Olds, Samuel | Day 3

In total Olds received £2,500, purely for bribing Publicans and voters.
He secured and paid for committee rooms in 88 public houses – 71 in Deal & Walmer, according to testimony by Daniel George Frederick Simmons, plus 17 in Sandwich. Each was paid £5 a-piece. Well over the odds when their annual rent was on average £12.

In November 1881 he was found guilty and sentenced to six months hard labour. Released in May 1882.

Witness Type: Briber, Councillor / Alderman, No Indemnity

Party: Conservative

Other Days The Witness Was Called On: Day 2 | Day 14

Witness Testimony:

  • 2114.

    All of them ? — I could not name them now.

  • 2115.

    Surely you can tell me some of them ? — No, it was a general thing.

  • 2116.

    You say that some of the leading working men upon the Conservative side asked you whether you had any money, or whether any money had come ? — Yes, whether there was any money coming, but I could not remember the names.

  • 2117.

    From what was said did you gather that the party expected there would be money coming down to be distributed ? — I do not think they expected it from that source, they asked me generally, “Is there any money about, are we going to have anything this time.”

  • 2118.

    Was that said to you frequently by the leading working men of your party ? — Some of the working men, they were wanting to know whether they were going to get something — they could hear that there was money upon the other side, and they said, “Have we any,” and I could give them no information upon the subject until this money arrived.

  • 2119.

    These men you are speaking of were voters ? — Yes.

  • 2120.

    And men working upon the Conservative side as canvassers, either voluntarily or paid ? — Yes, they made the same remark, “Have we got anything, do you know of anything coming.”

  • 2121.

    I may take it it was a common impression amongst a good many of your side that money might come, and they were anxious to know whether it had come ? — Yes.

  • 2122.

    They were expecting it ? — They had seen me with Mr. E. Hughes, and they were expecting some money.

  • 2123.

    Can you give me the names of some of the parties ? — No, I could not, really ; they were nearly all alike, wanting to know whether there was any money.

  • 2124.

    Would as many as 20 or 30 have asked you that ? — Sometimes in passing up a street the length of this hall I have been stopped half a dozen times by people wanting to know if there was anything about.

  • 2125.

    I am speaking more particularly of the persons working for the party, canvassers either paid or other- wise ? — They might have asked me, “Is there anything down, do you know of anything, have we got any money, or is there any money coming”. I do not think they knew from what source it was coming, and I did not know myself.

  • 2126.

    Were you asked frequently the question by members of your own party ? — Yes, frequently.

  • 2127.

    Showing that they expected something to come, and were anxious that it should come ? — There always had been something before on both sides.

  • 2128.

    And they were anxious to know whether there was to be anything upon this occasion, and whether it had come ? — Yes.

  • 2129.

    Was it your own idea, or did you act according to instructions in sending as much as 450L. to Sandwich ? — I had no instructions from anyone ; the men called and stated what number they had got, and what they would require, and I gave the amount.

  • 2130.

    Who called ? — Mr. W. J. Hughes and Mr. Giles, they called and told me what number they had got, and what they would be required to be paid.

  • 2131.

    How many did they tell you they should have to pay ? — I really could not tell you that.

  • 2132.

    Just think as nearly as you can remember ? — I could not say.

  • 2133.

    They would of course tell you about how many they had to pay, and about what they thought of paying them, how much did they suggest they wanted to pay the men ? — There was an arrangement made.

  • 2134.

    What sum was it suggested that they should be paid, all alike ? — 3L.

  • 2135.

    Then the 450L. would pay 150 of them ? — Yes.

  • 2136.

    Was that about the number they suggested ? — I think it must be.

  • 2137.

    That was about the number they suggested they could pay in that way ? — Yes, they were not to exceed 3L. a head

  • 2138.

    Did you hear from them afterwards whether they distributed that money ? — Yes, and more besides ; they gave me to understand that they paid some out of their own pocket.

  • 2139.

    Who gave you to understand that ? — Mr. Hughes.

  • 2140.

    And Mr. Giles too ? — Yes, they said they were out of pocket that they had spent the money, and had got none for themselves.

  • 2141.

    Did the other man Hooper have money ? — Yes.

  • 2142.

    Was there any one else who distributed money besides Hooper, Giles, and Hughes ? — East

  • 2143.

    Was any distributed by a man named Lock ? — Yes.