Hills, Edwin | Day 14
Brother-in-law of John Thomas Outwin. Owned the principal brewery in Deal employing 14 men and 30 – 40 public-houses. Used his own money in bribery and treating totalling £48. Paid John Simpson £20 to distribute and influence voters. Wratten was paid £5 on account the other party had promised him that amount. The remaining five voters received £4 each. He testified to spending £6 or £7 in treating.
Party: Liberal
Witness Testimony:
- 16508.
Have you ever been concerned in any election before ? — No.
- 16509.
Never ? — Never.
- 16510.
That makes it still more difficult to understand, unless something passed between you and Outwin, that Outwin should have taken the liberty, I was going to say, but I will say should take the step, of sending a person to you to ask for money for his vote, and to get money from you for the purpose of its being spent in bribery. Can you suggest why it was that Outwin took that step ? — I am related to him, perhaps that is the reason.
- 16511.
What relation are you to Outwin ? — He is a brother-in-law of mine.
- 16512.
I may take it that you had friendly conversations with Outwin about this ? — Yes.
- 16513.
Very well, that is so far as regards Simpson. Were the others persons that you had canvassed in the course of your canvass ? — There were two more that were sent to me, whom I paid in the same way.
- 16514.
By whom were they sent ? — They came from Outwin, I believe.
- 16515.
They came upon the Monday too ? — Yes.
- 16516.
Who are the two that came to you in the same way as George Simpson ? — Pettett and Foy.
- 16517.
Then Redman, Hills, and Wratten; how came you to give them money ? — I canvassed them myself.
- 16518.
They asked you for money ? — They expected some.
- 16519.
And you gave them money upon the day of the election ? — No, those three I paid a day or two afterwards; at all events, it was not very long after.
- 16520.
They all get £4 except John Wratten, who gets £5. What was the reason of that difference ? — He had a promise of £5 from the other party, I believe.
- 16521.
From whom? Do you know the person ? — No, I do not know.
- 16522.
He told you that, I suppose ? — Yes.
- 16523.
And so you gave him £5 ? — Yes, he had £5.
- 16524.
Was that all the money that you spent in connection with the election ? — I have spent between £6 and £7 in treating and one thing and another.
- 16525.
Of your own money ? — Yes, of my own money.
- 16526.
That was in treating voters upon your side ? — Yes.
- 16527.
Besides the £4 and the £6 or £7 that you have spent in treating, did you spend any more ? — No.
- 16528.
You did not receive any money, I understand, for the purpose of paying it out ? — No, I have not received any money.
- 16529.
Do you know of any more money besides that you have told us? Do you know now, or ever at any time did you know of any other money being spent in bribery at this election ? — No, I do not know of any other.
- 16530.
Are you sure ? — Only what you have had before you in evidence.
- 16531.
I mean other than we have had before us in evidence as yet ? — No, I do not know of any other.
- 16532.
You are quite sure ? — Yes, quite sure.
- 16533.
You have not heard of any other money being spent ? — No.
- 16534.
On either side, because I do not want your own side particularly ? — No, I do not know about either party.
- 16535.
I will confine you to your own side. Do you know of any money being spent for this election upon illegitimate matters beyond what we have had before us ? — No.
- 16536.
You are quite sure of that ? — Yes, quite sure.
- 16537.
(Mr. Turner.) Are the five voters that you have given us now in Deal ? — I think they are; I do not know it for certain.