Testimonies

Edwards, James Barber | Day 4

Witness Type: Briber, No Indemnity, Petition witness, Treater

Party: Liberal

Other Days The Witness Was Called On: Day 3 | Day 9 | Day 10 | Day 14 | Petition Day 1

Witness Testimony:

• 3467.

  Or is that for painting flags ? — I do not know exactly.

• 3468.

  You do not know what that is ? — No.

• 3469.

  I see in his account he says, “Writing upon flags.” I suppose it means averaging 9 inches, 9d. a letter. He says, “Writing upon flags 204 letters, 7L. 13s.” Is that painting them upon the flags ? — Yes ; there were divers names and mottoes.

• 3470.

  Are they sewn in, or painted ? — Painted.

• 3471.

  (Mr. Jeune.) Do you mean painted on the flags ? — Yes.

• 3472.

  (Mr. Holl.) Upon the canvas ? — Yes.

• 3473.

  (Mr. Jeune.) Is 9d. a letter charged at other times than at election times ? — I do not know ; it is so seldom you have flags painted. I have several flags, but none of them painted.

• 3474.

  (Mr. Holl.) If you wanted your name painted upon your office door, they would not charge you 9d. a letter ? — I do not know.

• 3475.

  It might be so at election times ? — Yes.

• 3476.

  The next item is, “Pearson, ‘Queen’s Head,’ central committee rooms and refreshments, 41L. 18s. 4d.” He keeps a public-house at Walmer ? — Yes, the “Queen’s Head ;” and that is where the central committee rooms were held.

• 3477.

  Is that the same Mr. Pearson who superintended the flag department ? — No, that is another Pearson. This Pearson’ id the landlord of the “Queen’s Head.”

• 3478.

  I see that of the charge of 41L. 18s. 4d., 10L. is for the central committee room, and the rest for refreshments. This cannot be for refreshments only supplied to the committee ? — I do not know. Mr. Rose had the entire management of it, and I did not know that there were any refreshments.

• 3479.

  I see that for days prior to the election there are charges from 18s. 6d. to 2L. odd for refreshments, and then when we come to the 17th it mounts up to 4L. 6s. 8d., and upon the day of the election it mounts up to about 16L. ? — I expect they had a dinner upon the day of the election.

• 3480.

  Do you know how that is ? — No, I do not know at all I suppose it was Mr. Rose’s manner of conducting the election to have these refreshment houses, but I had no knowledge of it. I think he said that he consulted with me about it, but I was quite surprised when the bills came in, and I said, ” What does this mean ” Mr. Rose, we do not have these things at Deal.” .

• 3481.

  I was observing that neither upon the Conservative side or upon the other side, are there at Deal these charges ? — No, excepting in the case of Mr. Denne, and he never had authority to do it.

• 3482.

  Then the next item is Bullen, of the “‘Lord Clyde,’ committee room and refreshments. 11L. 10s. ;” and I see that item is made up of a charge of 5L. for committee room and 6L. 10s. for refreshments ? — The committee room would be all right.

• 3483.

  I know ; but I am separating the charge for the committee room, from the 6L. 10s. for refreshments ? — I was not in the least aware of it till the bills came in.

• 3484.

  That makes 38L already for refreshments ? — I think upon the day of the election, at all these houses they had a dinner.

• 3485.

  I find that the charge for refreshments at Walmer is 77L. 18s. ? — Very likely.

• 3486.

  (Mr. Jeune.) Amongst about 300 voters ? — Yes.

• 3487.

  It is nearly 80L. for refreshments for a week ; you could have with that amount have given all the voters in Walmer for the time breakfast, dinner, and supper ? — It is only 1,600 shillings, and divided by 300 it only gives 5s. for each voter.

• 3488.

  (Mr. Holl.) But there are some voters who would not condescend to accept it ? — Yes, I should think there would be some that would not have any refreshments at the expense of the candidate.

• 3489.

  I do not suppose there would be more than two thirds, and if it be so, it makes it a larger amount to be divided amongst the two-thirds that are left ? — Dinner is not to be had upon an election day without paying pretty considerably for it. At most of these houses I know they had a dinner, and I dare say all the clerks and everybody had a dinner at the ” Queen’s Head.”

• 3490.

  Then there is Axon, of the ” Army and Navy,” and there is a charge for committee room and refreshments, 12L. .3s., of which amount 7L. 3s. is for refreshments. Then Morris, of the ” Life Boat,” 11L. 19s. 6d., of which 6L. 19s. 6d. is for refreshments. Then Winter, of the ” Drum,” 11L. 1s. ; it does not appear how that is divided, but it would be, use of committee room 5L. ; and then I see “ Expense of meeting 2L. , ” and then “Expenses upon the election day ” ? — I think there was a meeting in a booth.

• 3491.

  Then West, of the ” Wellesley Arms,” refreshments, 18L. 19s. 4d. ? — I think at the ” Wellesley Arms ” there was a dinner.

• 3492.

  That is all for refreshments ? — Mr. Rose informed me that there was some mistake about it ; the dinner had been ordered by one man and counter ordered by him, but the landlord said it was too late, and supplied the dinner, and sent in the bill.

• 3493.

  But this is not charged as a dinner ; it is a charge for refreshments, 18L, 19s. 4d., from the 10th to the 18th, as ordered ? — Mr. Rose disputed it, and said he never ordered it ; but it was ordered by a member of the committee.

• 3494.

  Then I see, in addition to the 44L., Miller’s account for carriages, there is a charge by Minter, of Upper Walmer, for carriages 9L. 13s. 6d, making altogether 55L. ; and then Knight, for carriages, 2L 7s, ; Ayers, for carriages, 4L. 13s., really making 60L. odd at Walmer alone for carriages ? — Yes. I do not want to say anything against Walmer, but it has always had a character of being extravagant in conducting elections.

• 3495.

  (Mr. Jeune.) I think it has done itself full justice this time ? — Mr. Rose was cautioned by me, from instructions that I had from Mr. Emmerson, to be sure to keep the expenses down, because they had to complain upon the last occasion at Walmer. Mr. Rose felt aggrieved, and fancies that he has kept them down upon this occasion.

• 3496.

  (Mr. Holl.) Then the next is Pointer and Co., drapers, 9L. 16s., that is for rosettes. Then “ Woodcock ditto, 2L. 17s. 9d.,” and another Woodcock for the same, 1L 3s. 9d., making altogether 14L. for rosettes, and that is in addition to all that Mr. Rose himself spent and supplied ? — I think Mr. Rose is more particular in respect of flags — the blue calico.