Testimonies

Edwards, James Barber | Day 4

Witness Type: Briber, No Indemnity, Petition witness, Treater

Party: Liberal

Other Days The Witness Was Called On: Day 3 | Day 9 | Day 10 | Day 14 | Petition Day 1

Witness Testimony:

• 3437.

  A large number of voters expected to have their relatives and sons employed as messengers ? — I do not know whether they were sent by their fathers, but they came and applied for the employment. I had nothing to do with the employment of many of them.

• 3438.

  There was a difficulty in keeping the number down ? — Yes, so Mr. Cromwell informed me, and he was a good deal blackguarded from time to time for not taking more on.

• 3439.

  (Mr. Jeune.) Pretty nearly every voter expected to be employed, or to have his son employed ? — I think very likely. I know there were some very respectable boys who I should have thought ought not to be there.

• 3440.

  (Mr. Roll.) Then as regards “Personating ” agents and committee room clerks, 61 ?. 17«. 6d.;” the personating agents would be only employed upon the day of the election ; do you know what they were paid apiece ? — I think it was a guinea.

• 3441.

  How many of them were there ? — I do not know, but Mr. Cromwell can tell you.

• 3442.

  Do you know how many committee room clerks there were ? — I do not know. Mr. Cromwell had the entire management.

• 3443.

  Although he may have mislaid the book probably he will be able to give us an idea of the numbers, and what they were paid ? — Yes. I do not think that the book could ever have been sent to me. It is a mistake, I think, to suppose so.

• 3444.

  Then “Out-voters per T. C. Hall;” do you know how many out-voters there were, and how much was paid to each, and where they came from ? — No.

• 3445.

  I think in Mr. Hall’s claim, a certain amount was deducted that he had not expended of the 15L. ? — Yes.

• 3446.

  Then we have ” Goymer, services in committee ” room, 12L.;” what does that represent ? — He was there the whole of the time from the commencement, from 8 in the morning until very late at night, taking charge of the clerks and parties who were working from time to time at circulars, and all that sort of thing ; that was the charge he made.

• 3447.

  How many days was he there ? — I suppose from the Monday to the Tuesday following.

• 3448.

  Upon Tuesday you began to work really, did you not ? — Yes.

• 3449.

  Then it was seven days ? — I believe the whole of Sunday he was there, and it may be he would expect double pay for that.

• 3450.

  It would be about 30s. a day. What is Goymer ? — He is a man in poor circumstances, who has been in better circumstances. He has always been a supporter of the Liberals, and always had the office. It is quite necessary to have old hands, because they understand all about the things. I believe Mx. Cromwell thought it rather high, and Mr. Goymer thought it rather low. I do not know whether he made a greater charge, and it was settled for 12L.

• 3451.

  Then I suppose the last item is your own ? — Yes.

• 3452.

  The total of these claims in the Deal account is 1,479L. 12s. 11d. ? — Yes.

• 3453.

  Apart from Rose’s own account at Walmer, there are items to the amount of 290L. 2s. 0d and I will ask you a word or two about them. Is that (handing a paper) a full account of the Walmer claims ? — Yes, a full account.

• 3454.

  The total of it amounts to 596L. 8s. 3d. ? — Yes.

• 3455.

  Of which, 306L. 6s. 8d, consists of Rose’s account ? — Yes ; of which he has given the details, I think.

• 3456.

  The first item I see is Miller’s account for carriages, 44L. 11s. 6d. ? — Walmer is totally separate, and more carriage accommodation is required in Walmer.

• 3457.

  That is in addition to the carriage charge claimed in the Deal account of 55L., so that it comes to over 100L for carriages for Walmer and Deal together ? — Yes ; that was for eight or ten days.

• 3458.

  Have you examined the account sent in by Mr. Miller ? — I saw him the other day, and he wanted to be paid. I told him I had no money to pay him with, and he informed me it was a very moderate bill for a great number of carriages. He has a great many carriages, brakes, and other kinds.

• 3459.

  What was the amount charged upon the day of the election, and the amount charged previously; do you know ? — I do not know ; but the account would show.

• 3460.

  I see that 35L. is charged for carriages prior to the day of the election, and upon the day of the election about 10L. What were the carriages required for prior to the day of the election ; because I see some days as much as 3L. 18s. 0d. is charged for carriages, prior to the election ? — Sir Julian would have carriages, and the committee would have carriages, for the purpose of canvassing.

• 3461.

  (Mr. Turner.) In Walmer ? — Yes ; there is Upper Walmer and Lower Walmer.

• 3462.

  (Mr. Holl) I suppose the same person would not canvass Lower and Upper Walmer ? — No. People are fond of riding in carriages at the time of elections.

• 3463.

  (Mr. Jeune,) One day I see you had six carriages out, and another day three carriages ? — I do not know who had the carriages. I was often in Walmer, but never could find one. I used to say sometimes that I should like a carriage to drive back in, but I never could find one, and I always had to walk, unless I met a friend who drove me back.

• 3464.

  (Mr. Holl.) Walmer does not seem to me to be more than a mile from one end to the other, and it is difficult to understand how you would want six carriages one day and three another ? — I think parties used to order a carriage, whether it was really wanted or not.

• 3465.

  You do not know anything of the detail beyond that ? — No.

• 3466.

  Then Hookman, painter, 9L. 12s., that is flag making ? — Yes.