Olds, Samuel | Day 2

In total Olds received £2,500, purely for bribing Publicans and voters.
He secured and paid for committee rooms in 88 public houses – 71 in Deal & Walmer, according to testimony by Daniel George Frederick Simmons, plus 17 in Sandwich. Each was paid £5 a-piece. Well over the odds when their annual rent was on average £12.

In November 1881 he was found guilty and sentenced to six months hard labour. Released in May 1882.

Witness Type: Briber, Councillor / Alderman, No Indemnity

Party: Conservative

Other Days The Witness Was Called On: Day 3 | Day 14

Witness Testimony:

  • 1805.

    It is not a thing that you would have any doubt about ; if you returned a man 40L surely you would remember it ? — I do not say that I did.

  • 1806.

    Could you have the least doubt about such a thing one way or the other ? — It is my impression, if I had had it I should have returned it to him.

  • 1807.

    One can imagine quite well, if a person had money belonging to another person he would return it, but what made you say you had .an impression on your mind that you had returned it, if you had not ? — I had no impression that I had done so, but only if I had had any money I should have done so.

  • 1808.

    I rather understood you to say that you had an idea in your mind that you had returned him the day after the election 30L or 40L ; did you make him any such return ? — No, I did not I understood you to say that there was 40L debited against me by Mr. Hughes, and I said, if I had 40L in hand I should have returned it to him the day after the election, but now I have accounted for the 40L, and where it went.

  • 1809.

    I may take it now that the idea that you might have returned him 30L or 40L if you had it in your hands was wrong ? — It was not so.

  • 1810.

    You say that you paid this 40L, or whatever the amount may be, to some 10 or 12 canvassers, in addition to the 6L ? — Yes.

  • 1811.

    And you did it at Mr. Hughes’ suggestion or recommendation ? — Yes.

  • 1812.

    What reason was there for paying these 10 people 4L in addition ? — They had worked very hard, and some of them had given up their business altogether, and 6L. was considered not sufficient to pay them for their time.

  • 1813.

    Had there been any arrangement to pay them 6L, each ? — Mr. Hughes made the arrangement to pay them.

  • 1814.

    You did not make any arrangement with them ? — No, the arrangement was made with Mr. Hughes.

  • 1815.

    Was that arrangement made when they were first employed ? — Yes, if they worked well ; they were to have 10L if we won and 6L. if we lost.

  • 1816.

    Do I understand that that was the arrangement actually made with them when they were employed ? — Yes.

  • 1817.

    Who made that arrangement with them ? — I do not know. I think it was myself.

  • 1818.

    You think you made an arrangement with them that they should have 10L. if you won ? — Yes ; that is, the working committee ; the parties that worked the most.

  • 1819.

    Was that arrangement made with the canvassers ? — Yes, with the canvassers.

  • 1820.

    Was that arrangement made with the 41 canvassers ? — No, not with the 41 ; about 10 or 11 of them.

  • 1821.

    You say you made that arrangement yourself ; if you won they were to have 10L. a-head, and if you lost only 6L. ? — Yes.

  • 1822.

    Give me the names of the parties with whom you made that arrangement ? — I think you have the names all there.

  • 1823.

    No, I have not indeed ; who were the ten persons with whom you made the arrangement ? — I cannot recollect the names now.

  • 1824.

    You must be able to recollect some of them, you say they were the principal men amongst the canvassers; and tell me who they were ? — I can hardly recollect, because it is so long ago.

  • 1825.

    Pray forgive me for suggesting that it is not a laughing matter. These people are in the town, and you must know the leading men amongst the canvassers at an election which took place only four months ago ? — I could not be positive who the parties were to whom I gave the money to, now.

  • 1826.

    I am asking you with whom it was you made the arrangement ? — I told them generally that if they worked well there would be 10L if we gained the cause.

  • 1827.

    But you said just now it was not generally ? — There were not more than about 10 or 11 there at the time when the arrangement was made.

  • 1828.

    Tell me who some of them were. You have a double opportunity of remembering them, because in the first place you made the arrangement with them, and in the second place you paid them ; surely you must know with whom you agreed to pay 10L. a piece, and in the second place you must remember to whom you paid 10L. ? — If I had my book I could tell you.

  • 1829.

    If you did it at all surely you must be able to give me the names, and I must trouble you to tell me the names, you may have a little time to think over it if you like, but you must be able, if you choose to do so, to tell us what became of this money ? — Mr. Spears was one.

  • 1830.

    What Spears is that, William Henry Spears or William Frost Spears ? — William Henry Spears.

  • 1831.

    He had 10L you say, instead of 6L. ? — Yes.

  • 1832.

    Do you say that you made the arrangement you have spoken of with him ? — Yes, I told him there would be 10L, if they worked well and we gained the cause.

  • 1833.

    Who else had 10L. ? — William Mackie.

  • 1834.

    Who are the others ? — Walter Solomon, I think he was one.