Emmerson, Richard Joynes | Day 2

James Barber Edwards testified that he received £1300 from Charles Ross Foord of Rochester who had brought £1500 in gold sovereigns to Sandwich by train. Emmerson met him with James Barber Edwards and they split the money between them. £1300 went to Mr Edwards and £200 to Mr Emmerson. Mr Emerson received two further amounts of £210 and £350. The latter was paid by Messrs Lewis and Lewis.

Witness Type: Briber, Freeman, Treater

Party: Liberal

Other Days The Witness Was Called On: Day 1 | Day 14

Witness Testimony:

  • 1051.

    I do not know whether you have thought over the subject at all, or whether it has struck you during the last election, in which way secrecy of voting tends to increase expense ? — Simply that we knew before exactly whether a voter did carry out his promise and intention or not, but now we do not, and therefore the voters, some of them, receive from both parties. There is no doubt about that, but I do not think that that goes on to a great extent I will not impute that to the constituency here. I do not think it goes on to a very great extent here, but it gives the opportunity of doing so ; and therefore, I think, the ballot is bad. From my own experience, I much prefer the other mode of voting.

  • 1052.

    Did it not strike you that, not knowing how a voter was going to vote, it became necessary, if I may so express it, to expend more money broadcast so as to influence as large a number as possible. Is that what occurred to your mind at the last election ? — No, I don’t exactly know that it did.

  • 1053.

    So far as you know from your experience of Sandwich, the ballot has not had the effect of checking corruption ? — I think not I don’t consider that we have been very corrupt at Sandwich — not on the whole. Years ago it was customary, before the Reform Bill, that every freeman when he went to the booth should receive a pound. That was the old system, and to a certain extent, of course, that has never been eradicated from their minds. Elections have become so pure now. I don’t mean to say that it operates at present, but that was the old system. There used to be a dinner, which was given by the member after the result had been announced, and you either had your dinner or you had your pound, if you chose to demand it, in the hall, when you went to tender your vote. That was the old system.

  • 1054.

    (Mr. Turner.) The whole class of voters, not only freemen ? — There were none but freemen at that time. There was only one class and they were freemen. Then came the Reform Bill and introduced the householder — the 10L. qualification.

  • 1055.

    (Mr. Holl.) Do you think that the freemen expect that now ? — No, I do not know that they do, but there are some of them still extant Here is a very curious old document (handing same), if you like to look at it ; it is the poll which was taken in the year 1800 ; it is quite a curiosity.

  • 1056.

    (Mr. Jeune.) You have mentioned pure elections. Was 1874 a pure election as far as you know ? — Yes, the general election.

  • 1057.

    You took part in that, did you not ? — Yes, I did.

  • 1058.

    (Mr. Holl.) Were the expenses of that election great ? — No, the expenses have been filed.

  • 1059.

    We have not had them at present, but we are to have them from Mr. Surrage. Were the expenses at Sandwich as large as at Deal, do you think ? — Yes, I should think so, quite.