Testimonies

Drayson, John | Day 9

Witness Type: Both Sides, Bribee

Party: Conservative

Witness Testimony:

• 10866.

  Had you any conversation with anyone else about this watching the bribery, or watching to see if there was any ? — No, not on that scale ; not one.

• 10867.

  Not in that matter, you mean ? — No, not one person.

• 10868.

  When did you first mention it again to Mr. Cloke ? — Not long after the election ; about two days or a week perhaps.

• 10869.

  What did you say to him then ? — I told him I thought I had done my best in his business ; and the night of the election I told Mr. Cloke I had received some money of the blue party, and he had a glass of ale at the expense of the money.

• 10870.

  (Mr. Turner.) You told him of your own bribe ? —Yes.

• 10871.

  (Mr. Holl.) You told him that you had had some money from the blue party ? — Yes, I told several. He was there, and Mr. Hughes. (Mr. Hughes.) I think, perhaps, sir, I can explain it ; he spoke to me. (Mr. Holl.) You can presently, Mr. Hughes.

• 10872.

  You say you told Mr. Cloke in the presence of others ? — Yes, that I had got some blue money.

• 10873.

  That you had received some money from the blues ? — Yes.

• 10874.

  Did he say anything to that ? — He did not make any particular answer, only in this way : He says, “I did not think it would be required.”

• 10875.

  He did not think what would be required ? — My evidence.

• 10876.

  Did you tell him anything else besides that ? — Nothing else.

• 10877.

  Nothing besides your having received money yourself ? — No.

• 10878.

  Considering the amount of bribery we know was going on, you were not very successful in your researches ? — Well, I do not know, they are pretty artful in Sandwich ; they are not fools there ; they are very artful people, very cunning, and very close.

• 10879.

  What did you say to Mr. Cloke after the election, about this ? — After the election I went to Mr. Cloke, and asked him if he could settle up with me for the time I was at work for him, and he said, no, not at that time, for he had no money. Once I went, and he would not see me.

• 10880.

  The first time he would not see you ? — I see him then. I went again, and he would not see me.

• 10881.

  When you saw him did you tell him you had done anything ; and what ? — He did not ask me the question ; not one word.

• 10882.

  You say you went to him, and asked him to settle up ? — Yes, for eight days and nights.

• 10883.

  Tell us what you said when you asked him to settle up ? — All that I asked him was, whether he would be kind enough to settle up with me, and he said he had got no money.

• 10884.

  Did you tell him whether he had done anything ? — No, he did not ask me a question.

• 10885.

  Did you act in any other capacity, as a check clerk, or anything of that kind ? — No, not at all.

• 10886.

  Or canvasser ? — No.

• 10887.

  Or clerk ? —No.

• 10888.

  Or messenger ? — No, nothing in that way at all.

• 10889.

  Did you do anything at all for the Conservative party by his direction, beyond what you have told us ? — Nothing further than I have told you.

• 10890.

  When after this work did you first apply to him again ? — I cannot say; it might have been, perhaps, three weeks or so, I should think ; that is a rough guess.

• 10891.

  What did you say to him then ? — I went to ask him again, and he was not at home.

• 10892.

  When did you next see him ? — I could not tell you the date, nor yet the day.

• 10893.

  How soon after ? — The last time I see him he paid me the 3L.

• 10894.

  What did you say to him when he paid you ? — It was about a month or three weeks back.

• 10895.

  What did you say to him on the occasion when he paid you ? — He said nothing, only paid me.