Foster, John Ashley | Day 5

Received £15 for a committee room which he described as rather large – his ‘coffee room’.

Witness Type: Publican, Beerhouse Keeper

Party: Conservative

Witness Testimony:

  • 4698.

    We should be much obliged if you would have them copied out and sent to us ? — Certainly.

  • 4699.

    I daresay we shall not have to ask you to come again, for I daresay they will explain themselves, but we should like to see them. These sums you have enumerated, I understand, are all the monies you received from Mr. Roberts, Mr. Hughes, or from anybody connected with the Conservative party in respect of the election ? — Yes, all I received.

  • 4700.

    At your house were any refreshments supplied to voters ? — None whatever.

  • 4701.

    Your house was used on the Conservative side alone ? — Yes.

  • 4702.

    It had nothing to do with the Liberals at the election ? — No.

  • 4703.

    Then if you will kindly send us the items of the 98L. copied from your books I think that will be all we need trouble you with ? — Very well, sir, I will.

  • 5134.

    (The Witness.) You asked me for an account this morning, which I did not send in, 21L. 2s. 10d. I find it is Mr. Hughes’ account. I did not send it in because I concluded that it was a private account, that is the account. I also produce the bills that you require, and the accounts ; that is the one corresponding to 11L. 2s. 8d. and that is the 16L. 19s. (handing the accounts in.) (Mr. Jeune.) The bill for 8L. 10s. I see is for stabling for Mr. Crompton Roberts’ horses ? — I told you that amount was divisible by three, and those are the three accounts.

  • 5135.

    6L. 17s., that again is for stabling for six horses ? —Yes.

  • 5136.

    And also 1L. 12s. ? —Yes.

  • 5137.

    You have a bill for 27L. 19s. 11d. ? — It is in my books ; there are a few discrepancies in these bills of a few shillings ; the bill is the proper charge made ; there is a difference of 3s. There is also an account of 34L. 16s. 4d., instead of 33L. 6s. 10d. We were very busy at the time, and bills were being made out. The correct statement is the bill sent in, but you will see the amounts put in my book corresponding. The correct charge is the bill and not the book ; we were very busy at the time and one has to make out an account quickly. I thought I had better explain those matters to you, because they will agree with the amount sent in ; I had really more than I could do, and I did not add up the book until afterwards.

  • 5138.

    I see that there are generally about three or four beds. May I take it that these were things supplied to Mr. Crompton Roberts, or his family, and some friends ? — Yes ; Captain Roberts was considered as one of the family, and Colonel Bravo. That includes the account of Miss Gordon, a friend of theirs also, and Mrs. Roberts— all private accounts.

  • 5139.

    You say Captain Roberts and Colonel Bravo were staying with him, was there any other friend of Mr. Crompton Roberts staying with him ? — I do not think so ; occasionally that account would include some alight refreshments supplied to Lord George Hamilton and others who addressed the meeting, after the meeting was over.

  • 5140.

    I did not mean that, but supplied to Mr. Crompton Roberts or his family ? — Possibly Mr. Shaw may have stayed one night, but I am not quite certain.

  • 5141.

    Who is Mr. Shaw ? — A friend of the family.

  • 5142.

    (Mr. Holl.) What sort of a looking man was Mr. Shaw ? — A fair gentleman.

  • 5143.

    And what sort of looking man was Colonel Bravo ? — He had black hair ; a dark complexion.

  • 5144.

    Was he tall or short ? — Rather short and stout.

  • 5145.

    (Mr. Turner.) How long did he stay ? — From the 6th to the 18th, perhaps.

  • 5146.

    (Mr, Holl. ) Did you see there a shortish man, not very stout, with dark hair and black whiskers ? — I do not remember seeing a personage of that description.

  • 5147.

    Did Colonel Bravo come once ? — Colonel Bravo stayed sometime. That is the only gentleman answering to that description at all that I remember.

  • 5148.

    You did not see anyone else answering to that description at all ? — No.

  • 5149.

    I see there is an account Mrs. Steadman, the housekeeper, put down 41L. 6s., that probably would be some part of this which Mrs. Steadman paid you ? — I should think it would be the 34L. and the 7L. Those you will find in my book, at pages 402 and 405, I should imagine.