Hughes, William John | Day 9
Hughes was a Sandwich grocer who had a very active part in the election, receiving £480 to distribute on behalf of the Conservative party. The equivalent of over £40k in today’s money. £144 was shared amongst 4 men who then distributed it amongst 48 voters. William Beck, Richard Wybourne, James Brett and John Langley.
Party: Conservative
Witness Testimony:
- 10243.
Pantling, 7L. 10s. ? — Yes, it was all for treating. I had receipts for each of those sums.
- 10244.
Then, “Thatcher and others, for hoisting FLAGS, 19s.” ? — Yes, there were several people engaged in putting up FLAGS, and they came to me.
- 10245.
Then “Lock, 4L;” what is that ? — Lock accounted to you just now that he had 190L. ; there was 180L. that Mr. Giles took him, and he had 10L. from me. You will find that I give an account that he had 6L. in the 480L. and that is the other 4L.
- 10246.
The larger items, Wybourne, Brett, Pantling, and Bushell, were for treating ? — Yes, no doubt it was all expended in treating. They paid the accounts at the PUBLIC-HOUSES instead of having the BILLS sent in after the election, for the purpose of keeping the accounts down.
- 10247.
(Mr. Holl) What is Wybourne’s house ? — He is not a publican, he is a brewer.
- 10248.
What is his address ? — St. Peter’s Street.
- 10249.
And Brett ? — Strand Street, Sandwich.
- 10250.
What is he ? — A bricklayer.
- 10251.
What is Pantling ? — He lives near the railway station, and he is an accountant.
- 10252.
Bushell ?— King Street, Sandwich.
- 10253.
What is he ? — He is a leather cutter.
- 10254.
(Mr. Turner.) Was Lock’s 4L. for treating ? — I do not know.
- 10255.
(Mr. Holl) These men did not supply the liquor themselves, but they spent it in treating voters, and it was given to them for that purpose ? — Yes.
- 10256.
And as far as you know they spent it in that way ? — No doubt about it.
- 10257.
(Mr. Turner.) You had first of all the large sum of 480/., and then 38 ?. ? — Yes.
- 10258.
Anything else ? — I brought the cheque to Mr. Hooper for 12L. or 13L. from Mr. Hughes, and which Mr. Hooper has explained to you.
- 10259.
You had that cheque for 12L. odd from Mr. Hughes ? — Yes, Mr. Hughes, the agent ; that was sometime after the election.
- 10260.
And you gave it to Mr. Hooper to pay the Accounts that ho produced ? — Yes, he had those accounts sent in to him after the election. I happened to meet Mr. Hughes, and mentioned the subject to him, and he gave me the cheque.
- 10261.
You know nothing about those accounts yourself ? — No, I know nothing about them at all.
- 10262.
You had nothing to do with FLAGS or anything of that kind yourself ? — li expending money, do you mean.
- 10263.
Did you supply any goods yourself ?-— No, certainly not.
- 10264.
Had you anything for canvassing ? — No, certainly not.
- 10265.
Had you nothing for yourself ? — No, nothing at all, my services were quite gratuitous.
- 10266.
(Mr. Jeune.) When did you first see Mr. Edwin Hughes about the matter ? — I cannot fix the day.
- 10267.
Did you see him early in the election ? — Yes, I saw him, I dare say, the second day after he was down.
- 10268.
Did he give you any directions, or anything of that kind ? — In what way ?
- 10269.
As to the management of the election ? — No.
- 10270.
He knew, I suppose, that you were going to help in the election ? — He only knew that I was on the committee,
- 10271.
Did he tell you how you were to organise the canvassing, or anything of that kind ? — No ; I had nothing to do with him about the canvassing.
- 10272.
Did you have any conversation with hiirt about the management of the election ? — I said to him that I thought it was a mistake his hiring so many public- houses.