treated very badly indeed with regard to some municipal arrangements, and on that account he had made up his mind to cut the party altogether. I believe that is the way in which I chose to write “bribery agent.”