Porter, George Edward | Day 22
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 14
Witness Testimony:
- 22064.
This gentleman you say was in the habit of coming to Deal for some years — For three or four years he has been in the habit of coming.
- 22065.
Did you not have the curiosity to ascertain what his name was ? — No, I never made myself so bold as to ask the question. He always paid for the boats he hired, and anything that I did for him.
- 22066.
(Mr. Jeune.) Where did he come from? Was he a London man ? — I cannot say. I never asked him that.
- 22067.
Used you to go out in the boats with him ? — No.
- 22068.
He went out by himself ? — No, sometimes he would take a boatman with him, sometimes we have four, or five, or six to work the boats for us.
- 22069.
When did you first ask him to pay this money for you ? — Four or five days before the polling day came off.
- 22070.
What was he down here for then ? — I cannot say what he was down for. He came down here, I suppose, the same as before, on a freak to spend his holiday.
- 22071.
What did you say to him ? — I said, “Would you mind distributing this money for me?” He asked me what for, and I said, “It is £3 each man for their vote, and he handed me the signatures of each man that received the money.
- 22072.
How did he know which men were to have it ? — Either me or Mr. Rea was at the door; we should be either at the bottom or the top.
- 22073.
And you put him inside ? — Yes.
- 22074.
Why did you ask him to have anything to do with it ? — Because I knew nobody knew him about Deal and in fact I did not know him myself.
- 22075.
But you were at the door ? — Yes, I knew the people myself. I should not let the men go up without I knew them.
- 22076.
What object was there in putting a stranger there at all; why did you do it ? — That I cannot answer.
- 22077.
You were at the door, and everybody you bribed there knew you were the person bribing them ? — I knew the persons as they came in, and they promised me their votes for Crompton Roberts, and I told them there would be £3 according to Mr. Hughes’ words.
- 22078.
What did you put the stranger there at all for ? — To pay the money.
- 22079.
Why did you not pay it yourself ? — Because there might be a spy in the camp come in at the time, and I knew the people better than Mr. Rea did.
- 22080.
You were at the door all the time ? — Yes.
- 22081.
And if a spy came in he would have seen you there ? — As it turned out.
- 22082.
Do you mean to say really you do not know who the person was ? — No, I do not know his name, but I know his face well.
- 22083.
Has he ever been here since ?— No.
- 22084.
You say you promised these people money for their votes, when had you done that ? — I told them they should have £3.
- 22085.
How long before the election was that ? — It might have been four or five days, to the best of my recollection.
- 22086.
You say you told them that they should have it as Mr. Hughes had told you. When had he told you they should have £3 apiece ? — About that time, four or five days before the election. When the other money was flying about on the other side they were saying they could get £5, and I said, “Here is £3 safe.”
- 22087.
Mr. Hughes told you they should have £3 apiece four or five days before the election ? — Yes.