Franklin, William Henry | Day 5

Listed in the 1871 & 1881 Census as Draper and Photographer.

Lengthy testimony. Supplied goods and services amounting to around £40 to the Conservative party for dozens of Rosettes for horses and voters, plus ribbon for bonnets, cambric for flags and 500 photographs of Mr Crompton Roberts taken by his son. Typical prices were 18s a dozen for the larger horse rosettes using 4 yards of ribbon and 9s a dozen for the smaller ones using only 2 yards. Photographs were sold at 10s a dozen so a total of approximately £26. Claimed the expenditure on rosettes was greater in previous elections.

Witness Type: Other

Party: Conservative

Witness Testimony:

  • 4849.

    And you employed people out of your shop to make them ? — Yes, and in the shop too.

  • 4850.

    On May 12th there are some more ROSETTES, five dozen at 10s. ? — Yes.

  • 4851.

    What is the difference between them and the others ? — Probably they were made with a little wider ribbon. The ribbon is of different widths, bear in mind.

  • 4852.

    Did they go to Mr. Usher too ? — Yes, they went to Mr. Usher, too.

  • 4853.

    Then May 14th, 10 dozen ROSETTES, at 10s. ; then three dozen, at 12s. ; and six dozen, at 9s. — Yes.

  • 4854.

    How was it you made a difference in the price ? — According to the width of the ribbon.

  • 4855.

    Were you ordered to make them different ? — We were obliged to make them np according to the widths we had in stock ; we could not always get one uniform width ; we had to get what we could.

  • 4856.

    Then there is a pair for horses, 3s. ? — That is a very large pair.

  • 4857.

    Then, “One piece of ribbon, 8s, 9d.” Had you ever such an order as this before the election ? — Yes.

  • 4858.

    Such orders as these ? — Yes, and much heavier than these.

  • 4859.

    When ?— Of Mr. Worms.

  • 4860.

    You mean when Baron de Worms stood for the place ? — Yes ; I took 64L.

  • 4861.

    You are a voter, of course ? —Yes.

  • 4862.

    Have you been paid all ? —Yes, all. I was paid on the same evening of the day the goods were had.

  • 4863.

    Have you received or paid any other monies with reference to the election ? — No, except some portraits I supplied to Mr. Roberts.

  • 4864.

    Those are the photographs we have heard of ? — Yes.

  • 4865.

    Are you a photographer ? — My son is.

  • 4866.

    He had 500 ? — Yes.

  • 4867.

    What did you charge per dozen for them ? Were they cartes de visite (visiting cards) ? — Yes, and some cabinets. (cabinets is a French word for placards)

  • 4868.

    And what did you charge ? — 10s. a dozen.

  • 4869.

    For cartes de visite ? — Yes.

  • 4870.

    That is rather high, is it not ? — No.

  • 4871.

    I don’t wish to depreciate your son’s work, of course ? — They were all vignettes, and the London Stereoscopic Company would charge 15s. a dozen.

  • 4872.

    (Mr. Holl.) What is the total amount of the charge for photographs ? — 500 at 10s. a dozen ; it came to about 26L. or 27L.

  • 4873.

    26L. or 27L. for photographs of your son’s and 39L. 10s. 5d, to you also for ROSETTES and RIBBONS and cambric ? — Yes.

  • 4874.

    Is your son a voter ? — Yes.

  • 4875.

    (Mr. Jeune.) You say, in the contest in 1874 there was just as much expenditure in your shop for ROSETTES ? — More.

  • 4876.

    Do you remember the contest in 1868 ? There was a contest in 1868, was there not ? —Yes.

  • 4877.

    Do you remember whether you had such a large order then ? —Yes, of Mr. Capper, I think; quite as much— it was more.

  • 4878.

    Then, as far as your experience goes, there were not more ROSETTES at this election than usual ? Less than usual. Mr. Capper was much over 40L.