Testimonies

Edwards, James Barber | Day 4

Witness Type: Briber, No Indemnity, Petition witness, Treater

Party: Liberal

Other Days The Witness Was Called On: Day 3 | Day 9 | Day 10 | Day 14 | Petition Day 1

Witness Testimony:

• 3377.

  Or it may be cwts., and in fact I think it is so. However, personally you have no knowledge of the quantities used ? — No.

• 3378.

  What was done with all this 67L. worth of rope ? — It was used for rigging the flagsTAFF and poles.

• 3379.

  After the election was over what was done with it ? — I am afraid that it fell as a perquisite to the boatmen who took them down.

• 3380.

  67L is paid for rope, and as soon as the poles have been up for a day or two they pull them down and the whole of the rope becomes a perquisite ? — Yes, it is a common thing at Deal for the boatmen to have a little perquisite in rope.

• 3381.

  As soon as the election was over this lot of rope was divided between somebody ? — I suppose those who put the poles up and took the poles down did not return them, but I do not know it.

• 3382.

  Did they keep the poles as well ? — No, they were merely hired.

• 3383.

  It strikes me as rather hard that they should make so large a charge for taking them down ? — That was thought to be a very small sum.

• 3384.

  There is a charge of 16L. 10s. for taking down, plus 67L. worth of rope ? — I do not think you quite understand the nature of some of these FLAGpoles ; the large flagsTAFF required a great deal of putting up and a great deal of taking down. Mr. Ramell said he had a picture of it. I think it would show that it really was something to do.

• 3385.

  (Mr. Jeune.) Going back to Hancock’s bill I see ” 12 horses and carriages with drivers, and expenses ” going to Dover, 22L. 18s,” What did they go to Dover for ? — Hancock himself went to Dover to engage these FLYS; that is a part of it, and the rest he had to pay to the parties for the FLYS.

• 3386.

  Hancock went to Dover and ordered FLYS there ? —Yes, because they could not be got here.

• 3387.

  The other side had taken all the FLYS ? — The Principal fly-proprietor here is Mr. Olds, and of course e kept them for his own side.’ Hancock had only two himself and I do not think he could get another fly j as it was, we were very badly provided with carriages, and he went to Dover and thought he had made a very good bargain, I believe.

• 3388.

  (Mr. Holl) He makes out a bill of 32L 16s for the use of two FLYS ? — Two or three FLYS ; but that was during the whole of the election,

• 3389.

  That would be only seven or eight days ? — They are pair-horse FLYS. If Sir Julian had won the election the bill would have been more probably, but being a losing election he made out a moderate bill

• 3390.

  (Mr. Jeune.) Yes, I think you are right; he charges two guineas for the carriage and pair a day, and driver, 5s. I do not think it is out of the way as things go ? — I do not think so ; there were a good many FLYS had from time to time.

• 3391.

  (Mr. Holl.) Then I see “Pittock, draper. 21L. 15s. 6d.” ; that is part of the flag and rosette department. Then “Redman, linings, 7L. 1s. Id. ? I do not think I looked at any of these bills except “Mrs. Jones,” and I do not know how it was I came to look at that.

• 3392.

  You have not inquired into them ? — No.

• 3393.

  Then there is “W. Ramell, painter, 53L.” ? — That I think was getting up all the flags, and most of it I think was paid out of pocket.

• 3394.

  That is not the Ramell that will account for the poles ? — Yes.

• 3395.

  This is apparently for making flags or colours ? — Yes.

• 3396.

  I see in his account, “Mr. Long 6L., Mr. Bailey 1L,” and so on ? — Yes, that was for making up the different colours.

• 3397.

  Then I see, ” Paid men for labour; 61. 10s ; own expenses and labour,10L,” if he paid all these people these sums amounting to 43L what labour did he bestow himself which required 10L. for himself ? — There was a very large display of flags, and they were all new and required a great deal of making up.

• 3398.

  This is not for the material, because that is charged separately — the making up alone comes to 53L ? — Yes.

• 3399.

  (Mr. Jeune.) Is there anything to show the quantity or number of flags supplied for this money ? — I do not think there is any account that would show it except the draper’s account which, would prove the quantity of yards supplied. Upon Prince of Wales Terrace alone I should think there were 50 flags made in a peculiar shape and style.

• 3400.

  Then there is a charge for making 24 horse cloths, ordered by W. James, what are those ? — That is Mr. Walter James. I suppose he has had experience at other places where they have had horse cloths with the name of the candidate painted or worked upon it and put over the horse to show that the carriages were those of Sir Julian. I suppose it was an idea of his. At different places they have different plans.

• 3401.

  (Mr. Holl.) The next item is, “Baldwin, draper 35L. 10s.,” that would be of course for material ? — Yes.

• 3402.

  Then Ralph, of the “Forester’s Arms.” for rope &c 19L 18s. ? —It is “rope, &c.,” I think that included a charge for his house.

• 3403.

  It is, ” Supplied to sundry parties 300 weight of rope and refreshments during the election” ; does he keep a public-house ? — Yes, the ” Forester’s Arms.”

• 3404.

  Do you know how much of this amount was rope and how much was ” &c.” ? — No, I do not know at all.

• 3405.

  Just look at that bill (handing the same) and see whether it means hundredweight, or what is it ? — I do not think it is hundredweight, it is fathoms I should think.

• 3406.

  (Mr. Jeune,) I see that one hundredweight of rope is put down here at 5L, so that three hundredweight would be 15L., and it would represent 15L. for rope, and 4L. for refreshments ? — I cannot say whether it means three hundredweight and a half, or fathoms.