Drayson, John | Day 9

Very amusing testimony. Took £3 from both sides for his vote. Also received money from Mr Cloke to make sure there was no bribery!

Witness Type: Both Sides, Bribee

Party: Conservative

Witness Testimony:

  • 10896.

    But what did you say to him ? Did you say anything ? — No, and he never asked me a question.

  • 10897.

    You must have said something ? — No, nothing.

  • 10898.

    Did you tell him you had come to be settled with ? — No, he did not ask that. When I went in he settled with me ; he says, “Would 3L. satisfy you,” and I said “Yes.”

  • 10899.

    Did not you ask him for anything or tell him you had come to be paid ? — He did not ask me that question. When I went there he said, “Come in, Mr. Drayson,” and he said, “What do you think about your work ; do you think 3L. would satisfy you,” and I said “Yes.”

  • 10900.

    At the time he first employed you as you say did he tell you what he would pay you ? — No, he did not.

  • 10901.

    Did he say he would pay you 3L., or so much a day, or what ? — No settled price at all.

  • 10902.

    Are you a voter ? — Yes.

  • 10903.

    And you voted, I suppose ? — Yes.

  • 10904.

    (Mr. Jeune.) You say Mr. Cloke employed you about a week before the election ? — No, that is wrong. I say I worked eight days at the election fair.

  • 10905.

    How long was it before the election that Mr. Cloke employed you ? — About eight days.

  • 10906.

    When did you get the 3L. from Mr. Piddock ? — The morning of the election, about 12 o’clock.

  • 10907.

    How did you know Piddock was giving money about ? — That is what I was looking after.

  • 10908.

    But how did you come to know that Piddock was giving money away ? — I did not know at all till I tried him.

  • 10909.

    How came you to try him ? — Well, in fact he tried me. He says, “Have you voted,” and I says, “No, Mr. Piddock, I have not,” and he says, “You go” and vote and I will give you 3L.” ; I says, ” I was just going up;” he says, “After you have voted I will give you 3L. ;” and after I voted I went to his house and he laid six half sovereigns on the table and I politely took them up.

  • 10910.

    Had you heard before that Mr. Piddock was giving money away ? — I had heard that.

  • 10911.

    And so you made him, and he said what you have told us ? — Yes.

  • 10912.

    Did you tell Mr. Cloke that Mr. Piddock had given you that 3L. ? —I did not tell him ; he gave me 3L. I told him I had got some blue money.

  • 10913.

    That is the same thing. When did you tell Mr. Cloke that ? — The same evening.

  • 10914.

    Did you go on purpose to tell him or did you meet him ? — I went, not purposely to tell him; he happened to be close to the door ; I was going in at the *’ New Inn,” and I went in and told him and this gentle- man here, Mr. Hughes, I believe. (Mr. Hughes.) Yes, I was there.

  • 10915.

    (Mr. Jeune,) Did you go on purpose to tell Mr. Cloke ? — Not exactly at that moment ; it was no use my going to tell Mr. Cloke at that time, for I should not perhaps find him at home. I should have to see Mr. Cloke in the morning about half past 8 ; that would have been about the time.

  • 10916.

    Did you consider that what you had to do was to tell Mr. Cloke about the fact that Mr. Piddock had bribed you ? — Yes, I did consider that was right.

  • 10917.

    You considered it was that sort of thing that Mr. Cloke employed you for ? — Yes, I was employed for that very purpose.

  • 10918.

    And that evening you did tell Mr. Cloke that you had had blue money ? — I did.