Gillow, Richard | Day 11

No indemnity against prosecution. Testified that he received no money at all and used his own. One of three people the Commissioners named in their report who expended their own money in bribery for the Liberals. Have shown here that he spent £80 but unclear whether he was reimbursed. He said he expected to be. Gave £60 to Joseph Nowers who gave £5 to 11 men and kept £5 for himself. Initially denied giving out any more but two people subsequently testified and he was recalled to explain.

Witness Type: Briber, No Indemnity, Treater

Party: Liberal

Other Days The Witness Was Called On: Day 14

Witness Testimony:

  • 13289.

    You gave him 60L. upon the theory that they should have 5L. apiece ? — Yes, that is it — to be divided amongst them. 

  • 13290.

    You knew the regular price was 3L. ? — That was 3L., and 2L. afterwards. 

  • 13291.

    You were going to pay money down ? — Yes, I thought money down would be the best. 

  • 13292.

    Mr. Nowers gave you a list, what did you do with it ? — Tore it up  — it was only a little strip of paper. 

  • 13293.

    You gave 60L. to Mr. Nowers ? — Yes. 

  • 13294.

    Did you give any other sum away in the same way ?  — I cannot remember any. Of course I did not think I was going to be called. I cannot remember any. 

  • 13295.

    But you see here you are ; cannot you remember any more now ? — I do not think there is any more. 

  • 13296.

    I should think there would be some more ?  — No, I think not. 

  • 13297.

    When everybody in Sandwich, in your view, was capable of being influenced, I should think there would be some more — 60L. is rather a small amount to one man ? — It was a pretty good lot out of my own pocket.

  • 13298.

    Having gone so far as 60L., I daresay you went a little further ? — Of course I used to go out and spend money every day. 

  • 13299.

    Did you give money to any people besides treating them ? — I do not remember any. 

  • 13300.

    Just try. You were out on the prowl for voters ? — I was out every day doing all I could. 

  • 13301.

    Your opinion of the Sandwich voters was not a very high one — are you quite sure you did not give anyone any money ? —-I cannot remember at the present moment. 

  • 13302.

    Try and think whether you did not ? — I cannot remember now any one. 

  • 13303.

    Surely you must have done so ? — I do not know who it is then. 

  • 13304.

    Do you mean that there were several more, and you cannot remember the names. You did not confine yourself, did you, to merely treating — there must have been some cases, surely, where you were asked for money ?  — Yes I was asked. You know what canvassing is. I did not have anything to do with paying any more money away. 

  • 13305.

    What strikes me is this: you were out canvassing ; surely lots of men asked you for money ? — Yes, and I told them I had not got it. 

  • 13306.

    You gave some of them something ? — I do not remember anything. 

  • 13307.

    It does not strike me as being very like Sandwich if some of the people did not ask you for money ? — Of course they did — lots of people who I asked for their vote asked me how we were going on. 

  • 13308.

    In some cases did you not give them anything ? —No. 

  • 13309.

    Are you quite sure ? — Yes. 

  • 13310.

    You are quite sure that you did not give anybody any money ? — I cannot remember giving anyone any money at this present moment. 

  • 13311.

    If you recollect anybody you had better come again and tell us, because there are ways and means sometimes of finding these things out ?  — Anything you want to know I shall be most happy to come down and tell you. 

  • 13312.

    (Mr. Holl.) Did you give any money or promise any money, or have any conversation about money with Mr. Parker of the “Red Lion,” Strand Street ? — No ; I do not think I spoke to Mr. Parker all the election. 

  • 13313.

    You did not give him anything or cause anything to be given to him ? — No. 

  • 13314.

    Or to Robert Harrison ? — No. 

  • 13315.

    Or Stephen Pittock ? — No. 

  • 13316.

    (Mr. Jeune.) Does your father live at Sandwich ? — At Woodnesborough. 

  • 13317.

    Is that near Sandwich ? — Yes. 

  • 13318.

    Did he take any active part in the election ? — Not in this one ; what do you call an active part ?