Crompton-Roberts, Charles Henry | Day 17

In 1880, he stood as the Conservative candidate in the by-election against the Liberal candidate, Sir Julian Goldsmid, and won the election by 1145 votes to 705.

He and his household stayed in Stanley House, Beach Street during the election. His horses were stabled at the Royal Hotel.

https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-share/a7c7c33a-7d94-4103-98dc-b39d1b68c804

Witness Type: Candidate / MP

Party: Conservative

Other Days The Witness Was Called On: Day 16 | Day 20

Witness Testimony:

  • 18538.

    Is it your impression that you paid for fireworks that were not delivered, or was it simply an order given which was not executed ? — I heard that some of my supporters had ordered the fireworks, and heard that £20 worth of fireworks had been ordered, as I told you.

  • 18539.

    Yes, that accounts for the £5, but I am now asking about the £13 5s 1d, for which there is no voucher ? — I do not think that had anything to do with the fireworks; I think that is a general account which I have been unable to find.

  • 18540.

    (Mr Holl) I see that a circular was sent round at the time of the election, enclosing as I understand, that lithographed letter and cards giving directions as to the mode and place of polling, and also that programme of the intended regatta. Those were all enclosed together in the same envelope to the different electors ? — Yes, I have seen the lithographed letter before, but those other things are new to me.

  • 18541.

    Was that done with your knowledge ? — This lithographed letter was.

  • 18542.

    I mean with regard to the regatta card ? — I have never seen the card before. I know there was some conversation that it would be desirable to have a regatta, but, at the time, it was contemplated that the election would be over before the day when the regatta was talked about.

  • 18543.

    When was the regatta talked about ? — I should think within four or five days of my first going down there.

  • 18544.

    (Mr Jeune) Long before the election ? — Yes, within four or five days I should think of my first going down there, but I have no data to go upon.

  • 18545.

    (Mr Holl) What was said about the regatta as nearly as you can recollect? Who was it with whom you had the conversation about it, was it Mr Hughes ? — I think Mr Hughes said something to this effect: “Have you been asked anything about a regatta, people have been bothering me about a regatta, and Easter Monday or Whit Monday, I forget which it was, is a Bank Holiday, have you any objection to our getting up this regatta for the Bank Holiday?” We were under the impression that the election would take place on the Friday previous, and we thought that the regatta would take place upon the Bank Holiday, on the Monday.

  • 18546.

    Still, the regatta would be advertised before the election ? — Yes.

  • 18547.

    Was not that suggested to you as making a means of making yourself popular in the borough ? — It was not brought forward with that view. I think the boatmen had brought it up as a thing that was usually done. I can merely speak now from the impression left upon my mind, because I have no data to fall back upon.

  • 18548.

    It was suggested as a thing they wanted to have done ? — Yes.

  • 18549.

    And then I understand you consented ? — Yes.

  • 18550.

    When the polling cards are sent round the tickets or programme of the regatta are enclosed with it, connecting it in that way very directly with the election ? — I suppose it was meant as an invitation to everybody to come.

  • 18551.

    (Mr Jeune) Did you arrange with Mr Hughes that you were to take the pier and throw it open to the public by a free ticket ? — No, he told me he had done something of the kind. Whether I heard it from him or whether I read an advertisement upon the walls I do not know, but I was cognizant of it.

  • 18552.

    You knew that the pier had been taken on your behalf in order that it might be open to the public by a free ticket upon that day ? — Yes.

  • 18553.

    That was before the election ? — The election was expected to take place upon the Friday and this arrangement was for the following Monday.

  • 18554.

    You knew this pier had been taken for the regatta whenever it should take place, so that the pier might be open to the public by a free ticket before the election ? — Yes.

  • 18555.

    Did you know that this ticket had been sent out to the electors ? — No, I have seen it today for the first time.

  • 18556.

    Did you know that anything of the kind had been done ? — The only thing I was aware of was the lithographed letter which I wrote.

  • 18557.

    It says upon the ticket, “This pier open to the public by free ticket.” Did you know that any announcement had been given to the public at Deal that the pier would be open upon that day by free ticket ? — By what I saw stuck upon the walls.

  • 18558.

    Did the bills say that the pier would be open by free ticket upon that day ? — Yes, my impression is that it is so.

  • 18559.

    You knew before the election that you were offering to the public that they should have the free use of the pier upon that day ? — Yes, but I should qualify it by saying that I was under the impression that this Bank Holiday would come after the election.

  • 18560.

    I should like to know whether you can suggest any other conclusion, but it strikes me as being an offer that you knew of being made on your behalf before the election of something generally to the people of Deal, electors and others ? — It was to the general public, whether electors or non-electors.

  • 18561.

    I see it says, “Open to the public by free ticket obtainable at the newspaper and other public offices.” Did you direct, or did anyone on your behalf direct to whom these tickets should be given ? — No. I believe everybody had them.

  • 18562.

    As far as you know there was no intention but that everybody should have a ticket; there was no intention of limiting it to your own supporters ? — No. The only remark I made was this, “What is the use of having tickets if the pier is to be open to everybody? Why not take down the barriers?” I made that remark because of the expense of printing the tickets, and the answer was – I do not know by whom – “If you do that, supposing anybody misbehaves himself, you cannot turn him off the pier.”

  • 18563.

    There was no intention on your part, or upon the part of those acting on your behalf to limit the use of this pier to your supporters ? — No, I am perfectly certain that was not in anybody’s mind.

  • 18564.

    (Mr Holl) What is the form referred to in that circular ? — When I wrote this letter I had before me a great many of the forms I had received from different parts of the country where I had votes, and one of them I thought a very judicious one, which I copied. There was, on the reverse of a letter similar to this, written: “I shall have much pleasure in voting for you, please fetch me,” and it was stamped at the back with the address of the agent. When I wrote this lithographed letter out I believe I enclosed this printed form belonging to some other election to Mr Hughes, and that is the form I referred to.

  • 18565.

    (Mr Jeune) It is a small matter, but I see you had four butchers’ bills going all at once during the time you were at Deal ? — Yes, it is so.

  • 18566.

    Four butchers’ bills day by day ? — Not day by day; for instance, from the 13th to the 15th, and from the 15th to the 18th, there is a hiatus in one of them.

  • 18567.

    Referring to these bills, it is accurate substantially, is it not, to say that you had four butchers’ bills running at once ? — Yes.