Denne, Charles | Day 6

Claimed £84 for the hire of 7 rooms for 11 days plus £80 11s for refreshments. Possibly inebriated as he was told to return on the following Monday and to be in a more fit state to answer questions

Witness Type: Publican, Beerhouse Keeper, Treater

Party: Liberal

Other Days The Witness Was Called On: Day 5

Witness Testimony:

  • 5442.

    Some of it is in rather large sums ; for instance, 8L., 11L. 6L ; how came you to make out those sums ; did you put it down at a guess or keep a score ? — They were put down by my daughter, who stood at the desk and entered it.

  • 5443.

    You made up the account here afterwards from that ? — It was entered in the book at the time it was served.

  • 5444.

    That cannot be quite, because the 8L., for example, is in one lump sum for luncheons ? — Some portion was stated and taken off afterwards.

  • 5445.

    You kept a slate, and wrote up the book from the slate afterwards ? — Yes.

  • 5446.

    (Mr Holl.) Have you got no memorandum now of what you supplied ? — Not any.

  • 5447.

    You have no memorandum showing the items ? —No.

  • 5448.

    You have no memorandum of how the 8L. is is made up ? — No, I have nothing but the book to go by.

  • 5449.

    With regard to these people whom you supplied with refreshments, had you any authority to supply them, or did you do it upon your own responsibility ? — I had no authority.

  • 5450.

    You did it yourself, without any authority from anyone ? — I might have asked if it was right to do so, and I believe I did.

  • 5451.

    Who did you ask ? — I could not say, but I believe it was some member of the committee.

  • 5452.

    You cannot tell me who it was you asked ? —No.

  • 5453.

    How many members of the committee were there that came to your house ? — I do not know ; I have no list of them.

  • 5454.

    A great many were there ? — Perhaps some gentleman here in court might tell you what the list was.

  • 5455.

    You can tell about how many came to your house ; would it be 100 ? — No, I should hardly think so ; not so many as that.

  • 5456.

    50 ? — Yes, I dare say there were.

  • 5457.

    There is one thing I should like to get a little more distinctly. You say you had some instructions from Mr. Edwards ; you say he sent you a message ? — Yes.

  • 5458.

    Or was it that you sent him a message ? — I sent him a message.

  • 5459.

    Tell us exactly what was the message you sent to him ? — His answer to me was ” Yes.”

  • 5460.

    What was the question that you had asked him ? — If I should provide for those men from Dover.

  • 5461.

    As to nobody else ? — No, I do not think that I did.

  • 5462.

    Did you ask him if you should supply the persons generally who come to the house, or was it only the men from Dover ? — I do not know that I did, I cannot recollect it.

  • 5463.

    Whom did you send with the message ?~ Hancock brought me the answer.

  • 5464.

    What is his Christian name ? — I do not know.

  • 5465.

    Is he in your service ? — No, he is a fly proprietor.

  • 5466.

    You do not know his Christian name ? — No.