Porter, George Edward | Day 14

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 6 | Day 22

Witness Testimony:

  • 16816.

    Recalled and further examined. (Mr. Jeune.) You know Mr George Simpson ? — Yes. 

  • 16817.

    You gave him £1 for his vote ? — No. I canvassed him, and he asked me whether there would be anything, and I said I did not know. He said, “I am rather in difficulties.” “Oh,” I said, “What is it you want?” and he said, “Could you lend me £1?” and I said, “Yes.” 

  • 16818.

    And you lent him £1 ? — Yes. 

  • 16819.

    Has he paid it back ? — He promised me his vote, and went to Mr Rea to get £2, and Mr Rea says, “You have had £1 off Mr Porter, and that leaves you only £2 to come.” I did not recollect that when I was here before. 

  • 16820.

    You treated that, not as a loan, but as a gift for his vote ? — Yes, it must have been so. 

  • 16821.

    From whom did Mr Simpson afterwards receive the £2 ? — I suppose from Mr Rea I was not there when he received it. 

  • 16822.

    Do you know where it was that Mr Simpson got the £2 ? — No, I was not there at the time. 

  • 16823.

    Mr Simpson says that he received the sum of £2 at the Fountain Hotel ? — That is Mr Rea’s house. 

  • 16824.

    Did you introduce Mr Simpson to Mr Rea ? — Mr Rea was with me at the time when we were canvassing. 

  • 16825.

    You did not pay the £2 yourself ? — No. I never had no money to pay. Mr Rea had the money. 

  • 16826.

    Did you see Mr Rea pay the £2 ? — No. 

  • 16827.

    Mr Simpson says that he received £1 from you and Mr Rea, and that afterwards he received a sum of £2 on the day of the election from an agent at the Fountain Hotel to whom you introduced him. Who was that person ? — Mr Rea; there was no other person. 

  • 16828.

    You are quite sure there was nobody else ? — I am not aware of it. I was not there when he got the £2. 

  • 16829.

    Mr Rea paid a great many voters upon that day at the Fountain, did he not ? — Yes. 

  • 16830.

    You do not know of anybody else who could have paid that money to Simpson, except Rea ? —No, not to my knowledge. After that a man of the name of Trapps insulted me, and wanted £2 more, and I thought it very hard.