Burns, John | Day 21

Claimed not to know the man who gave him the money on the Esplanade on the evening of the election. Both candidates visited him and Mr Porter and Mr Rea both came together to ask him which way he would vote but he refused to tell them. Said he expected to receive money like everyone else.

Witness Type: Bribee

Party: Unknown / Did not vote

Witness Testimony:

  • 21512.

    (Mr. Jeune.) Do you know Mr. Porter ? — Yes.

  • 21513.

    Was it Mr. Porter ? — No, I know Mr. Porter too well for that.

  • 21514.

    Was it Mr. Rea ? — No, it was not Mr. Rea either. Neither Porter nor Rea gave me a penny.

  • 21515.

    Did not this man tell you who he came from, or who gave him the money to give you ? — I did not ask him.

  • 21516.

    Had Porter or Rea spoken to you about your vote ? — They both came to my house.

  • 21517.

    And asked you to vote, I suppose ? — No, they asked me which way I was going to vote.

  • 21518.

    And you told them what ? — That it was my business, and nothing to do with them.

  • 21519.

    Did they come together ? — Yes.

  • 21520.

    And they asked you to vote ? — No, they did not ask me.

  • 21521.

    They asked you which way you were going to vote ? — Yes, which way I was going to vote.

  • 21522.

    And what did you say to them ? — I told them that was my business.

  • 21523.

    Is that all that took place ? — That is all that took place.

  • 21524.

    Did you give them any encouragement ? — No.

  • 21525.

    They went away rather pleased, did they not ? — I do not know that they did.

  • 21526.

    Did they mark you down in a book ? — They might have done; I do not know.

  • 21527.

    Did not you see them ? — No.

  • 21528.

    They had got a book ? — It appears so.

  • 21529.

    When you said that they put a mark down in their book ? — I do not think so.

  • 21530.

    Were you very much surprised to receive £3 ? — Not a bit.

  • 21531.

    You thought there would be £3 to come, or something to come ? — Well, I knew everybody else was having it, and of course I was like other people, expecting something.

  • 21532.

    You did not think it worth the trouble of asking this man who he was, or why he gave you the £3 ? — No, it was no business of mine.

  • 21533.

    All your business was to get the money ? — That was all.