Emmerson, Richard Joynes | Day 1

James Barber Edwards testified that he received £1300 from Charles Ross Foord of Rochester who had brought £1500 in gold sovereigns to Sandwich by train. Emmerson met him with James Barber Edwards and they split the money between them. £1300 went to Mr Edwards and £200 to Mr Emmerson. Mr Emerson received two further amounts of £210 and £350. The latter was paid by Messrs Lewis and Lewis.

Witness Type: Briber, Freeman, Treater

Party: Liberal

Other Days The Witness Was Called On: Day 2 | Day 14

Witness Testimony:

  • 477.

    The direction given to Mr. Coleman to pay these scores off was given with a view of not afterwards having bills delivered ? – Yes. The large item were incurred during the excitement of the election, and upon the evening of the election. We have made no enquiry whether those bills are proper bills or not, simply because Sir Julian immediately afterwards paid, “You must not pay anything,” and I have not had any letter from him since.

  • 478.

    I need hardly ask you whether you are aware that paying these scores at these different public-houses on account of voters in this way was altogether illegal ? – I am quite aware of it, and I am very sorry to be placed in this position, but I come here to tell you everything I know in relation to it, and I can do no more.

  • 479.

    I suppose it is the same thing that has been done at all previous elections ? – Yes, it is. I do not know that I have had anything to do with that portion of it before, because it does not often fall to the legal adviser to interfere with what I call money not in the expenditure. I have had money to pay afterwards, but not directly, and there is no doubt upon this occasion I did give this direction to Coleman.

  • 480.

    (Mr. Holl.) I ought to ask you this question, and I am sure you will answer me quite fairly, as you have done everything else so far as I can see, was this done with a view of preventing the presentation of bills that could not be properly returned amongst the election expenses ? – To a certain extent I think very likely it was.

  • 481.

    You say the details of what Mr. Coleman paid from time to time, he will furnish us with ? – Yes.

  • 482.

    Are these the same public-houses that he went round to ? – Yes, some of them are.

  • 483.

    Most of them are, are they not ? – Yes.

  • 484.

    How many public-houses did you engage at Sandwich ? – Seven, I think, they are also passed in the account, and have been paid since the election.

  • 485.

    Can you give me the names of those seven houses ; first of all was a room taken at each house ? – Yes, they had 4L. a-piece.

  • 486.

    What was the arrangement with them ? – Simply that they should canvass the voters who were in the habit of frequenting their houses, and that we should be permitted to meet there in the room as a committee room whenever we chose.

  • 487.

    You say they were paid 4L. each ? – Yes.

  • 488.

    I have only two houses here, the “Bell” Hotel and Mrs. Hunter ; can you give me the names of the different houses ? – You will find them mentioned in the voucher handed in by Mr. Coleman.

  • 489.

    Yes, it is so : the “Cinque Ports,” the “Three Colts,” the “Salutation,” the “George and Dragon,” the “Bricklayer’s Arms,” the “Green Posts,” and the “Forester’s Arms” ? – Yes.

  • 490.

    What is the name of the landlord of the “Cinque Ports” ? – Robert Pierce.

  • 491.

    The “Three Colts” ? – Edward Henry Cork.

  • 492.

    The “Salutation” ? – John Hogben.

  • 493.

    The “George and Dragon” ? – John Burchett

  • 494.

    The “Bricklayer’s Arms” ? – George Bailey.

  • 495.

    The “Green Posts” ? – William Fagg.

  • 496.

    The “Forester’s Arms” ? – Edmund Bailey.

  • 497.

    I may take it, I suppose, that all of these are voters ? – Yes.

  • 498.

    And each of those houses has a coterie of voters in the habit of frequenting these various houses ? – Yes.

  • 499.

    I suppose they might or might not be all Liberals ? – Yes, it is impossible to tell.

  • 500.

    They would have a coterie of voters, and your object was to get as many of the voters who visited these houses to vote for the Liberal candidate ? – Yes.

  • 501.

    Do you know of any other money being spent in any way illegally ? – Yes, I am coming to another sum in regard to which I desire to make a statement. I paid to Mr. Coleman 50L.

  • 502.

    Apart from the 40L. ? – Yes, I gave him 50L in the same way for the expenses of the election, I handed it to him upon the Thursday or Friday. This sum was different, as far as I was concerned, from the sum of 40L., because as regards the 40L. I directed him particularly as to its appropriation, but with regard to the 50L. I gave Mr. Coleman no decided instructions of any kind, in fact he was to spend it, and apply it in the best way he could to secure the vote of those parties who had promised us. He stated to me that they could have what money they liked from the other side, and this money was given to him in order to secure those votes.

  • 503.

    To prevent their going over ? – Yes. I told him that he must account for it, and he is prepared to hand in a list of how it was appropriated. I was desirous of mentioning that now, because you might say afterwards I had not mentioned it.

  • 504.

    I quite appreciate it; that was given for the purpose of keeping the voters from straying, as Coleman thought they might, though I do not say they might, unless they had some payments made to them ? – Yes.

  • 505.

    Coleman will give us a list of the moneys paid ? – Yes.

  • 506.

    Is there any other money you at all know of yourself, directly or indirectly, that you know has been expended ? – No. I have reason to believe that there were promises made, but no money given.