Olds, Samuel | Day 3

In total Olds received £2,500, purely for bribing Publicans and voters.
He secured and paid for committee rooms in 88 public houses – 71 in Deal & Walmer, according to testimony by Daniel George Frederick Simmons, plus 17 in Sandwich. Each was paid £5 a-piece. Well over the odds when their annual rent was on average £12.

In November 1881 he was found guilty and sentenced to six months hard labour. Released in May 1882.

Witness Type: Briber, Councillor / Alderman, No Indemnity

Party: Conservative

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

Witness Testimony:

  • 2204.

    When you put down what you paid upon this memorandum, you would know sufficiently how much the total came to ? — You mean that I ought to have added it up.

  • 2205.

    I am not asking you to arrive at the amount within 5L. or 10L., but one would think you would have added it up sufficiently to know whether the amount you received or distributed was 1,200L., 1,300L., or 1,600L. ? — My calculation gave me about 1,000L., but I say there might be more, because they rushed in upon me so.

  • 2206.

    You said just now you thought probably it was 1,200L. or 1,300L., and not as much as 1,500L. ? — Why I left this margin is this, several came and took it, and were gone before I could enter it ; the result might be that one or two might come in and say that they wanted so-and-so, and I may not have accounted for it.

  • 2207.

    Have you given us all the names of the parties who had money ? — Yes, I think so ; all I can recollect If I recollect more I will give them to you at any time, or to the secretary.

  • 2208.

    Just think it over, because I should not like afterwards someone to come, and find that someone else had money that you had forgotten. Try and think it over, and see if you can think of any other names. You have got some memoranda there ? — This is only from my head.

  • 2209.

    Do you mind my seeing it ? — Not the slightest (handing a paper to the Commissioners). That is a little memorandum I have pencilled out, as I could think of it

  • 2210.

    Is this the only memorandum you had in your hand ? — Yes ; I made it this morning.

  • 2211.

    I thought you had some memorandum of the names here ? — No, that is the only one ; that is as near as I can think, I think you will find it come in pretty correct, and will be within a few pounds either way.

  • 2212.

    How long a time elapsed after the stranger came and gave you this bag, before Giles and Hughes came ? Were they the first people who came for money ? — Yes.

  • 2213.

    How long a time elapsed before they came to you ; two or three hours ? — More than that

  • 2214.

    You sent over to them ? — No. They came to Lord George Hamilton’s meeting, but they did not have the money.

  • 2215.

    What time was that ? — That was in the evening, and they came the following day. I think in the evening they must have come.

  • 2216.

    In the evening, about 7 or 8 o’clock ? — Yes.

  • 2217.

    You were at home at that time, I suppose ? — I was out and about a great deal, bat I was at home when they came, and gave them the money.

  • 2218.

    I understand you found this gentleman sitting in the sitting room of your own house with this money ? — Yes, with the money.

  • 2219.

    How long did he remain with you ? — Not 10 minutes ; he went off directly, he was going back by the next train.

  • 2220.

    Are you quite sure he did not tell you how much there was ? — I am sure he did not.

  • 2221.

    It strikes me ad a very singular thing for a man to come and leave you a large bag of gold and not tell you how much there was in it ? — No, he did not, not even his name.

  • 2222.

    I can understand his not leaving his name ; why did not he tell you what there was ? — Well, to the best of my belief he said it was 1,000L., that is what I base it upon.

  • 2223.

    Did not he count it before he went, to let you see how much there was ? — No, he merely took it out of his bag and left it, and was off out as quick as he could.

  • 2224.

    The bag, I suppose, was merely tied up ? — Yes.

  • 2225.

    Then when you had a large bag of money like that left with you, did not you, out of common consideration for yourself, count it out to see how much there was in it ? — I did not.

  • 2226.

    Why did not you count it so that you might know what sum you had received, and be able to account for it to those who sent it to you ? — I intended to do so, but I was called away, and was out a great deal ; the first thing was I took me Sandwich money out and paid them.

  • 2227.

    Do you mean you had not taken the money out of the bag, and counted it over during the three or four hours that elapsed ? — I went out again directly.

  • 2228.

    But there were three or four hours, according to your own statement, that elapsed between the time that this money was paid to you and the time you first disbursed a portion, 450L. of it, to Giles and Hughes. During that time do you really mean you did not take the money out and count it, so as to ascertain for yourself how much there was ? — Of course it is a long time to recollect. I believe the Sandwich people called to see me at night and some in the morning ; I think they came over early in the morning.

  • 2229.

    Then it was not only three or four hours in which you could count it, but all the night. Do you really mean to tell us you did not take me trouble to ascertain how much money had been entrusted to your charge, so that you might be able to exonerate yourself and explain how you disposed of it ? — I did no count it, but I believe he left it, stating it was 1,000L.

  • 2230.

    How was it you said 1,300L. or 1,400L. ? — Because I did not count it. There may be more. I know the man left it saying there was 1,000L.

  • 2231.

    (Mr. Turner.) You told us sometime ago he did not tell you how much there was ? — Well, I am under the impression he said so. I must have got the impression somewhere.

  • 2232.

    (Mr. Holl.) I remember I asked you some time ago when I first began to ask you how much there was in it, ” Did not he tell you how much there was ? ” and you told us distinctly, **No, he said here is a bag of ” money ” ? — I will not be positive whether he did say the amount or not, but I am under the impression now he must have said it was 1,000L. In fact, I have been under the impression all along that it was 1,000L.

  • 2233.

    It is singular to my mind that you should have got the impression that it might have been 1,200L. or 1,300L.. We asked you if it was as much as 1,500L. and you said it was not, but it might be 1,200L. or 1,800L. ? — Yes ; you would not get 1,500L. into one bag.