Coleman, Benjamin Longden | Day 2
Farmer & Market Gardener Employing 22 Men 13 Boys (240 Acres)
Applied to Mr Emmerson to manage election. Received two sums of £40 and £50. The first was to engage Public Houses.
Party: Liberal
Witness Testimony:
- 1450.
In order to get his vote ? — He came to me and said, “I am going your way, I am going to have a drop and I want half a sovereign or a sovereign,” as the case might have been, and I gave it to him, and on the polling day he had the remainder.
- 1451.
Daniel Port 15s. ; he is the father of the other Port ? — Yes.
- 1452.
When did you agree to give him 15s. ? — I made no agreement with him ; I gave him 5s. to go over and see his son ; he bothered me, and I gave him half a sovereign afterwards.
- 1453.
You gave him 15s. to go over and see his son to get his son to vote ? — Yes.
- 1454.
Did you say you would give him anything if he agreed to vote for you ? — Port ?
- 1455.
I mean Daniel Port, the father ? — Yes.
- 1456.
You made no distinct promise, but you told him you would give him something ? — Yes.
- 1457.
And you gave him half a sovereign afterwards ? — Yes.
- 1458.
Harry Walker ; when did you arrange with him ? — I gave him that after the election.
- 1459.
Did you arrange anything before hand ; when you canvassed him, what did you say ? — There was nothing said then ; he came afterwards and said he must go the other way if we did not do something for him.
- 1460.
He could not go the other way after he had voted ? — I canvassed him, and he came before polling and said that we must do something for him and I said I would. On that occasion I gave him nothing, but afterwards I gave him a sovereign.
- 1461.
He said he must go the other way unless you paid him something, and you said you would ? — Yes.
- 1462.
Afterwards you paid him a sovereign ? — Yes.
- 1463.
William Burton; what is he ? — A jobbing gardener.
- 1464.
When did you arrange with him ? — Before the election some time.
- 1465.
Did you agree to give him IL if he would vote for you ? — I made no promise of any particular sum. I said I would give him something if he would leave it to me.
- 1466.
You said you would give him a sovereign if he voted for your side ? — Yes.
- 1467.
And after the election you gave him a sovereign ? -Yes.
- 1468.
Richard Gambrill ; what is he ? — A farm labourer.
- 1469.
When did you arrange with him ? — About the same time.
- 1470.
Before the following day ? — Yes.
- 1471.
What did you tell him ? — The same thing. I told him just the same.
- 1472.
If he would vote for you, you would give him something ? — Yes.
- 1473.
You gave him 2L, I see ? — Yes. He was ill immediately afterwards, and he asked me if I could do something for him, and I gave him the 2L. It was after the election I gave him that.
- 1474.
You promised to give him something before ? — I promised to do something for him, but nothing particular.
- 1475.
Then William J. Deverson, what is he ? — A carpenter.
- 1476.
Where does he live ? — At Sandwich; he was working this way at that time.
- 1477.
When did you arrange with him ? — The day of the election.
- 1478.
What did you say to him ; that you would give him IL if he voted for you ? — He said that would satisfy him ; he named the sum, and I gave it to him.
- 1479.
That was before he voted ? — No, afterwards.