Hughes, William John | Day 9

Hughes was a Sandwich grocer who had a very active part in the election, receiving £480 to distribute on behalf of the Conservative party. The equivalent of over £40k in today’s money. £144 was shared amongst 4 men who then distributed it amongst 48 voters. William Beck, Richard Wybourne, James Brett and John Langley.

 

Witness Type: Briber, Treater

Party: Conservative

Witness Testimony:

  • 10303.

    I suppose it was “I do not know and I do not want to know” ; that was the sort of thing ? — Yes.

  • 10304.

    With regard to these BILLS amounting to 12L. odd, did you tell him they were for treating ? — No, I told him that they were BILLS sent in from different publicans and he did not ask me any questions. I did not go into any explanation at alL

  • 10919.

    Witness recalled and further examined. (Mr. Holl.) You said just now that you were present when the last witness told us he told Mr. Cloke about having received blue money ? — Yes.

  • 10920.

    Tell us what you remember about that ? — I remember the fact of Drayson being engaged as a sort of detective. We had an idea that Sir Julian Goldsmid’s committee would be bribing, and we engaged Drayson to watch and get up a case if he could ; and the day of the election he said he had been unsuccessful until that day, and then he had 3L ; and if he did not say the amount he said he had blue money ; that was the night after the election. Some time after, Mr. Cloke said to me something about Drayson, that Drayson had been worrying him for some money for the work he had done and what did I think would satisfy him. I said I should give him about 3L. ; that was perhaps a month after the election. He said Drayson had been there two or three times worrying him for money for what he had done. (Mr. Holl.) That agrees with what Mr. Cloke told us.

  • 10921.

    (Mr. Jeune.) What made you think that money was going on the blue side ? — Because we heard so from different people.

  • 10922.

    Can you remember when you first heard that ? — No, I could not tell you the day.

  • 10923.

    You put Drayson on eight days before the election ? — Yes ; I could not say the time ; he was on several days before the election; he would know; I cannot tell you that.

  • 10924.

    Do you remember whether, when you put Drayson on, you had heard then that money was going, or was likely to go ? — I could not say I had heard, but we suspected it would.

  • 10925.

    For what reason; had you any reason for suspecting it ? — I cannot give you any reason now; I suspected there would be a certain amount of money spent. It was not only suspicion.

  • 10926.

    What led you to that ; has there always been money spent in Sandwich, or what ? —I do not know. I have never taken any active part in an election before.

  • 10927.

    You had no special reason on that occasion for thinking that there would be money spent ? — No, no special reason.