Rose, Edward Thomas | Day 3

Listed in 1881 Census as Tailor Master (1 man). Initially received a payment of £306 before the election and the balance a fortnight afterwards. Money was paid in gold at a rate of £50 a day.

Witness Type: Briber, Treater

Party: Liberal

Witness Testimony:

  • 2862.

    Have you no receipts for those ? — No. I have the men’s names who I paid the money to.

  • 2863.

    Will you give us their names ? — Mercer, Norris

  • 2864.

    (Mr. Holl.) Can you give us how much to each at the same time ? — It was put down day by day as the POLES were erected. I see 17L. 2s. in one lump which Mercer received, then Norris 10L. 4s.

  • 2865.

    (Mr. Turner.) Who is Mercer ? —He is one of the boatmen.

  • 2866.

    You got no acknowledgment from any of these men ? — No. Pearson who assisted me, said so much money is required for POLES to-day. I handed it to him. He gave it to the men, and they shared it among themselves.

  • 2867.

    I see there are two items for ribbon and twill, 24L. 11s., and 27L. 9s. 4d. You bought them at a shop in your place, I suppose ? — Yes, I supplied those myself. They were bought here.

  • 2868.

    Can you give us any notion of the quantity of blue ribbon and twill which you supplied ? — A very great deal altogether, for making a display in Walmer.

  • 2869.

    For Walmer alone these were used ? — Yes.

  • 2870.

    59L. ?— 51L.

  • 2871.

    But there is another item of 3L., and another 4L. 11s. 4d., besides those two large items ? — Yes, I think that is correct.

  • 2872.

    That is a very large item ? — There was a great deal of ribbon made up into ROSETTES and FLAGS, which were flying all over the place. The boats were dressed with FLAGS and colours. I think we had about 40 FLAGPOLES, and they were all dressed with FLAGS.

  • 2873.

    I suppose at election times a little is put on the price ? — No, they are supplied at my ordinary rate of profit ; no extra put on whatever.

  • 2874.

    There is an item of 21L. 8s. 6d. for making these things ? — Yes ; different people were employed to make the ribbon up into bows.

  • 2875.

    By you ? — No, by some of the boatmen, their wives and daughters ; and I have the initials here of the men who I paid the money to.

  • 2876.

    Then we come to an item, the boat regatta 25L. Now do explain that ? — A regatta was proposed a day or two previous to the election, and 25L. was to be devoted towards it.

  • 2877.

    Who proposed the regatta ? — It was suggested by some people at Walmer. I mentioned it to Mr. Edwards, and he consented to it ; but being a very rough day they had a blue boat, and people dressed up in blue perambulated the town and place instead of having the regatta. It was put down as regatta, but there really was no regatta.

  • 2878.

    What was the object of it ? — Merely for display, that is all.

  • 2879.

    Then, crew of the boat “ Petrel” 29L. 2s. ? — That was another thing we brought before Mr. Edwards. They were four Liberal voters away at sea, and he said he thought they had better be telegraphed for to come home. A telegraph message went to Salcombe, they were ordered to start and get as far this way as possible, and take the rail for the rest of the distance and get home. They got as far as Portsmouth, they came from Portsmouth here, and returned to Portsmouth to their boat. The expenses of that came to 29L. as you see here. Mr. Edwards sanctioned that I should telegraph for them. They were to come as far home as they could, but they found they could not get here in time, and they had to leave their boat at Portsmouth

  • 2880.

    (Mr. Holl.) They came by boat as far as Portsmouth ? — Yes.

  • 2881.

    Then they came by rail and went back ? — Yes.

  • 2882.

    (Mr. Turner.) Have you had any particulars of how that 29L, is made up ? — It was paid to Henry Axon.

  • 2883.

    Who is he ? — One of the crew.

  • 2884.

    Did he give you any particulars of the amount of 29L ? — No, it was arranged by Pearson, the man who was assisting, I gave the money to him, and he gave it to Axon.

  • 2885.

    He told you it was 29L ? — He told Mr. Edwards what the expense was likely to be, and he said, “Well then you had better get the men up.” So we telegraphed for them.

  • 2886.

    (Mr. Holl.) How far is it from Salcombe to Portsmouth ? — I do not know. There was an easterly head wind blowing hard at the time, and they could not get far.

  • 2887.

    How far is it from Salcombe to Portsmouth ? — I do not know. It is a matter of 80 or 100 miles. I do not know the distance.

  • 2888.

    Then they came up from Portsmouth by rail ? — Yes.

  • 2889.

    (Mr. Turner.) Then there is an item for assistant messengers and board boys amounting to 71L 3s. 6d altogether. That seems a large sum ? — Yes, it is a very large sum. There were a great number of boys employed.

  • 2890.

    Whose sons were they ? — Boatmen.

  • 2891.

    Sons of voters ? — Voters and non-voters, indiscriminately, a large number of boys were employed.