Testimonies

Thomas, William Godfrey | Day 20

Witness Type: Other

Party: Conservative

Witness Testimony:

• 20105.

  Did you pay that in one sum ? — No, I paid it in various sums. I think there was one £350, one £354, another sum of £400, and one sum of £150.

• 20106.

  Can you say when you paid those sums of £354 and £400 ? — I think the £354 was paid upon the Sunday morning before the election.

• 20107.

  And the £400 ? — I think that was upon the Monday.

• 20108.

  Was that in gold ? — Yes, all in gold.

• 20109.

  Monday was Bank Holiday ? — Yes, it was sometime during Monday, but I cannot say exactly the time.

• 20110.

  Then what other sums ? — There was £150 upon one occasion.

• 20111.

  When was that ? — About the same date, Sunday or Monday, and I rather think upon the Monday.

• 20112.

  Can you say at what time upon the Monday you paid the £400 ? — It was in the morning, but I could not say the time.

• 20113.

  At Mr. Old’s house ? — No, at the Royal Hotel.

• 20114.

  Did you give him the £354 at the Royal Hotel ? — Yes.

• 20115.

  You were staying there ? — Yes.

• 20116.

  He came for it ? — Yes.

• 20117.

  And the £150 also ? — He was there, and Mr. Hughes said, “You have some money.” I said, “Yes,” and he said, “How much have you got?” and I said, “£350,” and he said, “Give it to Mr. Olds.”

• 20118.

  What was it given to Mr. Olds for ? — I did not know then, though of course I know now. I simply had instructions from Mr. Hughes to give it to Mr. Olds, and in fact I kept no account of it myself.

• 20119.

  Do you say it was £354 ? — Yes, to the best of my memory.

• 20120.

  You paid £354, £400, and £150 ? — Yes.

• 20121.

  £354 upon the Sunday, and £400 and £150 upon the Monday morning ? — Yes.

• 20122.

  Was it 9 or 10 o’clock in the morning, or when, because we have an object in knowing ? — I should think early upon Monday morning. I should think it would be before breakfast, but I am not certain; it might be, perhaps, about 9 o’clock.

• 20123.

  Did you take any money to Old’s house ? —No, none whatever.

• 20124.

  That makes £904; what further sum did you give to Olds ? — I think another £350, or something of that sort.

• 20125.

  When was that ? — That was upon the Monday, I think; it was cash that I asked for from various tradesmen. The bank was closed and I got them to cash cheques for us as far as they could.

• 20126.

  You think that you gave Olds another £350 upon the same Monday ? — Yes, I cannot remember the exact amounts.

• 20127.

  You said that you thought you gave to Olds £1100, but this would make £1250. ? — It might have been less than £350. I cannot remember the exact sums.

• 20128.

  You say that you gave him these sums on Sunday or Monday before the election; had you given nothing before that ? — Except the £36 which appears here, and I believe that was for some expenses incurred in canvassing.

• 20129.

  Beyond these sums which you have just mentioned, have you given Olds anything further ? — Yes, I did give him some more. I think I paid him a cab bill amounting to £70 or £80.

• 20130.

  After the election ? — Yes. Perhaps it does not appear in my book, because a cheque was drawn for it, and I did not put it into this book.

• 20131.

  Was that all that you had to do with giving Olds money ? — Yes, that is all.

• 20132.

  What other moneys had you for the purposes of the election ? Did you give anybody else money ? — No, excepting for the general purposes of the election, I paid all bills that came in for expenses incurred.

• 20133.

  What bills ? — Clerks, messengers, and all the lists that were made up I paid myself.

• 20134.

  You mean expenses included in the returned expenses ? — Yes.