Brassey, Henry A | Day 21
Henry A Brassey was one of the two Liberal MPs elected at the 1874 election and returned unopposed in 1880. He continued to hold the position until 1885. He was requested to appear at the trial and bring all papers and accounts relating to subscriptions and other payments made by him relating to Sandwich, Deal, and Walmer since 1874. He also prepared a statement regarding expenses at the 1868 and 1874 elections to counter remarks made by Mr Crompton Roberts during his cross examination.
Witness Type: Candidate / MP
Party: Liberal
Witness Testimony:
- 21291.
Then the £116 cheque was paid some time in July ? — I think so.
- 21292.
Was it paid by a cheque to Mr. Edwards ? — Yes.
- 21293.
In consequence of a request of his ? — Yes.
- 21294.
By letter ? — By letter.
- 21295.
Have you got that letter ? — I do not have it.
- 21296.
What did Mr. Edwards tell you the cheque for £116 19s 4d was for ? — The only explanation I have is contained in that memorandum I have handed to you. I wrote to him the other day and got that in answer..
- 21297.
(Mr. Holl.) As to £47 odd, it is rent, taxes, and housekeeper, and expenses of the Liberal Association, and the balance is subscriptions ? — I am not able to offer any further explanation.
- 21298.
(Mr. Jeune.) When Mr. Edwards wrote to you for this £116 19s 4d, did he tell you what it was for, or not? — I think not. I think he mentioned generally for expenses, and I think he did mention something in reference to the Liberal Association expenses, but I am afraid I have not preserved that paper. I think when he wrote to me he made a sort of general statement that it was for expenses in connexion with the Liberal Association, and gave a similar explanation, I think, to the one I have offered to the Commissioners.
- 21299.
You do not remember whether he said what that £116 19s 4d was for ? — I do not.
- 21300.
Only you think he told you it was for Liberal Association outlay; rents, rates, taxes, and so on ? — I could not say positively whether he did. I think he made a sort of general statement.
- 21301.
Are you in the habit of sending to Mr. Edwards, from time to time, money on a general account of that kind ? — He generally sends me a detailed account, generally a complete detail of the account. I have got his accounts here as they have been handed to me from year to year, which will show you, I think, I generally received his accounts in that sort of form (handing same to the Commissioners).
- 21302.
Here are the accounts for 1875 and 1876. Now this is a yearly account showing certain payments. He was in the habit apparently of only sending you accounts at the end of the year. These accounts seem to be from January to December ? — Yes.
- 21303.
And, therefore, I suppose Mr. Edwards has the habit of sending you accounts from year to year at the beginning of the year ? — Yes.
- 21304.
Therefore his sending you this account of £116 19s 4d in the middle of the year was out of the usual course, was it not ? — It must have been so. It must have been rather irregular, I think.
- 21305.
I am afraid you cannot remember what it is that Mr. Edwards told you he wanted that sum for that time ? — No, I cannot. I wrote to him for a detailed explanation, and the only explanation I have to offer is what he has given me in that memorandum I have handed to you. I know, in fact, nothing else about it.
- 21306.
I suppose you cannot be sure that Mr. Edwards ever mentioned to you at all what this £116 19s 4d was for at that time ? — I cannot.
- 21307.
Do you happen to have with you your pass book to give us the dates of these cheques for £116 19s 4d, and £360 ? — I am afraid I have not my pass book, but I think the first cheque was sent on June 9th, and the other cheque, to the best of my recollection, on June 11th.
- 21308.
(Mr. Turner) I thought you said July just now ? — No, June, I think. I think I am accurate in saying that.
- 21309.
(Mr. Holl.) The first cheque on the 9th, and the other on the 11th of June ? — Yes.
- 21310.
Are you sure that he wrote to you asking for the second cheque ? — I think so; I believe he did.
- 21311.
He wrote to you, but what he said in the letter you cannot remember ? — No, I have not a sufficiently distinct recollection of what he did say.
- 21313.
(Mr. Holl.) Can you remember this with any certainty? Did he give you any statement, whether you can remember what it was or not, in that letter of what it was for. I do not mean the details ? — No, it was only a general statement.
- 21314.
Did he merely say he wanted a cheque for £116 without more, and give a sort of general statement ? — I think he gave a sort of general statement, and I told him I thought it was very likely I might be called upon to give some evidence, and wished him to give me a more detailed explanation, and he sent me the other day the one I have handed to you.
- 21315.
The first of the two papers you have handed in (call it statement A) contains a statement of your annual subscriptions for the years 1875, 1876, 1877, 1878, 1879, and 1880 ? — Yes. That is what I was requested to bring with me,
- 21316.
Just look at the second item. I want to know the nature of these items. R. J. Emmerson, £74 and £28 9s 6d. That is not a subscription, is it ? — I think they were the subscriptions of 1874.
- 21317.
Subscriptions paid by Mr. Emmerson on your behalf ? — Yes. Mr. Emmerson always paid my subscriptions at Sandwich and he used to apply to me for a cheque. Mr. Emmerson furnished me with a statement always.
- 21318.
He sent you a statement of what he paid ? — Yes, and I used to return it.
- 21319.
Then this is a cheque given to Mr. Emmerson for subscriptions paid by you which he rendered an account of to you ? — Yes, which I always returned.
- 21320.
Have you got one of those detailed statements ? — I have only got one (handing same to the Commissioners). I am afraid that is the only one I have.
- 21321.
For what year is that ? — 1876. It is a sample of the sort of accounts he used to render.