Testimonies

Edwards, James Barber | Day 3

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

Party: Liberal

Other Days The Witness Was Called On: Day 4 | Day 9 | Day 10 | Day 14 | Petition Day 1

Witness Testimony:

• 3298.

  Have you ever known such a large expenditure for FLAGS, POLES, and colours ? — This is the first election in which I have ever had anything to do with the expenses. I have had nothing to do here except to pay.

• 3299.

  In your judgment, is there any sufficient reason for an expenditure of 600L. or 700L. on each side upon FLAGS, colours, ROSETTES, and so on, except for the purpose of popularity by circulating money over the borough ? — It is a common thing in Deal to have POLES and FLAGS, and what one did the other day was to see who should have the most. They wanted to put more, they said that the other side were getting more up, but I really thought we had gone far enough. The real truth is that when the Tories had got up a pole here the Liberals wanted one there, and so they went on. I do not think it had anything to do with voting except in this way that if one side had it, and the other side had not, the one that had it would get the best of it.

• 3300.

  Is not the object of it to make the candidate popular in the borough by showing that he is spending and circulating a good deal of money ? — No, here it is the common thing to have a great display of FLAGS.

• 3301.

  (Mr. Jeune.) You think the rivalry between the two parties is what really brings it about ? — Yes, I think that has a great deal to do with it. I do not know who gave the order, but the first thing after Sir Julian came was to start about getting the flag and POLES.

• 3302.

  There were more FLAGS and POLES at this election than any other before ? — Yes, of recent elections, but years gone by there were a great many more.

• 3303.

  One of the witnesses told us that the effect of the Act of Parliament in 1863 was to put down POLES and FLAGS ? — Yes, it was certainly, but before that there used to be FLAGS and POLES to a greater extent than there was this time, and costing ten times the money.

• 3304.

  The Act put it down for a time ? — Yes, no doubt, but all the old practices are creeping in.

• 3305.

  Did they have bands in the old days here ? — Yes, bands, and rows too.

• 3306.

  For a time the bands disappeared ? — I do not think they had any bands for some time, except of a very low character.

• 3307.

  And they came back upon this election ? — As I have said. Sir Julian Goldsmid had a very great objection to it, and said he would not have a band ; but you know what it is very well; a member is powerless in such matters, and if a band is sent it must play.

• 3308.

  I am not sure that I fully understand about all these accounts, but we have a lot of claims here, of which a considerable amount has been paid. I do not know whether you have any papers indicating how much of this account has been paid and how much has not. Here is a claim that comes to 1,479L. 12s. 11d., and we see that a considerable part of it under the head of Ramell, and under the head of Cornwell, have been paid by you ; what I want to know is whether there has been made out a statement showing how much of the claims at present remain unpaid ? — There is no account of that.

• 3309.

  The total claims against Sir Julian Goldsmid in connection with this election appear to be correctly stated in these three papers ? — Yes, for Deal and Walmer ; and Sandwich I know nothing about.

• 3310.

  For Deal it is 1,479L., Walmer 596L. 8s. 3d., and for Sandwich, which you know nothing about, 593L.; against that, has any sum been paid as far as you know, except the money which has passed through your hands ? — No, not that I know of ; I think they are all unpaid. A fly proprietor came to me the other day who wanted to know whether he could have some money on account. I told him that I had not got any money, and he said he should write to Sir Julian Goldsmid, but whether he has got any or not I do not know.

• 3311.

  After the election you applied to Sir Julian Goldsmid for the balance due to you ? — I wrote to Sir Julian Goldsmid to say that I was out of pocket, and that I should be glad of a cheque, but I have not had one. I told him I was out of pocket, I think, to the extent of 491L.

• 3312.

  Have you applied to Messrs. Lewis and Lewis ? —Yes.

• 3313.

  Have they paid you anything ? — No, nothing ; on the contrary, they sent me a letter the other day, and I do not know exactly what they mean by it ; they say that I have had enough money. I thought, as Mr. Emmerson had got some money, perhaps they would send me some, but they have not. They used to write very fairly, but they have never paid me money.

• 3314.

  As a matter of fact, they have not paid the balance ? — No, and they do not mean to pay it accord- ing to their account.

• 3315.

  You have received nothing, except the sum you told us of ? — No ; here is the letter I received the other day from Messrs. Lewis and Lewis (handing the letter).

• 3316.

  I need not trouble you with that, I think ; I may take it that up to the present you are out of pocket 490L., which you have actually expended in connection with this election, and which has not yet been repaid ? — Yes, after the election Sir Julian wrote to me to say that he would pay no more, and that I must apply to Messrs. Lewis and Lewis. I wrote to them, and they said they would audit the accounts and pay, but I have never got any money.