Rose, Edward Thomas | Day 3
Listed in 1881 Census as Tailor Master (1 man). Initially received a payment of £306 before the election and the balance a fortnight afterwards. Money was paid in gold at a rate of £50 a day.
Party: Liberal
Witness Testimony:
- 2982.
You saw this boat dressed up with blue ? — I did see the boat.
- 2983.
How many men were there in her ; six, or eight, or ten ? — I do not know who were mixed up at all with them ; perhaps there were 12 or 15. I cannot tell you the particulars about that.
- 2984.
(Mr. Turner,) What is Mercer’s Christian name ? — Joseph.
- 2985.
Is his address at Walmer ? — Yes.
- 2986.
Is he a boatman or a pilot ? — A boatman.
- 2987.
Is he an owner of boats ? — I think he is an owner of one or two small boats.
- 2988.
How came you to employ him ? —Pearson employed him ; I did not employ him particularly.
- 2989.
Pearson is a boatman too ? —Yes.
- 2990.
(Mr. Holl.) You cannot tell me how many men were in this boat ? — No. perhaps there were eight or ten in that boat, and, perhaps, some of the other people acted that had some of the money.
- 2991.
What could you want to have 25L. paid among 10 men for having a boat rowed up and down for ? — It was sanctioned.
- 2992.
They were all voters ? — Yes, the majority of them at any rate.
- 2993.
As to the 29L. 2s. ; they came from Salcombe to Portsmouth ? — They had to leave their boat and loose time ; that was considered.
- 2994.
What were they doing ? — Piloting to go down to the westward.
- 2995.
This was a payment to them for loss of time ? — Loss of time, expenses, and going back to Portsmouth, coming from Portsmouth and going back.
- 2996.
Not a quarter of this could have been their expenses of coming up from Portsmouth and going back ? — Part of it was really for loss of time.
- 2997.
You say they came and voted, and had this sum of 29L. ? — Their expenses would be paid.
- 2998.
What did they satisfy you that they had really incurred ? — It was estimated by the people at Walmer what would satisfy them, and I think the message went on to state that if they came their expenses and loss of time would be paid.
- 2999.
You were authorised to pay their expenses and loss of time ; did you mention any sum ? — No, no sum.
- 3000.
Did you take any trouble to ascertain what their expenses were ? — Yes.
- 3001.
There were four men, were there not ? — Yes.
- 3002.
What would be their railway fares from Portsmouth and back, 1L. each ? — I do not know exactly what the fare is.
- 3003.
That would be about it ; that would be 4L. out of the 29L. ? — Yes.
- 3004.
What is the other 25L. for ? — That was divided between them in a way as if they had been on the ground, and had earned their money.
- 3005.
That is all the account you can give ; you say this 25L. was paid really for loss of time ; was it not really paid to them for coming to vote ? — No, it was not.
- 3006.
(Mr. Jeune.) They only lost a day, I suppose ? — Yes; when they left Salcombe, I think they were three or four days working up to Portsmouth with a head wind, and I think they were about a week altogether away from their boat.
- 3007.
(Mr. Holl.) Do you mean from Portsmouth here ? — No, when they started from Salcombe.
- 3008.
They worked up in their boat from Salcombe to Portsmouth ? — Yes, but I think they were three or four days doing that, I think the wind was easterly at the time ; there was a head wind, and they could not make any progress.
- 3009.
7L. 5s. it is each ? — I think it is somewhere about that.
- 3010.
Taking those figures, 4L. for coming from Portsmouth here, and 6L. 5s. each man for the time he stayed here, that is more than 1L. a head you gave them ? — Yes that is what they had. ‘
- 3011.
How many canvassers did you have, and how many messengers ; first of all, how many canvassers ? — Eleven.