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:
- 1480.
What did you say to him before he voted ? — He asked me to do something for him, and I said I would.
- 1481.
Then after the election you gave him 2L ? — Yes.
- 1482.
I think you told me you received no other money besides that 40L. and 50L ? — That is all the money I received.
- 1483.
To what other persons, besides those that you have mentioned in this list, did you agree to give any money ? — There are numbers of them.
- 1484.
Have you got a list of them ? — No.
- 1485.
I will trouble you to give me the names of each of them. How much did you promise to give altogether in that way beyond those two sums which you paid to the public-houses, and the 51L. you paid to these people you have mentioned to me ; beyond those sums, to what amount did you make promises ? — I cannot tell you exactly just now.
- 1486.
As near as you can tell ? — A considerable sum, but I cannot tell you exactly.
- 1487.
You cannot tell me to what extent you made promises about ? — I cannot tell you.
- 1488.
150L or 200L. ? — Quite 150L. ; more than that I should think.
- 1489.
That was for promises that you made to other people to vote for you ? — Yes.
- 1490.
I suppose you stopped paying because you had not got any more cash ? — Yes.
- 1491.
Give me, as near as you can remember the names and addresses of the different people to whom you made those promises ? — If I had the list, I could pick them out.
- 1492.
(Mr. Turner.) The list of what, the voters ? — The register.
- 1493.
(Mr. Holl.) Take the register (handing same) first go through the freemen, then go through the householders, tell us the names and addresses of all the people to whom you promised money for their votes, and how much you promised, as far as you can remember ? – Richard Corney ; I made him no promise, but he expects something.
- 1494.
What is his address ? — Bowling Street, Sandwich.
- 1495.
You made him no distinct promise, but you told him that you would give him something ? — I imagine he expects something, from knowing the man.
- 1496.
(Mr. Turner.) But did you agree to give him anything ? — I do not remember making any agreement with him. He was one I intended to have something.
- 1497.
(Mr. Holl.) Apart from any agreement, I do not mean an agreement to pay a specific sum of 1L. or 2L., did you intimate to him that you would give him something ? — I do not remember canvassing him, but he was along with a lot more who voted our way, and they naturally suppose that they will not be forgotten.
- 1498.
Why should they naturally suppose that ? — Simply because it was a thing they all did just at that time — all that class, or nearly all.
- 1499.
What class is he ? — He is a labourer in a foundry.
- 1500.
And they all expected to be paid ? — Yes.
- 1501.
Tell us the next ? — There is another Deverson in the Chain.
- 1502.
What is his name ? — I do not know. There are so many William Johns and John Williams that I cannot tell the one from the other.
- 1503.
There is another Deverson living in the Chain, the father of the other one ? — The father of both.
- 1504.
The father of both who are mentioned in this list ? — Yes.
- 1505.
Did you promise to give him anything ? — No, I told his son that I would think of him.
- 1506.
Did you see him yourself ? — I do not think I saw the father. I tried to see him, but I remember I could not find him. I did not see him.
- 1507.
Who is the next ? – William Cato Kelly.
- 1508.
(Mr. Turner.) Is he a freeman ? — Yes, he is a freeman.
- 1509.
(Mr. Holl.) He is a tanner ? — Yes.