Minter, William Robert | Day 6

Witness Type: Briber, Publican, Beerhouse Keeper

Party: Liberal

Witness Testimony:

  • 5888.

    Did they watch in turns ? — They were left to make their own arrangements so long as they kept things secure. I could not tell you exactly how they managed it between them.

  • 5889.

    How long they watched you do not know yourself, but you left it to them to do what they liked ? — I left it to them to arrange the best way they could, as long as the FLAGS and POLES were not destroyed, and the ROPES and lines cut.

  • 5890.

    If the FLAGS and POLES were not destroyed, and the ROPES and lines cut, you would be satisfied ? — I should be satisfied.

  • 5891.

    Are they all voters ? — Not all of them.

  • 5892.

    Who are voters ? — One or two of them. Pratt, Goodbourne, and Greenstreet are voters.

  • 5893.

    Holtum and Makey ? — Neither.

  • 5894.

    Then messengers. You employed four. How long did they work ? — During the whole time.

  • 5895.

    You paid them only 10s. ? — But they were not all the same time. I employed them at different times.

  • 5896.

    Did you pay them ? — I gave each of them about 10s. They done about two days each.

  • 5897.

    Did they really do anything ? — Yes, they ran down to the COMMITTEE ROOM. Lower Walmer, for any information, BILLS, &c.

  • 5898.

    From whom did they go, and who did they go to ? — From the COMMITTEE ROOM at Lower Walmer to Mr. Rose. The COMMITTEE ROOM was in my house at Upper Walmer.

  • 5899.

    They went from the COMMITTEE ROOM at Upper Walmer to Lower Walmer ? — Yes.

  • 5900.

    How far off is that ? — About a mile.

  • 5901.

    How many times did they go there ? — Sometimes two or three times a day, and sometimes not more than once.

  • 5902.

    What are these; are they voters ? — They are lads.

  • 5903.

    Are they sons of voters ? — Yes.

  • 5904.

    I suppose, like the board boys, you gave them the preference ? — Quite true.

  • 5905.

    Are they all sons of voters ? — Yes.

  • 5906.

    How came you to employ them ; did the voters come and ask you to employ these boys ? — The mothers sometimes, sir.

  • 5907.

    Do you remember whether the fathers of any of them came and asked you ? — No. Some boys came themselves, without father or mother ; most likely sent, that I do not know.

  • 5908.

    The boys came themselves in most instances ? — The majority of them.

  • 5909.

    Sometimes the mothers came and asked you ? — Yes.

  • 5910.

    Flag making 2L. 10s., and four dozen ROSETTES 1L. 10s. Who was that paid to ? — I had little BILLS of them which I gave to Mr. Rose, and I asked for them the other day, but he said he had orders from Mr. Edwards that they were to be destroyed. They were wives of voters, but put out one or two to each party. They were charged according to the size.

  • 5911.

    Did they apply to you for the work ? — Yes, they applied for the work of making them.

  • 5912.

    And the same with the ROSETTES ? — Yes.

  • 5913.

    Were they made by the wives of voters ? — Yes.

  • 5914.

    I suppose you gave them employment because they were wives of voters ? — I did.

  • 5915.

    Rope and line for flags 2L. 10s. ? — Yes ; I had little BILLS of that, but it went with the others.

  • 5916.

    Was that from one tradesman or several ? — From two or three.

  • 5917.

    I suppose they were voters ? — Yes, all voters.