The Sun.
London, England, 1838-03-03 00:00:00

ELECTION COMMITTEES.
(THIS DAY.)

LONDON.
The Committee met to-day as usual at eleven o'clock, when
Mr. George Thomson was called and examined by Mr. WRANGHAM.
—Was in the employment of Mr. Croucher during the late election. Mr.
J. H. Croucher was first clerk to his brother, and in his absence he took
the management of the business. While they were proceeding with the
proceedings for the election, the four candidates were often present, some.
times together, sometimes separate. Mr. Croucher was present on
every night but one, and sat always next Mr. Grote or Sir Mat-
thew Wood. Mr. Croucher sat as secretary, and signed papers
as such. He and others connected in the business of the
election, received their orders from Mr. Tijou, Mr. Croucher, and
M. I. H. Croucher, and they were all charged. Witness had orders
from Mr. Croucher to open letters. He supposed he had to open 1500
letters from persons asking for situations as clerks, messengers, &c. Mr.
Croucher appointed upwards of 140 clerks in the first three days; there
were 300 men employed altogether, who were paid by sometimes Mr.
Croucher and other times by Mr. J. H. Croucher; it was quite impossi-
ble that the sitting Members could miss seeing Mr. Croucher employed
as he had stated, as well as the clerks at work ; Mr. J. H. Croucher and
Mr. Tijon gave orders to the printers and stationers; Mr. Grote, on the
day of election, was in the press-room with Mr. Croucher casting up
the returns made of the state of the poll every hour and having them
printed ; his services were paid for by Mr. J. H. Croucher, in conse-
quence of orders from Mr. Croucher. There was no other person who
engaged 300 clerks. Mr. Croucher gave all orders when he was pre-
sent, and they were always obeyed. He left Mr. Croucher's service in
August. He went to Mr. Gregory in October--he is the agent for the
petition.
Cross.examined by Mr. RUSIITON—Mr. Croucher gave his orders
generally in the morning, and any one respectably clad might get ad-
mission to the room and have heard him. In that promiscuous crowd
he had seen Sir M. Wood, and there were orders given. When Mr.
Croucher refused to pay some bills on account of extravagance, they
appealed to the Reform Association, where the disputes were settled.
After leaving Mr. Croucher he went into the service either of Mr.
Parkes or his agent, Mr. Shillman, who was engaged in the
scrutiny. He went into that employment on the IStli of October,
and was only engaged a fortnight, but he considered that his
engagement had not terminated yet. He went to Mr. Gre-
gory to ask him for employment, tolling him what he had
been doing for the other side. He had never made any state_
went or undergone any examination till then. He told Mr. Gregory
all he knew about the matter; in about a month after he went to him,
he had been a sailor, and then became a coal-meter's man for some
Years ; after the alteration in the coal market, hebecame a share broker,
and a subscriber to the South Western Railway, for he believed twenty
shares at 1001. each ; he did not pay any deposit ; he could not tell from
whom he bought the shares or to whom he sold ; he did not remember
whether he lead ever subscribed 5,0001. to the South Western Railway ;
it was very likely he did subscribe that sum, no doubt, but he never
received the Scrip he signed the deed for some one who wanted the
's share ; at the timele was worth five pounds, ten pounds, but the
Counsel must not go much further. He would not swear whether he
had signed any other deed. He really could not possibly say. He had
Made at least twenty applications for shares. Some of them were dated
from Leadenhall-street, not because it was a better address than his
own. He had never paid a deposit upon any of these transactions.
Ile did consider that he had been discharged by Mr. Shillman. He
sent in a bill for forty days, at Gs. a day. He made reports. He wen t
about to try if any one had been paid on the part of Mr. Palmer, but his
search was totally ineffectual. He was engaged now in selling knives
and forks, and other things, from Birmingham.
Re-examined.—Mr. Croucher employed him after his dealings in shares.
By the CHAIRMAN—He was employed forty days in trying to get evi-
dence against Palmer, but had a book for only a fortnight ; he was
employed by Mr. Gregory at 21. He was engaged from nine to six
o'clock; he had not been engaged in selling hardware since he had been
with Mr. Gregory.
Mr. Lake, the printer, was then called, and _stated that he had re-
ceived orders for the London election, through the Messrs. Croucher ;
he did the work by their direction, and generally delivered it to Mr. J.
H. Croucher.
Cross-examined—He had been paid by a check drawn by Mr.
Travers, who was the Chairman of the City of London Re-
form Association, for whom he (witness) had always considered
he was working, and to whom he would have looked for payment. He
had several orders from Mr. Tijon, who was Secretary to the Association,
and when he received orders from Croucher, he considered it was by
the authority of Mr. Tijon.
By the COMMITTEE.—He executed the work on the responsibility of
Mr, 'Prayers, who was Chairman of the Reform Club.
Mr. Gooch was called, and was under examination when we left.