Emmerson, Richard Joynes | Day 1

James Barber Edwards testified that he received £1300 from Charles Ross Foord of Rochester who had brought £1500 in gold sovereigns to Sandwich by train. Emmerson met him with James Barber Edwards and they split the money between them. £1300 went to Mr Edwards and £200 to Mr Emmerson. Mr Emerson received two further amounts of £210 and £350. The latter was paid by Messrs Lewis and Lewis.

Witness Type: Briber, Freeman, Treater

Party: Liberal

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

Witness Testimony:

  • 537.

    What is he ? – He is a friend of Sir Julian Goldsmid, and resides at Rochester.

  • 538.

    Do you know how much he brought down altogether ? – Yes, he brought down 1,500L.

  • 539.

    Do you know whether it was all in gold ? – Yes, it was all in gold.

  • 540.

    Had you ever seen or known Mr. Foord before ? – No, never.

  • 541.

    Had you any anticipation of receiving the 200L. at the time ? – I believe he said, when I applied for money, “You will have money brought to you ; money will be sent down, but I do not want to be bothered with it myself.” He disliked extremely when he was here being asked for cheques on account, and he said, “I shall make some other arrangement, it shall be sent to you,” and the money came down accordingly.

  • 542.

    Had you received any other intimation from Sir Julian Goldsmid with regard to this money coming ? – None whatever.

  • 543.

    When did Sir Julian Goldsmid tell you this ? – I think it must have been on the Wednesday, the very day it was coming.

  • 544.

    He came down upon the Monday ? – Yes ; and I think it was upon the Tuesday he told us that.

  • 545.

    Did he remain here until after the election ? – Yes.

  • 546.

    Was it the Tuesday or Wednesday that he told you this ? – I think it must have been the Wednesday ; one day must have intervened.

  • 547.

    Did you hear anything more of it before it came to you ? – No, nothing whatever.

  • 548.

    Where did Mr. Foord come to you, at Sandwich ? – Yes, he came to my office.

  • 549.

    Tell us what took place between you and him ? – It was simply this ; he came to my office, and I sent for Mr. Edwards, and he came round, and Mr. Edwards had 1,300L. of this money, and I kept 200L.

  • 550.

    Did Foord tell you what it was for ? – No, not at all ; he simply said it was for the purposes of the election. It was understood when we received it ourselves that we had it for the election, and he gave it to us as such, and nothing more.

  • 551.

    Nothing was said as to how it was to be expended ? – No, not at all.

  • 552.

    Nothing more than that a sum of 200L. was handed to you, and 1,300L. to Mr. Edwards by Mr. Foord ? – No.

  • 553.

    It would not come to more than 5s. each to come from Ramsgate ? – I think the men had flies and brought their families with them, wishing to give them a little treat. It was an estimate, and not intended to be paid exactly, and it has not been paid.

  • 554.

    The next day was it that you received a cheque for 210L. from Sir Julian Goldsmid ? – Yes, the next day I received a cheque for 210L.

  • 555.

    Was that from Sir Julian Goldsmid ? – Yes.

  • 556.

    Did he make any allusion to the 200L. you had already received from Foord ? – No, none whatever. I wrote him a note for a cheque of 210L., and I think it was sent to me, but I did not see him at the time, and he had no opportunity of asking me about it.

  • 557.

    When was the cheque given to you ? – Upon the Friday morning, I think.

  • 558.

    That was the Friday after the Monday he came down ? – Yes, I think so.

  • 559.

    What did you ask him for a cheque for ? – On account of the expenses of the election.

  • 560.

    That was after you had received the 200L. ? – Yes, I think it must have been.

  • 561.

    Did you in that note say anything about receiving the 200L. from Foord ? – No, not a word.

  • 562.

    Was it not rather singular that in writing to him, asking for a cheque for 210L. for the expenses of the election, that you should make no allusion to him of receiving the 200L. from Mr. Foord ? – I cannot explain how it was.

  • 563.

    Will you look and see ? – Yes, I will, certainly. I was under the impression that I had the cheque from Sir Julian Goldsmid to reimburse myself the lOOL. Which I had paid to the returning officer, and the 200/L must have come afterwards. If there is any mistake it must be in my saying that I had the 200L. first. I wrote to Sir Julian Goldsmid for a cheque to reimburse myself what I had paid to the returning officer.

  • 564.

    I suppose you will have some entry or memorandum as to when you received the 210L. ? – Yes, I did not make use of it I know at once – it remained in my drawer for some days.

  • 565.

    You would have some memorandum or entry showing when you received the 210L. ? – Yes, in all probability.

  • 566.

    Will you be so good as to refer and see the exact date when you received the 210L. ? – Yes.