Drayson, John | Day 9
Very amusing testimony. Took £3 from both sides for his vote. Also received money from Mr Cloke to make sure there was no bribery!
Witness Type: Both Sides, Bribee
Party: Conservative
Witness Testimony:
- 10836.
And you have only just received that 3L.— Yes.
- 10837.
From Mr. Cloke ? — Yes, I have just received it; a fortnight or three weeks ago.
- 10838.
(Mr. Holl.) This is an important matter, and you have mentioned Mr. Cloke’s name ; tell us when did you actually receive this money ? — I could not tell you the day of the week, or anything of the sort ; I received it very lately.
- 10839.
Within the last two or three weeks ? — Yes, within, I might say, three weeks, or say a month.
- 10840.
When do you say Mr. Cloke employed you ? When did he first speak to you about doing any work ? — The first of the election. It was eight days and nights.
- 10841.
At the beginning of the election did he speak to you ? — I do not know when they began, but I served eight days.
- 10842.
About eight days before the polling day did he speak to you ? — Yes ; the polling day was the eighth day.
- 10843.
Tell us what he asked you to do ? — He asked me to look after Mr. Coleman, and likewise the men that I thought was likely to bribe.
- 10844.
You were to watch them ? — Yes.
- 10845.
To see if you could find whether anybody was bribed ? — Yes, that is quite right.
- 10846.
And did you go about ? — Yes, I did.
- 10847.
Trying to see whether you could detect any bribery ? — Yes.
- 10848.
Did you make inquiries ? — Yes.
- 10849.
And did you go about the place to see if you could ascertain if any bribery was going on ? — I did.
- 10850.
And do you mean to tell us you did that for eight days ? — Yes, and eight nights.
- 10851.
Did you make any reports to Mr. Cloke ? — No.
- 10852.
Did you go to him from day to day and tell him ? — No ; I had no case at all, only my own.
- 10853.
Did you ever go to him and tell him whether you had found any case or not ? — No, I did not.
- 10854.
You never went near him ? — No.
- 10855.
Are you sure of that ? — I saw him once or twice, but not to speak to.
- 10856.
When you saw him during that time did you speak to him ? — No ; I took no notice at all.
- 10857.
Did you tell him whether you had ascertained anything at all ? — No.
- 10858.
Did he make any inquiries of you ? — No.
- 10859.
Are you quite sure ? — Yes.
- 10860.
Are you quite sure he had no communication with you after you say he employed you to do this during the whole of that work ; now just think ? — No, none at all.
- 10861.
It is a serious imputation you are making on Mr. Cloke. Just think it over. Are you quite sure he had no communication with you after you say he employed you to do this, during the whole of that work ? — None.
- 10862.
You are quite sure of that ? — Quite sure.
- 10863.
When did you first have any conversation with him about this election ? — Several times.
- 10864.
Had you none from the time he employed yon, up to ihe time of the election ? — No.
- 10865.
None whatever ? — Not with Mr. Cloke.