Testimonies

Crompton-Roberts, Charles Henry | Day 20

Witness Type: Candidate / MP

Party: Conservative

Other Days The Witness Was Called On: Day 16 | Day 17

Witness Testimony:

• 20225.

  Let me read it to you. What is the name of this man ? — Wakeham, I should read it, High Street.

• 20226.

  Does it not read on thus :— “Wakeham, High Street, wants a B.” ? — I had not read that part of it I did not read before about “Wants a B.” It might be as you say.

• 20227.

  Does that suggest itself to your mind ? — I did not see that before; but since you put that construction upon it, it looks possible.

• 20228.

  Does B. stand for “Bribe”, it does, does it not ? — With that “Wants a B,” I should say certainly that would be it, but C. stands for Conservative, and D. for doubtful, and so on; and no doubt that man had made such an application to me.

• 20229.

  D. is a doubtful man who wants a bribe? Now I see “Wants a B,” I should say that that is it, no doubt. I have no doubt that this man had run after me, and had suggested something of that kind, and I had added that after I had put the word “doubtful.”

• 20230.

  Why did you put opposite to that, “Wants a bribe” ? — Simply because I have been accustomed to do things perfectly openly, and I would make a straightforward remark of that kind.

• 20231.

  This paper was intended to come, and did come into the hands of the canvassers, and other persons ? — I have no idea. I was given certain people to call upon, and no doubt from that being in my own handwriting, that is the wind up of perhaps a long list. No doubt it is a man that I had been unable to see on that particular day.

• 20232.

  That paper was intended to be given back, and was given back ? — I do not know what became of it.

• 20233.

  That is what you did with all the papers ? — Yes, that is what I should do.

• 20234.

  Does it not strike you that writing “Wants a bribe ” opposite a man’s name, was a pretty broad hint ? — I had no idea that there was any bribery going on or likely to go on, and therefore I put that down in the same way as, if anybody asked me for a bribe, I should put him down as a Liberal.

• 20315.

  Later recalled and further examined.

  (The Witness) I can save time, I think, if you will allow me to interpose. I have paged this book with the view of ready reference, and here are the sum totals representing the different weeks — the first week is £14 15s. 4d. ; upon page 6 there is £3 10s . 1d. ; upon page 7, £22 17s 6d; upon page 8, £11 7s 9d; and upon page 9, £10 19s 9d. Those you will see are added together, and come to £70 1s. 5d. Then my coachman received on account £65, and the balance is paid to him here £5 1s. 5d. You have, therefore, every item, and every shilling spent.

  (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.”

  (Mr. Jeune.) Can you tell us who it was who told you that he had been employed as bribery agent ? — There were different persons who went round with me upon different mornings, and I do not know their names, though if I had a photograph of the man I could tell, but not otherwise.