Olds, Samuel | Day 3
In total Olds received £2,500, purely for bribing Publicans and voters.
He secured and paid for committee rooms in 88 public houses – 71 in Deal & Walmer, according to testimony by Daniel George Frederick Simmons, plus 17 in Sandwich. Each was paid £5 a-piece. Well over the odds when their annual rent was on average £12.
In November 1881 he was found guilty and sentenced to six months hard labour. Released in May 1882.
Witness Type: Briber, Councillor / Alderman, No Indemnity
Party: Conservative
Other Days The Witness Was Called On: Day 2 | Day 14
Witness Testimony:
- 2504.
You drew a cheque on your bankers ? — Yes. He had not sufficient money, not sufficient in the bank.
- 2505.
And you gave him gold for the cheque he gave ? — Yes.
- 2506.
And you think it was either 70L. or 90L altogether ? — Yes, it may be something like that.
- 2507.
Was the cheque drawn payable to you ? — I think so.
- 2508.
You say it was two cheques, 30L. and 40L., or 40L. and 50L. ? — I should think about 70L., or else 90L. altogether.
- 2509.
What were the dates of those cheques; when was it you changed those cheques for him ? — I know I drew 50L. out of the bank. I banked them.
- 2510.
Did you draw the 50L. out of your bank here the same day you gave the money to him ? — Yes.
- 2511.
The same day you gave it him ? — Yes.
- 2512.
(Mr. Jeune.) Why did you understand he asked you to change the cheques ; why could not he go to the bank himself ? — He had not got sufficient in the bank.
- 2513.
Did he tell you that ? — I believe they were paid into the bank, and there was not sufficient.
- 2514.
On what bank was his cheque drawn ? — It was drawn on his own bank; Mr. Hughes’ own bank, I think. He had a banking account here.
- 2515.
And gave you a cheque for it ? — Yes.
- 2516.
I suppose you paid his cheque in through your own account ? — Yes, and drew one out for him, because there was not sufficient to meet his cheques.
- 2517.
But why could not he have got the money straight if he gave a cheque that you paid into your bank, I think, on the same day. Did he tell you why it was he wanted you to change the cheque ? — He wanted the cash.
- 2518.
I suppose so, but did he tell you why he did not draw the cash himself direct, but asked you to change the cheques ? — I think he had not sufficient balance at the bank.
- 2519.
Did he say that ? — I think the banker told me he had not sufficient to cover the cheques. I drew the cheque and held his cheques over for a day or two.
- 2520.
How long did you hold them over ? — A day or two it may be.
- 2521.
Have you got a banking account ? — Yes.
- 2522.
And a pass book ? — Yes.
- 2523.
You can find out the date when you presented these cheques, cannot you ? — It would not be mentioned in the pass book.
- 2524.
Have you your pass book here ? — Yes, I have.
- 2525.
Just let us have a look at it ? — There it is (handing same to the Commissioners),
- 2526.
You say you drew a cheque out and got the cash for it. That would be a cheque drawn for yourself ? — Yes.
- 2527.
There is “May 21st, self 50L.” — that would be after the election ? — Yes.
- 2528.
Do you remember what day you paid Mr. Hughes’ cheques into your bank ? — Well, it would be after that. I held them over.
- 2529.
You say you drew a cheque for 50L., and another for 40L., as I understand ? — I had two. I think I paid one with cash I had in hand, and drew a cheque for 50L. to make up the remainder.
- 2530.
Do you remember paying in any other money at the same time. On the 24th of May there is a sum of 177L. 12s. paid in ? — Yes, that would be the two cheques, and also the cheque for the cab hire, I think. (Mr. Jeune.) That might be so — very likely it is.
- 2531.
(Mr. Holl.) Now one more question or two. What was your bill for cab and carriage hire ? — I really cannot tell you from memory — 70L. something.
- 2532.
70L. odd ? — Yes.
- 2533.
Is that the whole of it ? — Yes.