Horne, William B. | Day 19

Received cheque from Mr James Rolls Hoare, business partner of Mr Crompton Roberts for £1400. He paid £400 into the Glyn Mill’s bank and £1000 into a bank in Calais. Likely to have been the dark man referred to in various testimonies – Samuel Olds, George Friend etc. Lived in Woolwich at the time of the election. Olds subsequently went to Calais to get the money and returned with £700 and a cheque for £281 which he gave to Horne at Dover. Olds retained £15 and the remaining £4 was currency exchange.

Witness Type: Briber

Party: Conservative

Witness Testimony:

  • 19931.

    Did Olds speak to you there ? — Of course he had seen me the day before.

  • 19932.

    (Mr. Turner.) Then he would have known you ? — Yes, I should imagine he would know me, but if you can understand, when I came in the blind was nearly down.

  • 19933.

    (Mr. Holl.) Had you at all disguised yourself ? — No, I had no motive for doing that.

  • 19934.

    (Mr. Turner.) When Olds came in, what did he say to you ? — He said, “Oh, have you brought the money down,” and I said, “Yes.”

  • 19935.

    He must have known who you were ? — Yes, I presume by that he must have known who I was.

  • 19936.

    And you left the money with him ? — Yes.

  • 19937.

    Did you have anything more to do with it at all ? — No.

  • 19938.

    Did you go back to London that night ? — Yes, I think I went back to London the same evening, but I am not sure that I did not stop in Deal.

  • 19939.

    Have you taken any more money down at all, besides that ? — No.

  • 19940.

    That was £1400 ? — Yes.

  • 19941.

    (Mr. Jeune.) Where do you live ? — I have removed from Woolwich to Lewisham.

  • 19942.

    What is your address now ? — Limes Villa, High Street, Lewisham.

  • 19943.

    At this time you lived at Woolwich ? — Yes.

  • 19944.

    Have you known Mr. Hughes for some time ? — I have known Mr. Hughes for the last 40 years, I think.

  • 19945.

    What was your occupation ? What were you doing at that time ? — I was doing nothing at that time.

  • 19946.

    What was the first thing you heard about this matter, or what was the first thing you had anything to do with this matter ? — In reference to Deal ?

  • 19947.

    Yes, or in reference to the money, or anything in connection with this election ? — I met Mr. Hughes one morning in London.

  • 19948.

    Had you heard from him ? — No, I had not heard from him.

  • 19949.

    Do you mean that you met him casually ? — Yes, I met him casually.

  • 19950.

    Not by appointment ? — No, not at all.

  • 19951.

    Where did you meet him ? — I think it was at Glyn Mill’s bank.

  • 19952.

    How came you to be there ? — I think it must have been by appointment I met him there.

  • 19953.

    Try and think; how was it? Did you get a letter from Mr. Hughes, telling you to meet him ? — I cannot call it to mind.

  • 19954.

    Come, it was the first thing connected with the whole matter. You could not have gone to Glyn Mill’s by accident ? — No, I did not. I must have gone by appointment, but whether it was by letter, or a verbal communication, I do not know.

  • 19955.

    Try and think, because you must recollect: it is the first thing that happened ? — I really do not, and if I could I would tell you willingly and gladly. I have not the least idea now how it was I came to meet him there.

  • 19956.

    You met him at Glyn’s bank ? — Yes.

  • 19957.

    What passed ? — He said, “Take this note down to Mr. Hoare’s and he will give you something in return for it.”

  • 19958.

    Is that all ? — Yes.

  • 19959.

    It was a sealed note ? — Yes.

  • 19960.

    And he told you nothing more ? — No.