Minter, William Robert | Day 6
Witness Type: Briber, Publican, Beerhouse Keeper
Party: Liberal
Witness Testimony:
- 6008.
A committee sitting ? — Yes.
- 6009.
(Mr. Jeune.) And there was a committee sitting at the “Cinque Port Volunteer ” ? — Either one or the other. If I was not at home I got one of the others who was assisting there to assist in case any message came.
- 6010.
(Mr. Holl.) How far is this “Cinque Port Volunteer” from your place ? — Not quite a quarter of a mile ; somewhere thereabouts.
- 6011.
What was the use, may I ask you, of having another COMMITTEE ROOM within a quarter of a mile from your house ? — It was done, I should think, to secure the house as much as anything, and the voters.
- 6012.
Then there is, special messenger, James Read, 5L. How long was he engaged ? — The whole time.
- 6013.
For the eight or nine days ? — Yes.
- 6014.
What did he do as a special messenger ? — He went to all sorts of places with different messages.
- 6015.
What is the difference between him and an ordinary messenger ? — The difference is that the other messengers are only lads ; this is a man.
- 6016.
This man had a vote ? — He is in a position, perhaps, to get a few more.
- 6017.
To get a few more votes ? — Yes.
- 6018.
So that in point of fact this 5L. was to secure his vote and his interest with some few others ? — Quite true.
- 6019.
This makes altogether 30L. Did you receive that also from Mr. Rose ? — I received that from Mr. Rose on the Saturday previous to the election.
- 6020.
You paid these people, I suppose, before the election ? — I paid none of them, only what I have told you.
- 6021.
Did you pay this 30L. away before the election or after ? — The 30L. was paid before the election.
- 6022.
It was paid on the Saturday ? — Yes.
- 6023.
Did you receive any other money besides these two sums of 129L. and 30L ? — No other money. I received nothing for my own house or anything else.
- 6024.
Have you paid away any other money in connection with the election ? — Yes, I have.
- 6025.
How much ? — I paid the fly-drivers at my own house, and I have paid what you see on the bill ; something like 5L. or 6L. I have laid out.
- 6026.
129L. you received, and 131L. 12s. 6d. was the amount of that first account ; that was 2L. odd to the bad ? — I paid the fly-drivers.
- 6027.
How much did you pay the fly-drivers ? — 5s. a day.
- 6028.
Have you got the account there ? — No, I have not got that, because it is only the money that I received that you have got the account of.
- 6029.
How many days did you pay each of them ? — I think the FLYS were engaged for eight days.
- 6030.
You paid the fly-drivers 5s. each a day for eight days, that is 2L. each. How many fly-drivers were there ? —Three.
- 6031.
That is 6L. for the lot. That you have not received ? — No.
- 6032.
Were these three men employed at Upper Walmer ? — Yes, they are on my own property.
- 6033.
What is the length of Upper Walmer ? How far does the place extend — about half a mile ? — Yes, about half a mile in length.
- 6034.
What use was made of these three FLYS every day ? — Wherever there was a meeting some voters would like to go to it, and on the day of election they were all engaged in conveying voters to the poll.
- 6035.
But you say .there were three men for eight days. Do you mean they went from Lower Walmer to Deal each day ? — Yes, to Sandwich sometimes.
- 6036.
And they used these FLYS for that purpose ? — Yes, and if I took a fly myself I charged it when I went on urgent business.
- 6037.
Were these FLYS really used to any extent ? — Yes, they were used pretty well through the time.