The Sun.
London, England, 1834-12-30 00:00:00

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

MANSION-HO USE.
TIIE WHIG AND CONSERVATIVE MEETINGS AT
TAVERNS IN BISHOPSGATE STREET.—Yesterday
Croucher, a very active election agent, well known in t►.,
city of London, waited upon the Lord Mayor. The po-
lice, under the immediate direction of the Lord Mayor had,
it will be recollected, seized several placard boards, three
of which were the property of Mr. Croucher. The fol-
lowing conversation took place upon the subject :
Mr. Croucher—l understand your Lordship has ex-
pressed your willingness to give up to me my placard boards
which your officers seized, and I am now come for them.

The Loan MAYOR—You have acted most improperly,
Sir, in sending men into Bishopsgate-street with those
boards. You have acted offensively against the regulations
which I had given to my officers for the protection of, the
peace of the city, by stationing your men in such a manner
as to create a nuisance.
Mr. Croucher—These men were not stationed in Bi-
shogsgate-street, my Lord. They had been at a conside-
rabl distance, and were passing through Bishopsgate-street
on their way home to dinner, and to be paid, where, seeing
that there was a disturbance, they stopped, and were im-
mediately deprived of their boards by the officers.
The LORD MAYOR—Do you think that you were justi-
fied in causing a riot in the streets ? Mr. Croucher—l
have done nothing of the kind.

The LORD MAYOR—You have done what might have
caused a most serious disturbance by authorising your men
to carry those boards through the streets on the day of the

meetings.

Mr. Croucher—l have done nothing improper, my Lord.
I gave no directions to the men to act in violation of the
orders of the Magistracy.
The LORD MAYOR—They have acted in opposition to
the law, and against the orders I issued to the police, and
I will not have my authority interfered with by any body.
My officers, by my directions, told your men to take away
the boards, and they refused to do so. I say, that you have
acted most improperly to attempt to justify such conduct.
Now, I tell you this, and I trust it will be a warning to you
and to others, if you ever dare to come into the city with
your men to do anything likely to create a riot on one side
or the other, I shall not only have them but I shall have
you taken into custody.
Mr. Croucher—Those boards were not set up for any
purpose of the kind.
The LORD ,MAYOR—They were. That was the object,
and but for the steady and resolute conduct of my officers
in obeying my instructions, the plan would have succeeded.
I am very sorry to find, by your present conduct, that you
are not come to apolocrise.
Mr. Croucher—l have done no wrong, and I see not
the slightest necessity for apologising. I wish to know what
is your Lordship's intention, whether you will or will not
return me my boards, which your ()Veers took from my
men ? My men were not in Bishopsgate-street for the pur-
pose of exhibiting placards. _ _

The LORD MAYOR—YOU state what is not the fact.
No placard was taken from those who consented to remove
them ; but your men refused, and were, as a matter of
course, deprived of them. They would not stir upon being
desired to go, for the preservation of the peace.
Mr. Croucher—My Lord Mayor—
The LORD MAYOR—I shall not argue with you. It is
plain that you have violated the law. My officers can cer-
tify to the instructions under which they acted.
Marshal Brown—We did not in the slightest degree in-
terfere with those who consented to take away their boards,
and we took the boards from those who refused ; but we
allowed the men to go about their business. We took none
into custody.

The LORD MAYOR (to Mr. Croucher)-Are you not
ashamed to come here with such a story ? Mr. Croucher
—The men were not stationed there, I repeat. They
were coming home to dinner.

Marshal brown—Nothing of the kind was said at all.
They refused to move away, and then we took their boards.
The Loan MAYoa—They were there to cause a riot.
Mr. Croucher—They were not.
The LORD MAvoa—lf you conduct yourself in so in-
solent a manner I shall have you taken into custody. If
you repeat those insolent coutradictions to the Chief Ma-
gistrate, I shall certainly order you into custody at once.
Mr. Croucher—My Lord, I entertain a proper respect
for that Chair, but I have done nothing of which I can ac-
cuse myself.

The LORD MAYOR—YOU have acted with great impro-
priety, and you may go about your business ; and mind
this, if you and your men come into the city with your pla-
cards again, I shall have you and them taken into custody.
I am candid with you.
Mr. Croucher—l shall be conducting the election just at
hand in the city, my Lord, and I must then use placards.
I trust your orders will not extend to the election.
The LORD MAYOR—Your men should have taken away
your boards when they were ordered.
Mr. Croucher—Am I to understand that you refuse to
give up the boards, my Lord?
The LORD MAYOR—You don't deserve them. You treat
the Chief Magistrate with disrespect.
Mr. Croucher—l do not treat the Chair with disrespect,
my Lord.

The LORD MAYOR—You must apologize for your con-
luct, Sir.

Mr. Croucher—l have done nothing, my Lord, for which
ought to apologize.

. -
The Loan MAYOR—Then you shan't have your boards.
You may go about your business.
Mr. Croucher then informed his Lordship that he should
seek a remedy in another place, and left the Justice-roont.