The Express.
London, England, 1866-09-04 00:00:00

ELECTION COMMISSIONS.

REIGATE.
The inquiry was resumed yesterday morning at
11 o'clock.
James Stephens, examined by Mr. Allen—l em a car
patter. At the last election I voted for Mr. (lower. I
was canvassed by Vosper on the polling morning. I
decked for the Monson party for about a month before the
election. I was engaged by James Nichols as a messeapr.
We never agreed for no payment. I expected to be paid Ws.
a week. I got a sovereign at the end of the find week
from Nichols. I received about 2/. 10s. from Neaward at
different times. The last payment was about a fortnight
before the election. I was not at all satisfied with what I
got I owed Lambert a baker's bill on the polling day.
I can't say how much I owed him. It might be 21. I
don't think I owed him as much as 31. I had no oonver-
senora with anyone about that bilL I have paid Lambert's
bill. I did not get a receipt. I put the payments down in
a book. I don't believe I have got it.
Mr. Allen—l don't believe you have. (Laughter.)
Bearing in mind that you received IL 10a. from the Mon-
son party, do you mean to tell me that yell voted for Mr.
flower without any expectation of receiving anything ?—I

did. I voted on my own system.
By Mr. Smith-What is your own system ?-I did not
think I had been behaved well to. If the Monson party
bad paid me well, I expect I should have voted for them.
(Laughter.)
By Mr. Serjeant O'Brien-I should have voted for them
if they had given me 30s. a week, making 6/. in all. I
never did no work-(larighter)-I mean on my own account,
for I had • bad foot and could not walk. I should have
voted for Mr. Gower if Vospei. had not called. I might
have applied to the Monson party for more money. They
did not discharge me, I discharged them.
Mr. Smith-You are giving your evidence very much
lake a discharged servant. (Laughter.)
Mr. Allen-You can bring your book if you like.
Witness-I will if I can find it. lam not ashamed of
anything. (Laughter.)
Edward Potter, examined by Mr. Smith-I voted for
Yr. Gower at the last election. I was canvassed by Mr.
Monson and Mr. Richardson. I saw Richardson at
Taplis's committee-room, and he asked me to have a drop
of ale. I said I had rather have • drop of brandy.
(Laughter.) I had two glasses, and it did me • deal of
good. Mr. Monson was in the room singing a song. He
shook hands with me. I told him I wanted to get away,
thingy wife 17111 not welL He asked if she could take any-
to drink. I said " Yee-a little rum and water."
(Laughter.) He then ordered half-a-pint of rum, and I
took it home, and it did my wife a deal of good.
(Continued laughter.) Mr. Monson said, "Now Potter,
my boy, I hope you'll stick true." I said I would. I did
not say, when he shook bands with me, " God bless you-
I'll never leave you." I said I would stick "true," and I
did so, for I voted for Gower. (Loud laughter.) I worked
for Gower's party. I fetched one voter from London.
Henry Green gave me a sovereign.
By Mr. Serjeant O'Brien-Some stranger sent a bright
sovereign to my house. It said in the letter that it came
from Nichols and Monson, and asked me to attend a meet-
ing that night. I did not keep the letter, but I did keep
the bright sovereign. (Laughter.) Mrs. Potter had
opened the letter before I got home. I spoke to James
Nichols last Monday, and he said, in reference to this in-
quiry, " Ned, don't know nothing."
Mr. Serjeant O'Brien-Don't you know that the meaning
of that advice was, " Commit perjury I" Don't you know
that if you refuse to tell on your oath what you know to
be true, you are liable to be indicted for perjury, and that
the person giving such advice is liable to be indicted as a
suborner of perjury, and that you subject yourself to three
years' penal servitude
Witness-I hope I shall not get that. (Laughter.)
Mr. Smith-Mr. Nichols and other persons had better be
cautious how they tamper with witnesses.
Thomas Jordan, examined by Serjeant O'Brien-I am a
builder. At the last election I voted for Mr. Monson,
KT father voted for Mr. Gower. Our canvassers were
paid 30s. a week. I was employed about 8 weeks. I took
a bill in for 201. for expenses to Mr. Hart, and accepted
151. The bill was for " services rendered." I attended
several committee meetings, and 'paid five scores for re-
freshments. I had the money to pay the scores from
James Nichols. The scores generally amounted to between
IL and 34. I got money from Nichols in twenties, or
fifteens, or tens, as the money was wanted to pay the men.
I think 'I
received one 25/. about • week before the elec-
tion. The first money I received to pay the men was
titres weeks before the election. The first sum I received
was 101. That was about five weeks before the election. I
received and paid sway 1151. I paid 100/. for labour.
I only had the ISt. to play with for beer.
(Laughter.) I have a list of the persona to
whom I paid the money. [List handed in.] I have seen
Nichols, who told me to take a straightforward course and
!Etthe truth. There are 20 names on the list. I paid
10L for a committee room. Whitmore received
a week for two weeks, and voted against us. West-
brook received the same amount and also voted against
vs. (Laughter.) The others received 51. each. They
were to receive 30s. a week each. One half was paid be-
fore the election, and the other half after the election.
That was to secure them. The persons who were on the
committee canvassed one another, and were paid for doing
so. (Laughter.) I keep the Garibaldi beer-house. The
Garibaldi received about 31. out of the 151. I had to play
with.
By Mr. Allen-I voted in 1863 for Mr. Gower. I was
en his committee. After the election was over I received
44. I sent in a bill to Smith and received the money
from Spence. I did no work except attending committee
meetings. I don't call that work.
By Mr. Smith-Spence took an active part in canvassing.
He was a sub-agent.
Wm. Medhurst, examined by Mr. Smith-I voted at the
last election for Mr. Gower. I was canvassed by Mr.
Gower and Smith five weeks before the election, and pro-
mised at once. I was not troubled by the other party.
Frederick Joyes came to me after I had promised Mr.
Gower. I told him I had promised Mr. Gower ;
and he then said " I shall give you 41. for your
vote." I have received the money, but only lately. Mrs.
Jaye., paid me. I wanted • horse and cart very bed just
before the election. I told hundreds of people that I was
going to buy one. I did buy one. I was chaffed about it,
and when the horse and cart went down the street the
people said, "There goes Gower." (Laughter.)
Mr. Serjeant O'Brien-Then the horse was called Gower?
(Continued laughter.)
Examination continued-I saved the money to buy the
horse and cart. lam a teetotaller, and saved the money
by putting it away in small sums, and my wife did not
know anything about it. The horse Gower turned out
pretty well ; but he is rather slow, like me.
Mr. Serjeant O'Brien-What • cunning man you are !
(Laughter.)
By Mr. Serjeant O'Brien-In 18651 voted for Mr. Gower,
sad got 2/. from Job Apted. In 1863 I got 11. I saw
Holdsworth during the election. He knew I wanted a
horse and cart, and asked if 15/. would be of any use. I
mid no. I had promised the other side, and would not
ran away from my word. I suppose the question was asked
to try my "virtue." (Laughter.)
Wm. Miles examined by Mr. Serjeant O'Brien-I voted
for Mr. Gower at the last election. I was placed on the
committee about seven weeks before the election by Henry
Green. I received 21. from him about • month after the
(election. That was all I received. Green said the 21. was
for voting. I did not say anything. but I "looked."
(Laughter.) I asked him about the settling-day. He said
It would come, but it has not come yet. (Continued
laughter.) In 1863 things were a little better. I got 7!.10e.
from Green for that election. As far as I know the people
generally were better paid in 1863 than in 1865.
By Mr. Allen-In leg), at Mr. Wilkineon's election,
Frederick Campion came to me, and asked why I had put
down my name on Mr. Gower's committee. He said,
perhaps I was better paid. I was canvassed by Parker
or Mr. Gower, and was to have 7s. 6d. • day. I attended
committee meetings at public-houses.
Philip Miles, examined by Mr. Allen-I am not any
relation to the last witness, as I knows on. (Laughter.)
lam a bricklayer. At the last election I voted for Mr.
Gower. I was put on his committee by Alexander Rose.
There was no agreement as to what I was to have. When
he put me on the committee he asked me to vote for Mr.
Gower. I said I intended to do so. He told me it would
be 2/., or perhaps more. I received 21. from Rose at diffe-
rent times, and se. 63. from Legg for being out at night
I was canvassed by Mr. Monson. I told him I had pledged
my- word to Mr. Gower. In 186; I voted for Mr. Wilkin-
son. Frederick Joyes asked me to vote for Mr. Wilkinson,
and said if I would come up and vote he would pay my
expenses. I was at work 14 miles off ; Joyes gave me 21.
a few days after I had voted.
John Pullen, examined by Mr. Serjeant O'Brien-4 voted
for Mr. Gower. I was well treated. (Laughter.) I re-
ceived 2/. about four months after the election. I &greet
41. or 57. for my services. I was money out of pocket, and
received 11. from Job Apted. I got another pound before
the election. I got 4/. altogether. I went about and paid
money for beer and other things. I was engaged as a
canvasser.
But canvassers have books, and go about with •
smiling face, and address the ladies and kiss the " babbies."
(Laughter.) Had you a book of that sort ?-No, I had not.
Coannued laughter.) At the election in 1883 I voted for
Mr. Wilkinson, and received 30s. altogether. After the
election in 1865 Apted told me there might be more to
come-perhaps in February ; but it never came. I knew
what he meant. (Laughter.)
David Pitt examined by Mr. Smith-I am a carman. At
the last election I voted for Mr. Gower. I was canvassed
by him and Mr. Smith the day after the Derby-day. Mr.
Gower inquired how I was. I was not very " toppy," for
I had had plenty to drink the night before. (Laughter.)
I was placed on the committee. Some time afterwards
Frederick Joyes asked me how I was going to vote. I
said my vote was all right. He said I might as well have
a U. note as not. I said I wanted to hear nothing about it.
I knew be was for Mr. Gower. I had seen Apted before
that, and told him I was going the same way as I had dose
before. I never made any application for the money, and
never received it from Joyes or Apted, or any one. I
did not expect to get anything. I got 4/. after the ides-
Non in 180 from Job Apted. It was for neglecting my
time. (Laughter.) I had 15 or 16 men under me, and
took them to the election. They were paid is. • day.
They were called " roughs." (Laughter.) They were to
pin and fight if they were wanted. I was espain of