Usher, Thomas James | Day 4

Also gave evidence at the earlier Petition Inquiry.

Instrumental in the choice of Mr Crompton Roberts as the Conservative candidate. In has testimony cited the names of the leading Conservatives in the constituency.
He offered to take on dealing with all the requests for flags and colours in Deal and Walmer when Mr Hughes said it was too much for him to handle. The requests turned out to be many and Walmer was subsequently passed on to George Marley. Not explicitly stated who paid him but listed as Edwin Hughes.

Commented that every house in the town had a flag and if there were any more the houses would disappear.

Witness Type: Briber, Petition witness

Party: Conservative

Witness Testimony:

  • 3821.

    But her brother is a voter ? — I do not know.

  • 3822.

    The next is Wilkins, tailor, for making flags, 5L. 15s. He is a voter ? — Yes.

  • 3823.

    The next is Bennett 1L. for making flags ? — Yes.

  • 3824.

    Her husband is a voter ? — I do not know. I am not sure about that.

  • 3825.

    The next is Pittock, tailor, for rosettes, 39L. 10s. 7d. What quantity of rosettes does that represent ? — It is all set out in the account.

  • 3826.

    It is not all for rosettes, because some of it is for red twill for flags ? — I think there were 200 or 300 yards of twill for rosettes, and there is one thing in that account which Mr. Spofforth could not have explained when he. was heard the other day. I think you have a note made about that on the petition — “Not in his books.” Mr. Jeune, I think, asked him the question. I can tell you how that came on the particulars. When the particulars were delivered in the petition Mr. Hughes asked me to enquire into those matters that personally affected the Respondent, Mr. Roberts. Amongst other things he was charged with having bribed Mr. Pittock by giving him a large order for flags, and I called on “Well,” he said, ” I have not his name on my books.” I must have written to Mr. Spofforth, or seen him, and so he put against it, ” Not in his books,” meaning that Mr. Roberts’ name was not on Mr. Pittock’s books at all. I had given the order. That is how it came on the particulars.

  • 3827.

    That was the order for 39L. 10s. 7d. for rosettes and twill ? — Yes.

  • 3828.

    Mackins, 3L. 11s. He is a publican ? — I think this may be his sister.

  • 3829.

    How came he to be supplying BOWS and flags ? — His sister is a MILLINER at Walmer.

  • 3830.

    But he is a voter ? — Yes, but he is quite independent of them who made these.

  • 3831.

    You think this was the sister ? — I think so.

  • 3832.

    There is Solly, 18L. 13s. That is Mrs. Solly, but I see the receipt is signed by her husband. He is a voter ? — Yes, I expect so.

  • 3833.

    Barrett, publican, making BOWS, 12. 10s. He is a voter ? —Yes, I expect so.

  • 3834.

    His wife made them, perhaps ? — In all instances they came down to me to see if I could not give them an order to make BOWS. So-and-so and so-and-so were making them, why could not I give them an order. I said, ” Well as we shall want BOWS you can make two or three dozen.”

  • 3835.

    A great many people wanted this work ? — Yes, they came to me and solicited it. If I had turned to everyone this list would have been four times as long as this.

  • 3836.

    With the exception of two or three they are all voters ? — Yes, and there were a good many more. This does not represent a third of what applied in Deal to me I should think.

  • 3837.

    The next is Philps, 8L. 15s. 8d. He is a voter ? — Yes, I expect so.

  • 3838.

    The next is Mockitt, 4L. 10s. for nine dozen favours. Her husband is a voter ? — No, I do not think so. I think she is a widow.

  • 3839.

    If you look at the register you will see the name of Mockitt down as a voter ? — I will not be sure.

  • 3840.

    Do you know the address of the person who made the favours ? —I do not unless it is on the bill.

  • 3841.

    Then there is Pointer & Co., 9L. 17s. 2d. ; that is for cambric ? — Yes.

  • 3842.

    The members of the firm were voters ? — Yes, I expect so ; but there is also an item on the other side Pointer & Co., which I heard read this morning. I know there is.

  • 3843.

    Then there is Elliott, 2L. 16s. Her husband is a voter ? — Yes. This was the daughter.

  • 3844.

    The receipt is signed by him ? — Yes, or the daughter who solicited the order.

  • 3845.

    The receipt is signed by Mr. Elliott ? — It is quite likely.

  • 3846.

    The next is Kemball, 13L 15s. 11d. He is a voter ? — Yes.

  • 3847.

    The next is Selth, 10s. That is a small sum, but her husband is a voter. The next is Laker, 1L., her husband is a voter. The next is Grigg 7s. 6d., that is a small one. Then there is Bennett, Hawkins, and Wilkins 3L., the husbands of those three are voters ? — Yes, it is quite likely they would be. I will not be sure.

  • 3848.

    They live in three successive houses, 21, 22, and 23, Gladstone Road, and are all voters. The next is Pearson 2L. ? — Her husband is a voter.

  • 3849.

    The next is Tomlin 2L. 14s. I think he is not a voter ; but the next. Hunter 2L. for rosettes, is a voter. The next is Chapman, draper, 472. 6s. 9d. ; he is a voter ? — Yes.

  • 3850.

    That is in addition to 33L. 6s. for rosettes made for canvassers ? — I suppose so.