Testimonies

Hughes, Edwin | Day 19

Witness Type: Briber, Petition witness

Party: Conservative

Other Days The Witness Was Called On: Day 20

Witness Testimony:

• 19508.

  Did any conversation take place between you and Mr. Crompton Roberts as to whom that cheque should be made payable ? — I think it was drawn before I got into the room.

• 19509.

  Did any conversation take place between you and Mr. Crompton Roberts at all in respect to its being drawn payable to Cobs ? — No, not in the least.

• 19510.

  Nothing was said at all ? — No. I had no object in so doing. I would as soon as not my name should be put in, because it was all right and proper. It struck me that it was a cheque that he had written out beforehand, but I do not know.

• 19511.

  What is the next sum you received from Mr. Crompton Roberts ? — It is credited in the bank book, May 14th, £500.

• 19512.

  Between those cheques being given to you did you upon the 11th receive from Mr. Crompton Roberts a cheque for £600 ? — Yes, upon the 11th.

• 19513.

  Payable to Hoare ? — Yes.

• 19514.

  What did you do with that cheque ? — Cashed it as I have said.

• 19515.

  And paid the money into the Bank of England together with another £300 to the account of the five ? —Yes.

• 19516.

  At the same time that you received that cheque for £600 from Mr. Crompton Roberts payable to Hoare did you receive from him a memorandum authorising you to obtain any further amount that you might require ? — Yes, certainly, a carte blanche,

• 19517.

  That is the memorandum in pencil which Mr. Crompton Roberts handed in ? — I do not know that he handed it in.

• 19518.

  What were the terms of that document ? — “Let bearer have what he wants,” or something of that kind.

• 19519.

  And that was addressed to whom ? — To Mr. Hoare.

• 19520.

  And signed by Mr. Crompton Roberts ? — Yes, I think so, or initialled.

• 19521.

  What did you do with that document ? — I gave it to a gentleman that was being employed at an election of the name of Horne, and he took it to Mr. Hoare and got a cheque for £1400.

• 19522.

  Upon what bank ? — That I do not know, because I never saw the cheque, but I think it was the Joint Stock Bank. However, it was some bank and it was honoured all right.

• 19523.

  How came Mr. Horne to get a cheque for £1400 ? — I told him to get that cheque, and my idea was that that together with the £600 would make up £2000, which was a substantial sum for the purpose for which it was likely to be wanted.

• 19524.

  For the purpose of being distributed amongst the voters ? — Yes, if found necessary. It was laying in a store of ammunition for the purpose, if required to be used.

• 19525.

  (Mr. Turner.) There was £300 besides that you have mentioned ? — That went to the Bank of England.

• 19526.

  (Mr. Holl.) Do you know what Home did with the £1400 ? — Yes, he has told me – I have found it out – he paid £1000 to the credit of Olds at another bank and £400 to my credit.

• 19527.

  £1000 to the credit of Olds at what bank ? — Bellairs et Fils, Calais.

• 19528.

  And £400 he paid into your account ? — Yes, at Glyn’s, which I repaid him as soon as possible afterwards, because I did not want to have anything to do with it. You will see by my Deal bank book when I gave it back.

• 19529.

  Was it upon the 12th that it was paid into your account ? — It is credited upon the 12th in my bank book, but it would be upon the 11th, because it would take a day to get down to Woolwich.

• 19530.

  From what sum was the £300 that you have told us of drawn, and which was paid into the account of the five ? — I drew the £300 generally on my own account. That would be drawn upon Glyn’s before the £400 went to my credit, and had no relation to the £400 because it was not at all necessary to pay in in order to draw out.

• 19531.

  You drew upon your own account for £300 and paid it in with the £600 to the account of the five at the Bank of England ? — Yes.

• 19532.

  I understand you to say that the five names that the £900 was paid into at the Bank of England were Olds, Mackie, Myhill, Hayman, and Thomas ? — Yes.

• 19533.

  Have you got any memorandum with regard to that payment into the Bank of England ? — No, none at all.

• 19534.

  You are sure those are the names ? — Yes, I believe they were the names. I am certain of it.

• 19535.

  You say that the £400 which was paid in by Horne to your credit at Glyn’s you repaid to him ? — Yes.

• 19536.

  When was that ? — Two or three days afterwards down at Deal

• 19537.

  Was that by cheque ? — Yes, £400 upon the Deal bank.