Coleman, Benjamin Longden | Day 2
Farmer & Market Gardener Employing 22 Men 13 Boys (240 Acres)
Applied to Mr Emmerson to manage election. Received two sums of £40 and £50. The first was to engage Public Houses.
Party: Liberal
Witness Testimony:
- 1300.
Was that 612. in sovereigns ? — Yes.
- 1301.
And you distributed it as mentioned in this list ? — Yes.
- 1302.
Now, Thomas Port, what is he ? — A farm labourer, or something like that. He is employed on a farm.
- 1303.
At the time that you gave him this 4L., what arrangement did you make with him ? — He came in after he had polled, and I could not get rid of him without I gave it to him.
- 1304.
You did not pay him this after he polled ; just think ? — Yes, I did, immediately after.
- 1305.
But what arrangement had you made before ? — I made no arrangement with him, with the exception that I saw his father, and asked him to go and get him, and said that I would satisfy him, or make it right with him, or something to that effect.
- 1306.
You got his father to go and get him to vote, and you told his father you would make it right with him ? — Yes.
- 1307.
Had you seen Port at all yourself before he voted ? — I do not think so.
- 1308.
Then after he had voted you gave him this 4L ? — Yes, he came and found me, told me he had voted for us, and claimed 4L. He said the others were getting it, and he meant having it.
- 1309.
When he said the others were getting it, do you know who he alluded to ? — The other side ; the Conservatives.
- 1310.
You gave him 4L ? — Yes, I gave 4L.
- 1311.
Can you tell us where he lived ? — I believe he worked on a farm at Monegham at the time. He was a householder in Deal, until he left to go to Monegham.
- 1312.
Is he a freeman of Deal ? — No.
- 1313.
What is he ? — He was a householder. He is one of the out voters.
- 1314.
Now, with regard to R. H. Bright – what is he ? — I think he works along the river ; a jobbing man ; does anything.
- 1315.
He is a jobbing man, who works along the river ? — Yes.
- 1316.
Where does he live ? — Usher Street.
- 1317.
Sandwich ? — Sandwich.
- 1318.
What arrangement did you make with him ? — I met him on the polling day.
- 1319.
Tell us shortly what took place between you ? — He said he would vote for the Liberals, but he must have 4L. ; he would vote for the Liberals if I gave him something. He came to me after the vote, and I gave him 4L.
- 1320.
He said he would vote for the Liberals if you gave him 4L. ? — I do not know that the sum was stated ; but he said, “If you do something for me, I will go and vote for the Liberals.”
- 1321.
And you told him you would ? — I told him I would.
- 1322.
And for the vote you gave him 4L ? — Yes. He said the others had it, and he meant having it.
- 1323.
You told me just now that Port told you the other side were getting paid ? — Yes.
- 1324.
Do you know anybody who was distributing money on the other side ? — No ; only rumour.
- 1325.
Who did you hear was distributing it ? — It might have been Lock or Hughes. Hughes, I think, was one of the names. I am not positive as to that. I did not ask him the name.
- 1326.
Did you hear of anybody who was distributing money on the other side ? — Only that there was money being distributed. No one came to me and said, “Somebody has promised me so much.”
- 1327.
Did you hear who it was being done by ? — No.
- 1328.
You said Lock or Hughes ? — I heard those two names mentioned.
- 1329.
As distributing money ? — Yes; but it was only rumour