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.


Witness Type: Briber, Treater

Party: Liberal


Witness Testimony:

  • 1510.

    What did you promise him ? — I did not name any sum. I promised him I would not forget him.

  • 1511.

    You told him you would do something for him if he voted for you ? — Yes.

  • 1512.

    Did he say he would vote for you on that promise ? — Yes, he did.

  • 1513.

    He accepted the offer ? — There was no offer.

  • 1514.

    He accepted your suggestion, that you would do something for him, and he said, “Very Well, I will vote for you” ? — Yes. The next is James Frederick Stokes.

  • 1515.

    Where does he live ? — I believe Ramsgate now or somewhere near. He is a butcher, at Sandwich, in the register here.

  • 1516.

    What arrangement did you make with him ?— 3L I think, to the best of my recollection.

  • 1517.

    You promised to give him 3L. ? — Yes.

  • 1518.

    Did he then agree to vote for you ? — Yes.

  • 1519.

    Do you know whether he did vote ? — He polled. I come to the St Clement’s Parish now.

  • 1520.

    You are now come to the householders ? — Yes. Thomas Bailey, Sandown Road.

  • 1521.

    What did you give him ? – 2L.

  • 1522.

    Did he say he would agree to vote for your side ? — Yes ; he would have voted without. He said he was disappointed upon the former election, that he had come from a distance, and made a long tale of it, so we patched matters up in that way.

  • 1523.

    Who is the next ? — William Burton ; he expects another sovereign. George Dennard, Fisher Street.

  • 1524.

    What did you promise him ? – 1L.

  • 1525.

    Did he agree to vote for you ? — Yes. William Lawrence, Fisher Street.

  • 1526.

    What did you give him ? — There was nothing named ; I said we would do something for him.

  • 1527.

    Upon your telling him that you would do some— thing for him, did he agree to vote for the Liberals ? — Yes. Abraham Mancer.

  • 1528.

    What did you agree to give him ? — 1L.

  • 1529.

    Did he say he would vote for you ? — Yes.

  • 1530.

    Was that after you had promised him the sovereign ? — Yes. William Overy, Sandown Road; I gave the same promise to him ; nothing definite ; but I promised I would do something for him afterwards.

  • 1531.

    Did he agree to vote for your side ? — Yes, for our side. William Small, Fisher Street.

  • 1532.

    What did you agree to give him ? — 1L.

  • 1533.

    Did he, upon that promise, agree to vote for you ? — Yes. Edward Smithers, Church Street.

  • 1534.

    How much did you agree to give him ? — 2L.

  • 1535.

    And did he agree to vote for you ? — Yes. Charles Turner, Church Street.

  • 1536.

    What did you agree to give him ? — 3L.

  • 1537.

    Did he agree to vote for you if you gave him that sum ? — Yes. Now we come to St. Mary’s Parish, John Ansell, Delf Street.

  • 1538.

    How much did you agree to give him ? — There was no sum fixed.

  • 1539.

    Did you tell him you would do something for him ? — Yes.