Testimonies

Foster, John Ashley | Day 5

Witness Type: Publican, Beerhouse Keeper

Party: Conservative

Witness Testimony:

• 4668.

  A COMMITTEE ROOM was engaged at your house ? — It was used for business at the election ; whether they called it a COMMITTEE ROOM or not I do not know, but I think it was called the COMMITTEE ROOM.

• 4669.

  A room for use at the election ? — Yes.

• 4670.

  What sort of a room is it ? — Rather a large room ; it may be termed my coffee room.

• 4671.

  What was done with it during the election ? — They transacted the general business there of the election, and there were many clerks employed there.

• 4672.

  Were clerks engaged at work there ? — Yes, and there was Mr. Hughes’s room as well.

• 4673.

  How many clerks were there engaged ? — I cannot say how many.

• 4674.

  There is a sum of 10L paid out to Brooks ; what was that ? — That was for carriage hire.

• 4675.

  Who is Brooks ? — A FLY proprietor. Mr. Hughes had no change at the time that Mr. Brooks applied for the money, and he asked me to pay it for ^him which he paid back afterwards.

• 4676.

  Then “James 5s. ” ? — Yes, that was for taking down FLAGS.

• 4677.

  The others are small sums I see ; was that the only sum which you received from Mr. Hughes ? — No, I have another sum here of 24L for the band, and there is the receipt.

• 4678.

  ” Band of 24 or less upon polling day, from 12 a.m., at 1L. a man, and to wear the Conservative colours, 24 ROSETTES ; ” that is 24L? — Yes.

• 4679.

  Who is John Loughlin ? — That is the person I arranged with — one of the band.

• 4680.

  Did you agree with Mr. Loughlin that he was to have 24L. for his band ? — Yes.

• 4681.

  And you paid him 24L. ? — Yes.

• 4682.

  Are those the only sums you received from Mr. Hughes ? — Those are the only sums beyond changing a cheque occasionally. I frequently gave change for a cheque, but not to receive any sum of money.

• 4683.

  You generally gave it in gold ? — Yes. Supposing they wanted change for a cheque, I cashed it, or took it to the bank and got change for it.

• 4684.

  There is a sum of 21L 2s 10d. ? — I cannot quite remember that. It is possible it is one of Mr. Hughes’s bills that he has charged Mr. Roberts with as election expenses. I believe there is a bill of that amount, but I should consider that Mr. Hughes’s private account.

• 4685.

  This is a bill of 22L. 2s. 10d., put down under the same head as the 25L. 11s. 8d., of which you have told us ? — I am not certain, but I think there is an account in my book to Mr. Hughes for that amount, and I have some idea that was mentioned upon the Petition. Another bill was given which reminded me at the time that it was his private account.

• 4686.

  Do you mean, private account at your hotel ? — Yes. I think afterwards he charged it as electioneering expenses. I remember at the Petition another amount was named, which at the time reminded me it was his private account.

• 4687.

  There are these two items put down under your name in the returned expenses ? — Then I imagine he has charged what I considered his private account to Mr. Roberts as an electioneering expense.

• 4688.

  That hardly corresponds, because it is 21L. 2s. 10d., so that it must have been a specific payment ? — It is not down upon my paper, is it ?

• 4689.

  No. In the election expenses returned there is an item of 21L. 2s. 10d. in your name, and I do not find that that corresponds with anything upon your list ? — No. I have returned you the private account of Mr. Roberts, and not any account of Mr. Hughes that he may have charged as electioneering expenses. I will refer to my books, and possibly I shall find such an account. I received two cheques from Mr. Hughes, one was for 25L. odd, and another was for his private account, which I fancy is the amount you are now asking me about ; and I‘ve no doubt that is the amount which he has charged as an electioneering expense.

• 4690.

  Now, besides the items there which you say were paid, the 25L. 2s. 8d. and the 24L, did you receive any other money from Mr. Hughes ? — No other sums.

• 4691.

  Or from Mr. Roberts ? — No, except his own private hotel account.

• 4692.

  I thought you told me this was his private hotel account ? — That is Mr. Roberts’ private account, but several times “Mr. Hughes has been down since, and of course I received sums of money for his accounts ; but no other sums during the election.

• 4693.

  Or in respect of the election ? — Nor in respect of the election.

• 4694.

  Or from anybody connected with the Conservative cause ? — No, no other sums whatever.

• 4695.

  Is that the whole of the money which you received from the Conservative side in connexion with the election ? —Certainly.

• 4696.

  And any sums that have been paid to you since have been merely hotel bills ? — Yes, merely hotel bills since.

• 4697.

  That is another thing altogether. Now would you make out for us from your books the items that go to make up this 98L. 5s. ? — Y es.