Hughes, Edwin | Day 19
Witness Type: Briber, Petition witness
Party: Conservative
Other Days The Witness Was Called On: Day 20
Witness Testimony:
- 19538.
That was upon the 15th, I think ? — Yes, I believe so.
- 19539.
You gave Thomas that £400 ? — I repaid Horne really.
- 19540.
You repaid Horne through Thomas that £400 by a cheque drawn upon the bank at Deal ? — Yes.
- 19541.
But that was out of money which you received from Mr. Crompton Roberts ? — Yes, but it is the same thing because it is all one account.
- 19542.
Although the money had been paid in to your account you repaid Horne out of Mr. Crompton Roberts’ money ? — That is my banking account that you have there.
- 19543.
Your banking account dealing with Mr. Crompton Roberts’ money ? — Partly, and partly my own.
- 19544.
(Mr. Turner.) Had you money at the Deal bank of your own ? — Yes, I paid money into the Deal bank independently of Mr. Crompton Roberts.
- 19545.
(Mr. Holl.) At that time no money had been paid into the Deal bank distinct from Mr. Crompton Roberts’ money ? — No, there was none at the time, I did pay £500 of my own money into the Deal bank; probably the last £500 was my own money.
- 19546.
Would that be upon the 24th of May ? — Yes. It is all my money in the sense in which I look at it. I, having had credit at Woolwich for £400, drew on my Deal account in order to balance my credit at Woolwich. I never pretended to keep a separate account for the election.
- 19547.
This is money that you would be responsible to Mr. Crompton Roberts for ? — Yes, whichever bank it was in. It was merely a debtor and creditor account between him and me and nothing more.
- 19548.
The cheque with which you repaid the money to Horne was a cheque drawn upon the account which had been opened at Deal ? — Yes. He happened to be at Deal, or at all events it was wanted to be put along with the £1000 given to Olds.
- 19549.
Did Thomas cash the cheque at Deal ? — Yes.
- 19550.
And hand it over to Horne ? — Yes.
- 19551.
To add to the £1000 that had been sent over to Calais ? — Yes.
- 19552.
How was it that the cheque for £600 which you cashed, and which formed part of the money paid into the Bank of England was drawn payable to Mr. Hoare ? — I treated it as a distinct transaction from the election altogether.
- 19553.
How do you mean a distinct transaction from the election ? — With regard to those matters which I had to account for in reference to the election, the cheques were drawn in my name, and all that were not drawn in my name I treated as an extra.
- 19554.
You say it was money distinct from the election. In what sense do you mean ? — In the sense that it might be possibly wanted for matters that were not strictly legal.
- 19555.
In fact, money that might be used for a purpose that could not be returned amongst election expenses ? — Yes.
- 19556.
How was it that it was made payable to Mr. Hoare ? — I do not know. I heard the explanation given by Mr. Crompton Roberts, but all I can say is I did not go to Mr. Hoare to ask whether it was right or not for me to cash it.
- 19557.
Did you have any conversation with Mr. Crompton Roberts about the cheque being made payable to Hoare ? — No, I do not remember anything of the kind. I went straight to the bank at any rate.
- 19558.
Did he tell you at all whether it was drawn in that way? Did he give you any instructions to go to Mr. Hoare before presenting it to the bank ? — I never intended to go to Mr. Hoare myself. I only intended to send the letter.
- 19559.
As a matter of fact you did not go to Mr. Hoare ? — No, I did not. I never saw Mr. Hoare in my life.
- 19560.
Was there any conservation between you and Mr. Crompton Roberts as to how the cheque should be drawn ? — No, not that I know of.
- 19561.
(Mr. Turner.) Or how it was to be applied ? — No.
- 19562.
(Mr. Holl.) As to how it should be drawn, was there or not any conversation between you ? — I think not
- 19563.
Was there any suggestion between you that it should be drawn in any way which would prevent its being easily traced in connection with the election ? — No.
- 19564.
Did you make no suggestion to him at all as how it should be drawn ? — No.
- 19565.
(Mr. Turner.) Did Mr. Roberts know that it was going to be paid into the Bank of England on account of the five ? — No, and he does not know to this day that any money was paid into the Bank of England.
- 19566.
(Mr. Holl.) Do I understand you to say that you have no knowledge whatever, and no idea why the cheque was drawn payable to Mr. Hoare ? — No, I have not, except what Mr. Crompton Roberts states.
- 19567.
(Mr. Jeune.) Did you ask Mr. Roberts why it was so drawn ? — No, I did not.