Myhill, Valentine | Day 6

Received £15 from Samuel Olds for 5 voters plus £6 for canvassing. In the event 6 voters testified to receiving money from him so possibly kept £3 for himself.

Witness Type: Briber

Party: Conservative

Other Days The Witness Was Called On: Day 8

Witness Testimony:

  • 6455.

    What expenses ? — The ROPES and the buoy boats.

  • 6456.

    Who will you undertake to say you paid anything on account of expenses ? — Different people, some from Walmer Road.

  • 6457.

    Tell me one or two of them ; who are the six men who had the 3L. 10s. each ? — Mr. Spears.

  • 6458.

    Who else ? — George Porter.

  • 6459.

    Who else ? — Makins, from the “Stag” at Walmer.

  • 6460.

    Who else ? — Edward Griggs.

  • 6461.

    They each had 3L. 10s. ? — Yes, but I do not know what they did with it, more than that they had it ; it was to carry on the REGATTA.

  • 6462.

    Can you undertake to say that either of them paid anything to anybody ? — I am not answerable for them.

  • 6463.

    Will you tell us anybody to whom you paid anything yourself out of your 3L. 10s. ? — Yes.

  • 6464.

    Who was it ? — A man of the name of Bailey.

  • 6465.

    What did you give him ? — I gave him 10s.

  • 6466.

    What for ? — For his services, going about.

  • 6467.

    What services ? — Getting his boat ready, a buoy boat.

  • 6468.

    The REGATTA did not come off ; was any day fixed for it ? — As far as my recollection serves me, I think it was Whit Monday or Whit Tuesday.

  • 6469.

    Was any day fixed ? — I cannot challenge my memory now, but it was near Whitsuntide anyway.

  • 6470.

    When did he get his boat ready, and what did he do ? — He could not get it ready, because it was blowing a gale of wind at the time.

  • 6471.

    Then he did not get his boat ready, as you said he did just now ? — He had his boat ready, but the weather stopped him and the REGATTA too.

  • 6472.

    When do you say he got his boat ready ? — The day before, I suppose.

  • 6473.

    Upon the Saturday ? — Probably so.

  • 6474.

    What do you call getting his boat ready ? — It had to be taken off and anchored in different positions, where the boats sail and go round.

  • 6475.

    What did he have to do to get it ready; there was the boat ? — He must have the mast and flag up for the buoy boat.

  • 6476.

    But there would be a mast in it before ? — No, not such a mast as they use in buoy boats. The masts that they use in those boats are not so tall as they are in the usual way.

  • 6477.

    Is there anything else that you paid ? — Nothing whatever.

  • 6478.

    So you have got 3L. ? — On trust.

  • 6479.

    (Mr. Turner.) I understood you to say 2L. 10s. just now. I suppose you have not thought much about the trust. Are you six men the REGATTA committee ? — We were appointed at that time.

  • 6480.

    (Mr. Jeune.) Did your names appear on the card that was sent out ? — I believe they were published.

  • 6481.

    Who appointed you committee men ? — I was asked, walking through the streets, whether I would be one of the committee men.

  • 6482.

    Who asked you ? —I do not know who it was but someone asked me.

  • 6483.

    Who appointed the other people ? — I am not answerable for that.

  • 6484.

    Are you quite sure they did not appoint themselves ? — I do not know.