Simmons, Daniel George Frederick | Day 17

Questioned at very great length about his expenses. He was somewhat ‘forgetful’ and ‘careless’ in his record keeping. Although he had previously lived in the area and knew many of the people involved in the election, he was rather vague about who he had dealings with!

Witness Type: Briber, Freeman, Treater

Party: Conservative

Witness Testimony:

  • 18800.

    Mr Crompton Roberts and you, you mean, went down together ? — Yes, when I went down the second time.

  • 18801.

    Who did he or you put yourselves in communication with ? — Well, the leaders of the Conservative party there.

  • 18802.

    Where did you meet them ? — At the Royal Hotel.

  • 18803.

    Did they meet you there ? — They came there.

  • 18804.

    On the day you went down ? — In the course of the evening. I think we arrived about 7, and soon after there were a number of gentlemen came: Dr Hulke and the Rev Mr Woolmer, and several others. I could not think of them for the moment

  • 18805.

    What was the result of that meeting ? — It was more for an introduction to Mr Crompton Roberts than anything else. The meeting at which they decided to accept him as the candidate was some week or so before then.

  • 18806.

    Was any plan of action resolved upon at this meeting on the evening of the 4th ? — I think not. I think Mr Crompton Roberts went off to a meeting at a public-house somewhere at North End, and I did not accompany him. I had something to do in the hotel and I stayed behind.

  • 18807.

    When did you first begin to take an active part in the election ? — Well, “an active part,” I suppose when Mr Hughes came down. He asked me if I was going to remain, and I said I did not know, it depended entirely on Mr Spofforth, that he was coming down, and I said I would wait and see.

  • 18808.

    Did Mr Hughes come down the same evening that you did ? — The 4th of May. No, either the next night, or the night after that.

  • 18809.

    Did you do anything yourself with reference to public-houses ? — Yes, the morning after Mr Hughes got down he asked me, if I was going to remain, whether I would go round to secure the public-houses and take receipts and so on. Although they had been engaged, to a certain extent, no money had passed and no receipts had been taken.

  • 18810.

    What did you do ? — I went round with Mr Olds. Mr Olds had, to some extent, engaged most of them beforehand.

  • 18811.

    Was that the first time you had seen Mr Olds ? — No, I knew Mr Olds very well.

  • 18812.

    I do not mean was that the first time you had seen him in your life, but with reference to this election. Did he not come to that meeting on the evening of the 4th ? — I think he must have been there. I think I particularly recollect Dr Hulke introducing him to Mr Crompton Roberts.

  • 18813.

    Was it then arranged that you and Mr Olds should go round and get receipts from the public-houses ? — Not till the morning.

  • 18814.

    The morning of the 5th ? — Yes.

  • 18815.

    Now there is an item of £17, “disbursements” and expenses at 70 public-houses engaged with Mr Olds in securing same for election ? — Yes, that was disbursements I made. I had been out of pocket going about during the election. At that time, we had to spend a considerable sum in these public-houses we went round.

  • 18816.

    How was that £17 incurred ? — Well, it was spent in treating.

  • 18817.

    Treating people at the public houses ? — Yes.

  • 18818.

    Whom did you treat there ? — Well, I cannot say.

  • 18819.

    Were they chance customers whom you found when you went ? — Yes.

  • 18820.

    And you treated them whether they were voters or not ? — Yes.

  • 18821.

    Who advanced this £17 ? — I found it out of my own pocket as I went on. I was considerably out of pocket at the time I received some from Mr Crompton Roberts.

  • 18822.

    Did you get receipts for the 70 public-houses ? — Yes.

  • 18823.

    What more did you do as to the public-houses? Did you get any others besides the 70 while you were there ? — No, that is all I really did, so far as the conduct of the election went, or anything connected with the conduct of the election. I simply went on my own behalf in Mr Crompton Roberts’ interest from that time.

  • 18824.

    Did you return to London on the 8th ? I see there is “Rail return to London, £1 5s” ? — Yes, I did return about a week after I had been down.

  • 18825.

    The 8th would be less than a week, because you went on the 4th. Did you come back again to Deal after that ? — Yes, I think it was on the Saturday, if I recollect rightly, and I returned on the Monday. I had to come back to business.

  • 18826.

    Then “Telegrams 8s,” and “Egbert Hayward, for apartments as per receipt, £12 12s.” What is that for ? — That is Ward House, Prince of Wales’ Terrace.

  • 18827.

    Who took those apartments ? — I did.

  • 18828.

    For yourself ? — They were partially engaged by someone. Mr Crompton Roberts had friends coming down and I was to see that they were all ready for these people when they came.

  • 18829.

    You engaged them for Mr Crompton Roberts and his friends ? — Yes.