Coleman, Benjamin Longden | Day 2
Farmer & Market Gardener Employing 22 Men 13 Boys (240 Acres)
Applied to Mr Emmerson to manage election. Received two sums of £40 and £50. The first was to engage Public Houses.
Party: Liberal
Witness Testimony:
- 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.
- 1155.
You lent your services ? — I lent my services to the Liberals.
- 1156.
What arrangement was made between you and Mr. Emmerson about your acting ; you must have come to some arrangement between yourselves as to what you were to do ? — I entered as canvasser. I suppose I knew the inhabitants of Sandwich about as well as anyone, and that is how I fell into the affairs. I really cannot say that there was any proper arrangement made.
- 1157.
You began it by canvassing ? — Yes, for Sir Julian.
- 1158.
You went round with him ? — I went round with him every time.
- 1159.
Had you anything to do with any previous election ? — Very little. I cannot say that I did not have anything to do, but I had very little to do with other elections.
- 1160.
Did you appear at all upon the 1874 election ? — I do not remember that I did except just amongst our own men. I just canvassed them, that is all.
- 1161.
From whom did you first receive any money ? — Mr. Emmerson.
- 1162.
When was that ? — A day or two previous to the polling, I believe.
- 1163.
Previously to that you must have had some conversation with Mr. Emmerson which led to his giving you money ; just tell us the whole of what took place between yourselves ; what was the origin of your interfering and taking an active part in this election ? — I saw that the Conservatives were very busy, and I thought it would be necessary to have money to meet the case.
- 1164.
ell us the conversation you had with Mr. Emerson when it was first arranged between you and him that you should act in any way in this election ? — I cannot remember.
- 1165.
(Mr. Turner.) Did you go to him, or he come to you ? — I went to him.
- 1166.
(Mr. Holl.) Tell us what took place as near as you can remember, the substance of it ? — I do not remember, only he asked me if I would canvass as time was short, and he did not know who to get, and I said, “Yes, I will go with pleasure.”
- 1167.
At that time was any money given you ? — No not until I applied for it.
- 1168.
Was anything said at that time about paying anybody ? — Nothing.
- 1169.
At that time you say no money had passed ? — Nothing.
- 1170.
Was any instruction given to you by Mr. Emmerson beyond the fact of directing you to canvass ? — I had no instructions.
- 1171.
Were there any other instructions whatever ? — I do not remember any.
- 1172.
In the first instance you received no instructions but that you were to canvass ? — That is all.
- 1173.
How long was that before the time you applied to him for money. How long were you canvassing ? — Not very long. It only lasted a few days.
- 1174.
Tell us, as near as you can, what date did you first see Mr. Emmerson, and it was arranged with him that you should canvass ? — I first saw Mr. Emmerson, I should think, when we heard that Sir Julian Goldsmid was coming down. I called and ascertained that he would come down. That was the first of it.
- 1175.
Can you tell us what day of the week that was ? — I cannot remember.
- 1176.
Was that on Monday the 10th ? — I cannot remember at all.
- 1177.
Was that before Sir Julian Goldsmid came down ? — I saw Mr. Emmerson in the morning or afternoon, or it might be the day before he came down.
- 1178.
Then you say he asked you to canvass ? — Yes. I met Mr. Emmerson, I believe, on the platform! There was nothing much done before then. He simply left me to canvass with Sir Julian, and I met him by appointment every time he came to Sandwich afterwards ; nothing more than that.
- 1179.
You canvassed with him ? — Yes.