Porter, George Edward | Day 6
Together with Edward Rea he was given £81 to distribute amongst 27 voters. Although Rea testified Porter would supply the names, he did not provide a list, saying no canvass books were kept. Offered to call the names out but the judge declined his offer. Also gave £3 to Stephen Hoile of 14, Jew’s Harp Alley but Hoile was not called as a witness. Complained that the £6 he was given for canvassing did not cover the time or money spent canvassing.
Witness Type: Briber, No Indemnity
Party: Conservative
Other Days The Witness Was Called On: Day 14 | Day 22
Witness Testimony:
- 6072.
(Mr. Turner.) What are you ? — A mariner.
- 6073.
What did you receive before this 81L. ? — 6L.
- 6074.
What was that for, canvassing ? — Yes.
- 6075.
You are not a publican ? — No.
- 6076.
You got 81L. ? — Yes, we received the 81L.
- 6077.
Did you see all these 27 voters ? — Yes, I saw them all, and I think I could call the names out now.
- 6078.
We do not want the names called out — you saw them all ? — Yes.
- 6079.
They promised to vote, and you told them you would get what you could for them ? — I did not promise them anything, but I said that they would do what they could for them if they would stick to the colour.
- 6080.
And as far as you know, they did stick to the colour ? — Yes.
- 6081.
Upon the morning of the election did you pay them the 3L. each ? — Yes, some time during the following day, as we saw them.
- 6082.
That was because they had voted ? — Yes.
- 6083.
Do you know who you paid ? — Yes.
- 6084.
How many of the 27 voters did you pay ? — Me and Rea were mostly together. (Mr. Rea.) They were mostly paid in my house.
- 6085.
(Mr. Turner.) Were both of you present ? — (The Witness.) Yes.
- 6086.
Did you pay them before they voted ? — Yes.
- 6087.
(Mr. Holl.) That was upon the understanding that they would vote for you ? — Yes. (Mr. Rea.) There is one man mentioned in one of the Liberal accounts who had 3L. from me, and another 3L. off the Conservatives, and then I have heard it stated that he had 5L. off the Liberals. I think he ought to be showed up — he ought to be locked up. That was Port, a voter at Sandwich.
- 6088.
What is he ? (Mr. Rea.) He works for a Mr. Foster.
- 6089.
(Mr. Jeune.) Did you give any money to Stephen Huckstep, 14, Jew’s Harp Alley ? (The Witness.) I did.
- 6090.
What did you give him ? — 3L
- 6091.
He is not in this list, is he ? — I gave him the 3L.
- 6092.
On condition that he would vote your side ? — Yes ; he made a little bother at first, and he says, ‘”All right, I am not going to put any colour on,” and I says, “If you are ashamed of your colour I cannot take your word,” and then he put his colour on and went down in the wagonette, and I went down with him, and others too.
- 6093.
Is there anybody else you paid besides these people in the list and Huckstep ? — No.
- 6094.
Are you sure there is nobody else ? — I do not know anybody else. (Mr. Rea.) I think there is nobody else — we had no list, and made this out from memory. (The Witness.) I went to Mr. Olds and said with the 6L. I received I was out of pocket, and I should like a little more money, and he said that he had no money, and was out of pocket too ; the 6L. I had did not pay me by a long way.
- 6095.
(Mr. Turner.) How were you out of pocket ? — On account of my expenses ; sometimes I started canvassing and did not get home until 5 or 6 in the evening.
- 6096.
(Mr. Holl.) Did both you and Rea canvass ? — Yes.
- 6097.
You got 6L. a piece ? — Yes.
- 6098.
Was it 6L. or 10L. ? — 6L.
- 6099.
(Mr. Jeune.) Have you got any canvass books ? — No, everything was destroyed.
- 6100.
Did you ever have any canvass books given to you ? — No, envelopes.
- 6101.
The clerks gave you the names on an envelope ? — Yes, we took out every morning those that we thought we were likely to do any good with.