Usher, Thomas James | Day 4

Also gave evidence at the earlier Petition Inquiry.

Instrumental in the choice of Mr Crompton Roberts as the Conservative candidate. In has testimony cited the names of the leading Conservatives in the constituency.
He offered to take on dealing with all the requests for flags and colours in Deal and Walmer when Mr Hughes said it was too much for him to handle. The requests turned out to be many and Walmer was subsequently passed on to George Marley. Not explicitly stated who paid him but listed as Edwin Hughes.

Commented that every house in the town had a flag and if there were any more the houses would disappear.

Witness Type: Briber, Petition witness

Party: Conservative

Witness Testimony:

  • 3791.

    Was it the 14th May ; that would be about the date I expect ? — Something like that.

  • 3792.

    And at that time you told Mr. Hughes about the extent of the liabilities you had incurred ? — That was all then.

  • 3793.

    And what for ? — Yes.

  • 3794.

    That was about 100L ? — I think, by the bye, I had incurred a greater liability at that tune, but I said, ‘Give me 100L. for the present, because people do not care about supplying colours on a second account until they had been paid the first.”

  • 3795.

    You got on the following day, the 15th, another 100L. ? — Yes.

  • 3796.

    At that time you had incurred, I suppose, liabilities to the extent of something over 200L. ? — Yes ; and then I told Mr. Hughes I thought it was time to stop.

  • 3797.

    Then the day before the election you got another 100L. ? — Yes.

  • 3798.

    And after the election you got 70L ? — Yes, and since that I have had 30L. to pay the two accounts which were owing at the time the Petition was outstanding. I have paid altogether about 400L.

  • 3799.

    This account altogether is 331L. 13s. ? — I do not know. I filed all the accounts at Sandwich, and I think there are vouchers for every account.

  • 3800.

    Just take that summary {handing same), I will go through it afterwards ; we will take the total first. The account, including Chapman and Loyns’ account, is 331L. 13s, ? — Yes.

  • 3801.

    In addition to that there is paid messengers account, 14L. 18s. That really is not for messengers. That is for men delivering flagsTAFF, and boys, paid clerk keeping register of flags lent out, paid men in charge of banners, boys holding cords to ditto, men employed to protect flags and devices, messengers, and paid putting up FLAGpoles at Mr. Gosley’s ; that is 14L. 16s. ? — Yes.

  • 3802.

    The flags, colours, and rosettes included in the account for 331L. 13s. were for Deal ? —Yes.

  • 3803.

    Then there is an account from Marley for flags at Walmer, 52L. 8s. 11d,, making 398L 19s. 11d. ? — That is it.

  • 3804.

    That does not include 42L. 4s, 4d., which is part of Cloke’s account at Sandwich which has since been paid ? — No.

  • 3805.

    That makes 441L. 1s. 3d., and it does not include, I think, an item of 33L. 6s., Chapman, to BOWS for canvassers ? — I do not know. I had nothing to do with that. I do not think it includes that item. There are bills for every item in that list.

  • 3806.

    I think it does not include that, nor does it include a sum of 279L. 19s. 9d. for poles and cordage ? — No.

  • 3807.

    Adding the poles and cordage and Chapman’s account for rosettes supplied to canvassers, and Mr. Cloke’s account, 42L. 4s. 4d. for flags at Sandwich, it comes to 754L. 10s. ? — Quite likely.

  • 3808.

    Now we will run through a few of the items. I see the first item is Dunn. That is for some goods ordered at a fancy shop, is it not ? — Yes, there were two bills.

  • 3809.

    That is 13L. 13s. Mr. Dunn is a voter ? — This was ordered of Mrs. Dunn, who is a MILLINER.

  • 3810.

    Mr. Dunn is a voter ? — Yes, I expect he is.

  • 3811.

    What was that for ? — For rosettes.

  • 3812.

    The next is Cattermole ? — That is for making rosettes.

  • 3813.

    That is 2L. 5s. Mr. Cattermole is a voter ? — Yes.

  • 3814.

    The next is Read for making flags ? — 3L. 6s.

  • 3815.

    Mrs. Read’s husband is a voter ? — I think there were several Mr. Read’s daughters, and some others.

  • 3816.

    At any rate he is a voter ? — I do not think you must recognise him in the transaction at all, because Mr. Bead has called on me since and told me he had nothing to do with it at all. The account was simply made out in the name of Bead, but I think four females made them.

  • 3817.

    Still they are members of his household ? — I do not think they are.

  • 3818.

    Are neither of them, neither his wife nor daughter ? — One of his daughters, I believe.

  • 3819.

    We will pass over that, it is not a very large item. The next is Knight, Dolphin Street, 62L 12s. Is that for making rosettes ? — Yes.

  • 3820.

    Her brother is a voter ? — I do not think so. She is a MILLINER.