Pearson, Henry | Day 5

Given money to give it to certain people with the intention of keeping them on shore displaying flags on their boats, and likewise for voting.

Witness Type: Briber

Party: Liberal

Witness Testimony:

  • 5080.

    I am not now speaking of the “Petrel,” there were some boatmen to whom 25L. was paid, I will take the “Petrel ” first. Did you arrange with the crew of the “Petrel” about coming here, or communicate with them ? — I came to Mr. Edwards to get advice, and then Mr. Rose, as he told you, telegraphed for the people to come home. That is all I know.

  • 5081.

    What instructions did Mr. Edwards give you ? — For the people to come here to work their way as far as they could.

  • 5082.

    Did he tell you how they were to be paid if they came home ? — Yes, they had to be paid the same as if they had got ships that they were looking after, just the same as if they had stopped at their duty instead of coming.

  • 5083.

    Did Mr. Edwards himself tell you this ? — No, he asked me and I explained it to him that they could not come off their duty to come here, and he asked me what would be equal to their earnings at such a time. I said, they follow the same occupation as myself, they get ships to the amount of so much money to pilot up the channel, and if the people had the same I daresay they would come home and vote.

  • 5084.

    What did he say ? — He said, “Yes, send for them to come home.”

  • 5085.

    Did he tell you what you were to pay them ? — Yes, he asked me what this ship would come to. 26L. I said.

  • 5086.

    Did he authorise you to arrange to pay them that sum if they would come home and vote ? — Just so.

  • 5087.

    Then you say Mr. Rose telegraphed for them to come home ? — Yes.

  • 5088.

    What are the names of the crew ? — Henry David Axon.

  • 5089.

    He is a boatman of course ? —Yes.

  • 5090.

    Where does he live, at Walmer ? — No, he is in Deal parish. William Axon.

  • 5091.

    Does he live at Deal ? — He lives at Deal, but they could not all come, and he stayed at the boat. He never came home ; he had to stay by the boat.

  • 5092.

    Who are the other three who came ? — William Beecham.

  • 5093.

    Where does he live ? — Walmer Road.

  • 5094.

    Do you know his exact address ? — York Street, Walmer Road, I believe.

  • 5095.

    Who are the other two men ? — George Coleman.

  • 5096.

    Where does he live ? — He lives in the front, Strand Place, or whatever it is called.

  • 5097.

    Who is the other ? — There are no more.

  • 5098.

    Only three came, and one stopped with the boat ? — But there are two more men who will share with that portion that came from the boat ; one a non-voter and one that was away in the ship.

  • 5099.

    What was the name of the voter away in the ship ? — George Pearson ; he did not vote at all.

  • 5100.

    He did not vote ? — He did not vote, but he shares the money.

  • 5101.

    He was minding the ship while the crew came away ? —Yes ; he is earning money for that, therefore they get the money as if they brought a ship up the Channel. That 25L. is made into eight parts, two for the lugger, and six for the ship.

  • 5102.

    Does the owner of the lugger get two ? — The lugger belongs to a great many ; they are in shares.

  • 5103.

    The owners of the lugger get two shares ? — The owners of the lugger get two shares, but some of them that is in the boat belong to her.

  • 5104.

    They are part owners ? —Yes, they are in shares.

  • 5105.

    Those three men you have mentioned, Henry David Axon, George Coleman, and William Beecham, came home and voted ? — Yes.

  • 5106.

    25L, was paid to them for coming home ? — Yes.

  • 5107.

    How was the rest of the money made up ; for expenses in coming ? — Expenses to and from Portsmouth.

  • 5108.

    I think altogether it was 29L. odd ? — 29L. 2s., I think, as far as I recollect.

  • 5109.

    Did you have another sum of 25L. to pay a boat’s crew who rowed up and down the front ? — No.