Coleman, Benjamin Longden | Day 2
Farmer & Market Gardener Employing 22 Men 13 Boys (240 Acres)
Applied to Mr Emmerson to manage election. Received two sums of £40 and £50. The first was to engage Public Houses.
Party: Liberal
Witness Testimony:
- 1120.
Why did you make such a difference in the amount you gave to these men ? — Simply the value they put on the vote. One man put it at 1L. and others at 4L., and some maybe part payment; they may expect something. I cannot say as to that, that is what I gave them.
- 1121.
Because they asked it ? — Yes.
- 1122.
Thomas Mannings, 1L. 10s. Where does he live ? — Millwall Place.
- 1123.
Edward Smithers, 1L. ? — Church Street, St Clements.
- 1124.
Daniel Port, 15s. ? — High Street.
- 1125.
What is he ? — He is a farm labourer.
- 1126.
The first Port is 4L ? — He is a son of the other one.
- 1127.
Who is Daniel Port ? — Daniel is the father.
- 1128.
The son got 4L, and the father 15s. ? — Yes.
- 1129.
Harry Walker, 1L, ; where does he live ? — Fisher Street.
- 1130.
William Burton, 1L. ? — New Street.
- 1131.
Richard Gambrill, 2L. ? — Paradise Lane.
- 1132.
And W. G. Deverson, 2L. ? — I think he lived with his parents.
- 1133.
The whole is 51L. 5s., and I understood you to say that every one of these men demanded these sums before they would vote for Sir Julian ? — Quite so.
- 1134.
Besides these two sums of 40L. and 50L., what else had you to do with the election ? — Nothing. I canvassed for Sir Julian with him.
- 1135.
How many canvassers did you employ ? — I really cannot say. The landlords of the public-houses were to exert themselves in canvassing the customers.
- 1136.
We have seven public-houses at 4L. a-piece. Besides that did you employ any canvassers ? — No.
- 1137.
What other moneys did you receive besides the 40L. and 50L. ? — Nothing.
- 1138.
You employed no canvassers besides the seven public-houses ? — That is all.
- 1139.
And you expected that the landlords were to canvass their customers ? — Unless any one entered, such as Piddock, or any one like that ; of course they were asked to do the same, but we had no canvassers.
- 1140.
The understanding was that the landlords of the public-houses were to canvass the customers on behalf of Sir Julian ? — Yes.
- 1141.
And they were to receive 4L. a-piece ? — Yes and for the use of the committee room.
- 1142.
‘Committee room’ is a nominal term, I suppose ? — Yes.
- 1143.
You say you employed these canvassers ; what else did you do on the election ? — I do not know that I did anything.
- 1144.
I want to know, because you know better than I do ? — I canvassed for Sir Julian. I think that is all.
- 1145.
Had you anything to do with flags or rosettes ? — No, nothing ; only what is mentioned in that list.
- 1146.
What were the prices here for the rosettes ? — I think they vary.
- 1147.
They vary ? — Yes. You will see the prices down I think, perhaps, I can show you the vouchers.
- 1148.
Were the prices usual, or were they raised very much for the occasion ? — Oh no ; 6s. 6d. a dozen is about the average for them.
- 1149.
You do not know whether that is the average price ? — No, I do not. I had never much to do with them.