Pritchard, Stephen | Day 7

The Eagle Pub is close to the railway now 52, Queen Street. Then known as 4 Upper Queen Street.

Witness Type: Briber, Treater

Party: Liberal

Witness Testimony:

  • 6862.

    Except this little document showing you kept for yourself altogether 22L. 15s. out of the 30L. ? — Yes. 

  • 6863.

    Now do you mean to tell us it is true that 9 out of the 10 people that Mr. Outwin gave you the money to pay for had voted, and that that was the reason you did not pay them ?  — I do. I went to find them, and could not find them, and I never see them till seven or eight days afterwards. 

  • 6864.

    You could not find them ? — I could not find Mr. Outwin. 

  • 6865.

    Have you never told Mr. Outwin since that you kept 22L. 15s. ? — No, I have never seen him. 

  • 6866.

    How far do you live from him ? — A very little way. 

  • 6867.

    Why have not you gone and told him ? — Well, I have been to his place several times. 

  • 6868.

    Then it comes to this that you, having had the money to pay these nine people, have kept the money and put it in your own pocket ? — That is it, sir. 

  • 6869.

    And you have never told Mr. Outwin a word about it ? — No. 

  • 6870.

    You expect us to believe this story about the nine people, do you ? — Yes. (Mr. Holl.) As far as I am concerned, I may tell you at once I do not. (Mr. Jeune.) It is a very unsatisfactory thing. Bribery is bad enough, but theft is worse. (The Witness.) It was sent for bribery ; what was I to do with it ? 

  • 6871. [Mr. Holl.) Just sit down and write down the names of the nine people you say you were to pay that 22L. odd to, but you found that they had all voted. Sit down anywhere you like, and see if you can put down their names ?  — I must go home and get it down from my daughter. 

  • 6872.

    I think you had better do it here if you can ? — I cannot, I do not think. 

  • 7058.

    (Mr. Holl.) Does this paper contain the names of the persons that you gave to Mr. Outwin and for whom he gave you the money ? — Yes, for them or any others. He gave me 30L. 

  • 7059.

    To pay to 10 people you said ? — Yes. 

  • 7060.

    You paid one, and here are eight other names you have given me. Cannot you remember the ninth ? — I remember myself, that is all. There are one or two more. I cannot just remember them now. 

  • 7061.

    He gave you the money to pay yourself and these eight ? — Yes Mr. Outwin had the list of them, which I gave him. 

  • 7062.

    There is Rogers, Middle Street, and Sneller.  Sneller was the man you paid ? — Yes. 

  • 7063.

    Then there are only seven here that you did not pay. I asked you to put down those you did not pay ? — I thought you wanted me to put down the number. I was to give 5L. each, and how was I to do that out of 30L. 

  • 7064.

    What is Hawkes’ Christian name ? — William, I think. 

  • 7065.

    Do all these men whose names are on this list live in Upper Deal ? — Yes. They are only men that I promised ; they never had any money. 

  • 7066.

    Are these man whose names are given here persons to whom you proposed to give money for their votes ? — Yes, by his orders ; and he told me I was to do what I could with the others. 

  • 7067.

    And you were unfortunate enough not to be able to find any of them ? — I found them all, because I found them down here that day. 

  • 7068.

    Had you promised either of these men to give them something for their votes ? — I promised Hawkes to give him money for the other three at Upper Deal, and I promised White. 

  • 7069.

    You promised to give him money, and for the other three at Upper Deal ? — Yes. 

  • 7070.

    Hawkes is the one you made the promise to ? — Yes ; on Sunday evening as he was going to church. 

  • 7071.

    You say you promised that ? — Yes, and if I had received that money on Monday morning it would have been paid away. 

  • 7072.

    Did you promise the two Whites something ? — Yes. 

  • 7073.

    Did you promise Rogers anything ? — Yes ; I promised him I would give him 5L. which the others were to have. 

  • 7074.

    You told me 3L. before ? — 3L. before, and 2L. after the voting. 

  • 7075.

    You told me before that it was 30L. from Mr. Outwin which you received to pay 10 men ? — Yes, that is it. I did not do that. I drew the money out, and after, I found they had voted. My order from Mr. Outwin was 3L. before they went in, and 2L. after they came back. 

  • 7076.

    Had you promised Rogers to give him anything ? —Yes.