Crompton-Roberts, Charles Henry | Day 17

In 1880, he stood as the Conservative candidate in the by-election against the Liberal candidate, Sir Julian Goldsmid, and won the election by 1145 votes to 705.

He and his household stayed in Stanley House, Beach Street during the election. His horses were stabled at the Royal Hotel.

https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-share/a7c7c33a-7d94-4103-98dc-b39d1b68c804

Witness Type: Candidate / MP

Party: Conservative

Other Days The Witness Was Called On: Day 16 | Day 20

Witness Testimony:

  • 18628.

    Why did you write that down ? — Because she was a person to be very much avoided.

  • 18629.

    About 10 minutes before, it had been suggested to you that it was no use to write down things of this sort m your book, because they could not be attended to at election times. Why should you write down that this person’s mother wanted liquoring up? Then I see three names lower down again, “John Terry, wife wants liquoring up.” That is so, is it not ? — Yes.

  • 18630.

    I suppose that was a person whose wife was in that condition of want you have described ? — If I had had any experience I should not have written such things down.

  • 18631.

    What is that opposite Thomas Hurst? He has been put down as Conservative and then struck out in pencil, with some words written opposite ? — Yes. “Query, wife favourable and been a great sufferer.” Someone told me I need not go and see Thomas Hurst as he was all right and a Conservative, but I did see him and he was not a Conservative. I called at the house and he was out, but the wife was there and she was favourable.

  • 18632.

    He would not promise you ? — No, he was against us altogether.

  • 18633.

    You say, “A great sufferer.” Did you mean that he wanted something to relieve his sufferings ? — He did not tell me that; it was the same sort of memorandum I should have made if I had come across a man with a dozen children.

  • 18634.

    Then opposite George Edward Farrier there is something which I cannot read ? — Send some Brahee sugar powder.”

  • 18635.

    What is that ? — A specific against rheumatism. I am a great sufferer from rheumatism myself, and that is a quack medicine that I have found very efficacious.

  • 18637.

    That note meant that somebody was to take care that it was sent ? — I sent him some myself.

  • 18638.

    Then opposite James Smith’s name there is a note: “Expenses to Ramsgate to be paid; can bring others, Brett and Stiles.” What did that mean ? — I forget now.

  • 18639.

    Did it mean that you told him that his expenses for going to and from from Ramsgate would be paid ? — Yes.

  • 18640.

    You saw him at Sandwich ? — Yes, no doubt, or else I should not have made the memorandum.

  • 18641.

    “Expenses to Ramsgate to be paid.” Does not that mean that he was to have his expenses ? — Yes.

  • 18642.

    You put him down as promising to vote for you ? — Yes.

  • 18643.

    I suppose you meant, and do not let me suggest it if it is not so, that he was to have his expenses either of going to Ramsgate, or to and from Ramsgate, given to him, he then being at Sandwich ? — I cannot charge my memory now. I am not sure whether that man was not with me canvassing.

  • 18644.

    What should you pay his expenses to Ramsgate for? He was at Sandwich you see; do you know what the entry means ? — I cannot at all recollect.

  • 18645.

    Then I see against Pain, Frederick R, “C R to see.” What does that mean ? — I had marked this man off as having seen him, and then somebody told me I had not seen him, and that I must go and see him myself.

  • 18646.

    What is that note opposite Mr John Wood; “D” stands for doubtful, I suppose ? — Yes, I put him down as a Liberal.

  • 18647.

    Rather faintly as a Liberal, and then there is a “D” which stands for doubtful ? — If you were to make notes in the streets of Deal with an east wind blowing, as it was then, I do not think you would make them much better.

  • 18648.

    What is the note ? — “Wife just confined; see; query busy.” They told me something about this man, John Wood, being a great deal too busy to see me.

  • 18649.

    What had his wife being just confined to do with it ? — I was going into the room, haying tapped at the door, and she said, “Come in,” and the wife had been but a very short time confined.

  • 18650.

    Did not it mean that something was to be sent to her in her confinement ? — I had not that idea.

  • 18651.

    Your accountant, I think you state, posts up your ledger from this pass book ? — Yes.

  • 18652.

    And finding an entry, “Hoare £500,” he posted it under Mr Hoare’s name in your ledger ? — Yes.

  • 18653.

    There is a heading at folio 146 in your ledger of extra expenses ? — Extra payments.

  • 18654.

    Which includes the payments made to Mr Hughes on account of your election ? — Yes.

  • 18655.

    The cheques drawn and payments made to Mr Hughes were payments in connection with your election ? —Yes.

  • 18656.

    And you knew it at the time ? — Yes.

  • 18657.

    Did you tell your accountant to enter that payment, which in fact was a payment in connection with the election, with the other payments which were in connection with the election ? — No, I had not seen my accountant when this book was entered up.

  • 18658.

    You see those entries as they stand are inaccurate; they do not include all the payments made in connection with the election ? — No, there are two amounts that ought to have come in.