Testimonies

Testimonies

• 1125.

  What is he ? — He is a farm labourer.

• 1126.

  The first Port is 4L ? — He is a son of the other one.

• 1127.

  Who is Daniel Port ? — Daniel is the father.

• 1128.

  The son got 4L, and the father 15s. ? — Yes.

• 1129.

  Harry Walker, 1L, ; where does he live ? — Fisher Street.

• 1130.

  William Burton, 1L. ? — New Street.

• 1131.

  Richard Gambrill, 2L. ? — Paradise Lane.

• 1132.

  And W. G. Deverson, 2L. ? — I think he lived with his parents.

• 1133.

  The whole is 51L. 5s., and I understood you to say that every one of these men demanded these sums before they would vote for Sir Julian ? — Quite so.

• 1134.

  Besides these two sums of 40L. and 50L., what else had you to do with the election ? — Nothing. I canvassed for Sir Julian with him.

• 1135.

  How many canvassers did you employ ? — I really cannot say. The landlords of the public-houses were to exert themselves in canvassing the customers.

• 1136.

  We have seven public-houses at 4L. a-piece. Besides that did you employ any canvassers ? — No.

• 1137.

  What other moneys did you receive besides the 40L. and 50L. ? — Nothing.

• 1138.

  You employed no canvassers besides the seven public-houses ? — That is all.

• 1139.

  And you expected that the landlords were to canvass their customers ? — Unless any one entered, such as Piddock, or any one like that ; of course they were asked to do the same, but we had no canvassers.

• 1140.

  The understanding was that the landlords of the public-houses were to canvass the customers on behalf of Sir Julian ? — Yes.

• 1141.

  And they were to receive 4L. a-piece ? — Yes and for the use of the committee room.

• 1142.

  ‘Committee room’ is a nominal term, I suppose ? — Yes.

• 1143.

  You say you employed these canvassers ; what else did you do on the election ? — I do not know that I did anything.

• 1144.

  I want to know, because you know better than I do ? — I canvassed for Sir Julian. I think that is all.

• 1145.

  Had you anything to do with flags or rosettes ? — No, nothing ; only what is mentioned in that list.

• 1146.

  What were the prices here for the rosettes ? — I think they vary.

• 1147.

  They vary ? — Yes. You will see the prices down I think, perhaps, I can show you the vouchers.

• 1148.

  Were the prices usual, or were they raised very much for the occasion ? — Oh no ; 6s. 6d. a dozen is about the average for them.

• 1149.

  You do not know whether that is the average price ? — No, I do not. I had never much to do with them.

• 1150.

  That was the election price ? — Yes, that was the election price, 6s. 6d, I think in some cases they were 5s. a dozen.

• 1151.

  (Mr. Holl.) Who first spoke to you about acting in the election ; who did you first have any conversation with about your taking any active part in the election ? — I really cannot say. I think I made enquiries of Mr. Emmerson as to what was going to be done. We had no committee. That is how it commenced.

• 1152.

  What did he tell you ; did he say what you were to do ? — Not exactly. I fell in with Sir Julian at the station. I think that was the starting of it. I received him as one of the leading Liberals ; one thing grew into another, and that is how it went on. I really cannot give you a better explanation.

• 1153.

  Just give us the substance of your first conversation with Mr. Emmerson. You must have made some arrangement that you should act for the party ? — I cannot say; the time was short, and I lent my services.

• 1154.

  What were you doing at the time of the election ? — Employed on my business.