Testimonies

Olds, Samuel | Day 2

Witness Type: Briber, Councillor / Alderman, No Indemnity

Party: Conservative

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

Witness Testimony:

• 1835.

  (Mr. Turner.) Was it the same Spears who was concerned in the posting, poles, cordage, and so on ? — No, the brother I think.

• 1836.

  (Mr. Holl.) Now who were the others who had 10L. ? — Benjamin Wood was one.

• 1837.

  That is four out of the ten, who were the others ? —I really cannot think of them — you see it was just at the busy time, and I cannot carry their names in my head.

• 1838.

  You cannot suppose that anyone would imagine that you cannot tell us who the other six were ? — I will try and think by tomorrow, one was named Jones.

• 1839.

  What is his Christian name ? — I really do not know that.

• 1840.

  Where does he live ? — In Beach Street.

• 1841.

  Robert William Jones is it ? — Yes.

• 1842.

  What is he ? — He keeps a public-house, a licensed victualler.

• 1843.

  That is five, now we want five more. Did any of those five that you have mentioned have more than 4L. a piece ? — No, not that I am aware of.

• 1844.

  Who are the other five ? — I am blest if I can recollect, I cannot really. I think one was named Ralph.

• 1845.

  What Ralph is that ? — J. J. Ralph.

• 1846.

  That makes six, who are the others ; if you think of the leading men I daresay you will think of the names easily enough ? — There were some selected by Mr. Hughes, his selections were principally the leading men, but I cannot recollect the names because you see they mixed the committees so.

• 1847.

  These are canvassers that you paid yourself and surely you must remember the names ? — It is four months ago.

• 1848.

  Yes, but this was an election in which you took an active part, and you took the management and payment of the canvassers, and surely you can recollect the leading men to whom you paid 4L a piece extra ? — I had not the management of them.

• 1849.

  You paid them at any rate ? — Yes, I paid them. I think one was Wise.

• 1850.

  Is that J. J. Wise or J. Wise ? — It was J. J. Wise.

• 1851.

  What is he ? — He is living retired.

• 1852.

  Where ? — At Upper Deal. (See Q. 1959.)

• 1853.

  That makes seven ; who were the other three, it is a pity to take up time if you can think of the names ? — One was Wilds of the “North Star.”

• 1854.

  Robert Wilds ? — Yes.

• 1855.

  That makes eight ? — I cannot really recollect the others, but I may between this and tomorrow.

• 1856.

  Let us know by tomorrow morning whether there are two or more to whom you paid 4L extra ? — I will do so, but it is impossible to speak from memory, as I have got no books or papers, and it is impossible to tax your memory four months back.

• 1857.

  A gentleman who pays the canvassers can easily recollect the leading men that he paid. I see that considerable other sums are charged for canvassers, for instance Axon 9L., 18L., and 9L., making 36L. altogether, do you know what he did with that ? — That came from the Walmer committee room, and I have nothing to do with it.

• 1858.

  The canvassers that you employed were employed for Deal, Walmer, and Sandwich ? — Yes.

• 1859.

  You do not know of any other canvassers being employed ? — There were many employed as messengers in the committee room.

• 1860.

  I am not speaking of messengers ; there were a good many volunteer canvassers ? — Yes.

• 1861.

  Were there any people employed by Axon as canvassers ? — I do not know Axon.

• 1862.

  There were two sums entered as paid to the Sandwich canvassers, 20L. and 12L ; do you know anything of those sums ? — Yes.

• 1863.

  Did you receive those two sums of 20L. and 12L ? — Yes.

• 1864.

  To whom did you pay that ? — I paid it to three canvassers there.