Testimonies

Goldsmid, Sir Julian | Day 18

Witness Type: Candidate / MP

Party: Liberal

Other Days The Witness Was Called On: Day 6

Witness Testimony:

• 19295.

  It is not quite that that I am upon. Why, if you wished to be quite certain that Mr Edwards received the money, did you not have the money sent to you, and give it to Mr Edwards yourself ? — It did not occur to me, and I do not think I should like money to be brought to me at any time during an election. I think it ought to be given to the agent. I see that there have been some remarks about personal expenditure. I do not know whether it is wrong to say it, but I believe the only personal expenditure I made there was buying some writing paper and postage stamps, and so glad was I to leave the place that I gave the porter half-a-crown who looked after my luggage when I went away, because I was so pleased to go. I should just like to say that, in my evidence before the Commissioners at Deal, I endeavoured as far as possible to say nothing personal of Mr Roberts. I do not know whether the Commissioners have taken that view, but I certainly endeavoured to do so, because I have no personal feeling towards Mr Roberts, and consequently I have been a good deal surprised to see some very silly stories in his evidence about me. I can only say they are totally untrue; none of such things ever occurred, and I do not desire to say more than that as regards Mr Roberts. Mr Roberts came up to me at the Orleans club, as I put it, to ask for a character, to ask if I had any complaint to make of him. I was with my wife at the time, and I said, “Mr Roberts, my petition at Sandwich is not because of anything you have done; you have behaved yourself with every courtesy to me, but it is upon other and public grounds.” I told him that in my wife’s presence when he came up to me, and I did not go to him at all for the purpose. I have met Captain Roberts, his brother, on several occasions since, and have always spoken to him, I hope, in a courteous manner, as I hope I should do with every gentleman with whom I have to deal, and consequently I was very much surprised to see such silly stories introduced into his evidence which were totally untrue. If I had thought of telling you silly stories that I had heard about Mr Roberts, I might have filled folios, but such is not my practice.

• 19296.

  I do not think that anything has been said about you that you should mind the least in the world ? — Then there is a statement in Mr Roberts’ evidence that my vanity had been hurt by being beaten by so large a majority. Scores of my friends would tell the Commissioners that I was very glad that I had been beaten; that I knew I was going to be beaten, and I really do not think I should have gone on if I had thought I was not going to be beaten. Then also I should like to say that Mr Roberts had an enormous number of horses and carriages down, and some of my supporters came to me for the purpose of asking me to have horses and carriages, as they said it provided a better effect, and my answer was that I was not asking them to vote for my stable, but for myself. Then also I would add that my total week’s expenditure at Sandwich, and I had several friends to luncheon, was £33. I should add that Mr Roberts was there a fortnight before me, and all the public-houses were engaged long before it was known I was going to be a candidate, and most of the public-houses that were taken upon my side were taken upon the day I arrived. When I went out upon the Tuesday, I was taken up the High Street at Deal and saw public-houses with my bills up that morning, and when I went over to Sandwich to be introduced to the leading tradespeople there, I saw a number of public-houses with bills of mine, and I concluded that they were taken upon the Monday before I arrived. I arrived at Deal, I think, at 7 o’clock at night, the train being half-an-hour late. I should like to add that my intention was not to give more than the £2000, and I only sent the other cheque to Mr Emmerson because I was asked for it for a very legitimate expenditure, namely, the returning officers’ deposit. If anything occurs to the Commissioners to put to me, I should be glad to answer it now, because my doctor says I must go away, and it would be very inconvenient to me to be sent for.

• 19297.

  I think you may conclude that there is nothing more we desire to ask you, and we shall not have occasion to trouble you again ? — I am obliged to you. I am very anxious to give all the information in my power to the Commissioners.

  [Adjourned to Friday next at half-past eleven].