Testimonies

Horne, William B. | Day 19

Witness Type: Briber

Party: Conservative

Witness Testimony:

• 19841.

  Did you change the £700 notes and the cheque all into gold ? — Yes.

• 19842.

  Then what did you do ? — Took it to Mr. Olds’ house.

• 19843.

  When ? — I think either upon the Saturday or the Monday, but I am not quite certain upon that point. In my evidence that you have I think I have given Monday, but I am not sure.

• 19844.

  Try and press your memory ? — I cannot recollect.

• 19845.

  Upon Friday you go to Dover, and you did not get the notes changed till Saturday. Did you go down upon the same day to Deal as you got the notes changed ? — That is a question that I really cannot answer. I cannot say whether it was upon the Saturday or the Monday that I took the money down.

• 19846.

  At what time of the day did you arrive at Mr. Olds’ house ? — Not till late in the evening.

• 19847.

  What passed between you and Olds ? — Directly I went to his house I was shown into a room. Mr. Olds was not there at the time, and they said he was out. I was shown into a room, and it certainly was very dark, and I sat with my back to the window. I suppose I waited half an hour, and then Olds came in. I told him I had brought some money down for him, the proceeds of the notes and cheque which he had given me the day before.

• 19848.

  And which he fully expected ? — Yes.

• 19849.

  Why do you make a point of saying that you sat with your back to the window ? — In Olds’ evidence he states that I was dark, and, probably, it being a very dark room, he may have mistaken me for a dark person.

• 19850.

  Having seen you a day or two before, and expecting your visit, he thought you a stranger; do you believe that ? — Well, I cannot quite believe that.

• 19851.

  Was it in reference to that, that you put in your statement that you sat with your back to the window ? — I did sit with my back to the window.

• 19852.

  When did you first hear that Mr. Olds had said he did not know who you were ? — I read it in the papers the day after he gave his evidence.

• 19853.

  And then it occurred to you that your sitting with your back to the window might account for it ? — Yes; it came to my recollection.

• 19854.

  Having given him the bag containing the sovereigns, what did you do ? — I left him, and came up by train to town again. I think I came up to town the same evening, but I will not be quite certain of that.

• 19855.

  Whether you did or not, have you had anything more to do with the matter ? — No.

• 19856.

  Or with the election ? — I was down there the day of the election, that is all.

• 19857.

  You did not distribute any money ? — No. I was merely employed as a confidential agent to carry the money down, that was all.

• 19858.

  (Mr. Holl.) When did you receive the cheque for £1400 ? —It was either upon the Wednesday or Thursday that I went down to Stamford Street, Mr. Hoare’s place.

• 19859.

  Did you have that memorandum in pencil ? — No. I had a note, and the note was, I believe, from Mr. Crompton Roberts to Mr. Hughes.

• 19860.

  Was it written in pencil ? — No, enclosed in an envelope, and I had no idea what was contained in the envelope till I got to Mr. Hoare’s place.

• 19861.

  Was it a note written in ink, or what ? — It was a sealed envelope.

• 19862.

  How was it written ? — It was addressed to Mr. Hoare.

• 19863.

  In pencil or ink ? — In ink, so far as my recollection serves me.

• 19864.

  Try and remember ? — I know it was enclosed in an envelope, because I took a cab and went down with it.

• 19865.

  Where did you receive it ? — From Mr. Hughes in town.

• 19866.

  How did it come to you ? — Mr. Hughes gave it to me.

• 19867.

  You say it was in an envelope ? — Yes.

• 19868.

  Are you sure of that ? —Yes, quite certain.

• 19869.

  And sealed ? — Yes, and sealed.

• 19870.

  You do not mean sealed with wax ? — No.