Edwards, James Barber | Day 4

Received three sums amounting to £1820 – of £200 & £320, from Sir Julian Goldsmid and £1300 from Mr Foord. Was called to give evidence at the Petition Trial and asked to produce all bills delivered to him. Found guilty and sentenced to 6 months in prison.

Witness Type: Briber, No Indemnity, Petition witness, Treater

Party: Liberal

Other Days The Witness Was Called On: Petition Day 1 | Day 3 | Day 9 | Day 10 | Day 14

Witness Testimony:

  • 3347.

    You have not interfered with the details ? — No.

  • 3348.

    There is an item here of 14L. to Brown, for preparing canvassing and promise books ; was that for printing them ? — It was dissecting the register and putting the names into canvass books, and preparing sheets for the committee rooms ; instructions, I think they call them.

  • 3349.

    What is Mr. Brown ? — He is a rate collector here.

  • 3350.

    How long would that take him to do, a day or so ? — I should think some days.

  • 3351.

    Two or three days ? — Quite. It is not an easy matter to dissect a register, so as to have the names all in order, for the purpose of canvassing, and to prepare large sheets likewise for the voting.

  • 3352.

    Does not it strike you as being a large item, 14L. for two or three days’ work, to a gentleman in that position ? — I do not know, and I think that is the amount that has been paid before.

  • 3353.

    About how many books were there prepared ? — Eight or 10, I think.

  • 3354.

    For Deal ? — Yes.

  • 3355.

    Have you got one of them at all ? — I do not think I have any.

  • 3356.

    Mr. Brown is a voter, I presume ? — They went into different hands of the committee for the purpose of canvassing.

  • 3357.

    Mr. Brown is a voter, I presume ? — His son did all this work for him, who is with him, and who is not a voter.

  • 3358.

    (Mr. Jeune.) What is meant by “preparing” he did not write anything in the books ? — Yes, he wrote all the names of the voters, and had them all arranged, which is not the case in the register ; they are all higgledy piggledy in the register, and they were obliged to be brought into different streets, and it was only by the assistance of Mr. Brown that it could be well done, because, being a rate collector, he knows where everybody here.

  • 3359.

    In fact, it was arranging and copying oat 2,000 names ? — No, it would not be 2,000 names, because it was only for Deal.

  • 3360.

    Then it would only be about 1,200 names ? — Yes, but in addition to that there are the strike sheets.

  • 3361.

    What are the strike sheets ? — Sheets with the names of all the voters, which are stuck up in the committee room upon the day of the election, so as to enable you to strike out the names of those who had voted.

  • 3362.

    That would be, in point of fact, a copy of the register for each district ? — Yes, that would be a copy of the register.

  • 3363.

    A mere copy of the register ? — Yes.

  • 3364.

    Who did the strike lists ? — They were done by a Mr. Goymer, I think.

  • 3365.

    10L. is charged for that ? — That is an old charge, a charge that has always been made.

  • 3366.

    I understand you to say that the strike list is only a copy of the register ? — It is not simply in small writing, but in very large writing.

  • 3367.

    I suppose that is what any clerk could have done for 5s. or 10s. ? — I should have to pay a clerk more than that anyhow.

  • 3368.

    (Mr. Holl.) Still an ordinary copying clerk would do it for 1L. ? — It is in very large writing.

  • 3369.

    (Mr. Jeune.) However, it is a charge that is always made and that is why it was made upon this occasion ? — This man has always done it, and I believe he has always had 10s for it. He has always been a staunch supporter of the Liberals without canvassing or anything of the kind.

  • 3370.

    (Mr. Holl.) Then I see ” Hancock, carriages,” 32L. 15s., and 12L. 18s., making 66L. 13s., and 30L. of that has been paid ? — Yes, that was a payment that he had to make upon the day of the election for FLYS from Dover, and I gave him 30L.

  • 3371.

    The charge altogether for carriages is 55L. 13s. ? — I think his account shows what was for himself and what he had to hire from Dover.

  • 3372.

    There are two accounts for rope to Philip Finnis and George Finnis : 32L. 17s. 6d. to George Finnis and 34L. 7s. 3d. to Philip Finnis, making 67L. 4s. 9d. for rope ; was that rope that was purchased or hired ? — Purchased, none returned.

  • 3373.

    It seems to me an enormous amount to be expended for rope ? — I think the charges are correct, though no doubt it is a very large sum.

  • 3374.

    Has any investigation been made to ascertain whether these quantities really were supplied, and so forth ? — I think perhaps Mr. Ramell, who had the ordering of it, would know.

  • 3375.

    He would be able to speak to the details ? — Yes.

  • 3376.

    It does not state the quantities here ; it is put down as 121 of rope ; is that feet or yards ? — I do not know ; it would be as the boatmen ordered it ; fathoms I should think.