The Sun.
London, England, 1858-10-08 00:00:00

run SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, OCTOBER A, 1858 i

FOREIGN.

MIDDLESEX SESSIONS.—(TMs Day.)

(Before- Mr. Pownall and a. full bench of magistrates.)

THE ARGYLL ROOMS,

There was a very full attendance this morning in court,
in consequence of the interest excited by the application
for a license for music and dancing for the Argyll Rooms.
The counsel for the applicant, Mr. R. Bignell, were Mr.
Bodkin, Mr. Sleigh, and Mr. Poland. The granting of the
license was opposed by Mr. Sergeant Ballantine and Mr.
Metcalfe, on the part of the parish of St. James's ; and Mr.
D. Keene, for the inhabitants. _

Mr. Bodkin said he had the honour, in conjunction with
his friends Mr. Sleigh and Mr. Poland, to appear in support
of the application. He had the greatest respect for the
opinion of those gentlemen who opposed the application,
but he felt that Mr. Bignell had been treated with great
injustice by the opposition on a former occasion, which re-
sulted in the refusal of a license for the Argyll Rooms.
He felt that the majority of the magistrates would agree
with him that for the last few years a taste for music had
sprung up, which it was of the greatest importance should
be encouraged and cultivated. Mr. Bignell, in order to
provide a suitable place where innocent amusement could
be obtained without the evil of resorting to a public-house,
a few years ago became the owner of a pile of buildings
known as the Argyll-rooms, then in a very dilapidated con-'
dition. By the outlay of a ♦ery large sum of money
the place had been entirely rebuilt, and one
of the most splendid rooms in the metropolis
erected, and artistes of the first celebrity engaged. For
seven years Mr. Bignell had had his license renewed, with
but slight opposition, until by a strong and unfair effort his'
opponents triumphed; and his license was revoked, bringing
him nearly to ruin. At the time the license was refused
places of a similar nature in the same neighbourhood had
received this privilege, after a very slight opposition, and
this fact, he contended, showed that the feeling was, to a
certain extent, mainly directed against the individual rather
than the establishment. He could not help contrasting the
granting of a license to Cremorne-gardens and the refusal of
the same to the Argyll-rooms. It had been said that per-
sons of a light character visited these rooms, but he would
ask were other places licensed by the court exempt from the
presence of these objectionable persons, and how, he should
like to know, was the evil to be met? The vestrymen of St.
James, in their petition against the license, said the females
who went to theserooms were, after the entertainments were
over, "thrown upon the streets;" but were not the audiences
of the theatres and of a most exemplary establishment to
which a license had been granted yesterday—Exeter-hall—
also " thrown upon the streets ?" Then it was stated that the
evil complained of in the Haymarket had decreased since these
rooms had been closed, but he should call before the bench
evidence to prove that such was not the car, but, on the
contrary, in his opinion, he thought they would be of opinion
that strictly the reverse was the fact. Then the petitioners
said the applicant had expressed himself in coarse language,
that he would keep open the rooms in spite of the license
being refused, and that, in fact, he did so, thus treating the
whole of the magistrates on the bench with contempt ; but
his client only acted as every other man would do; He
sought the best legal opinion, and in accordance with the
advice ho received he acted, and he did not think a
gentleman on the bench would blame him for so doing.
The petitioners also saki that on the refusal of the license
to the Argyll Rooms, Mr. Bignell had removed his esta-
blishment to the Adelaide Gallery, and there attracted the
same sort of loose company that frequented the Argyll
Rooms. But where were the parochial authorities of St.
Martin's-in-the-fields ? They did not agree with the opinions
of the authorities of St. James's. If so, he thought the
license which was granted yesterday to the Adelaide Gallery
would have been strongly opposed, and the fact that such
a step had not been taken entirely, disproved that part of
the complaint of the petitioners. In opposition to the pe-
tition of the parish of St. James's, he had a petition signed
by 28,5 of the most respectable residents in the immediate
vicinity of the Argyll Rooms, with their addresses and
trades affixed, who, so far from being of opinion that the
rooms were a nuisance, strongly supported Mr. Bignell in
his present application. He had also another petition in
favour of the application, signed by 500 or 600 noblemen
and gentlemen who had visited these rooms, who testified
to the admirable manner in which the whole arrangements
were carried out. He thcaight, if the evidence of bystanders
was to be at all regarded, not a single house of amusement,
the licenses to which were yesterday granted, could be said
to be exempt from the presence of persons of loose char-
acter. Ho thought, as licenses had been 'granted to the
Holborn Casino and eremorne, the same privilege could
not, in justice, be refused to the Argyll Rooms ; and he felt
the strongest reliance that, after hearing the evidence he
should place before the bench, the application would be
granted, and justice -done to an individual who had been
vilified and ill-used.

The first witness called was Inspector Richardson of the
A division—ln 1844-5-6 I attended nightly at the rooms.
The men generally preponderated. The conduct of all
parties was orderly. I never had a charge made to me
during the whole time I was at the rooms. The music
always ended at 12 o'clock. The women were re-
spectably attired, and conducted themselveslin a decorous
manner. I never saw Inspectors O'Brien and Lester at
the Argyll Rooms. There was no masquerade given there.
I have observed the state of the streets both while the
rooms were open and closed. I have seen no difference
since the license was rev oked.

Cross-examined by Mr. Sergeant Ballantine—l have
no opinion that the women who go to the Argyll Rooms
are prostitutes. There is not now a stream of persons
flowing out of Windmill-street, but the appearance of the
street generally is just the same. The persons who came
out of the rooms generally left in cabs, but some circulated
about the streets. I don't know that a great many of the
frequenters of the rooms entered public-houses and re-
mained there till the morning. I left after the rooms
closed, so I had no great opportunity of forming an opinion
where the people generally went after the place was closed.
By Mr. Keene—l have seen Inspectors O'Brien and
Lester at the door of the rooms in Argyle-street. I have
been 16 years in the force. I was sent by the Commis-
sioners to the place.
Re-examined by Mr. Bodkin— The streets appear to me
just as much crowded at the present time as ever.
Edward Castles, sergeant of the A division—l have
known the Argyll Rooms for the last six years. I have
been on duty there. I have never known a single disturb-
ance take place at the rooms. The people who go there
conduct themselves in a very orderly manner. I think
there generally used to be about five men to one woman
present. After the band ceases the visitors always leave
the place in an orderly manner. If they had con-
ducted themselves in a different manner I should
have reported the circumstance. When I used to re-
turn home after the rooms were closed, I never saw
the same class of persons walking the Haymarket.
I know that respectable persons go to the rooms. I never
saw Inspector O'Brien there, but Inspector Lester I have
three times.

By Mr. Sergeant Ballantine—l don't know what becomes
of the respectable women after the place closes. I have had
refreshments at the rooms, but I always paid for the things
myself. Three other constables used to do dutyat the rooms.
Tanner was the name of one of them.

Rich. Tanner, of the A division—From 1855-56 I was at
the Argyll Rooms about 150 times. I never saw O'Brien
there. I have seen Lester there about three times, but
never actually in the rooms. The nightly attendance of
the public generally averaged about 500. The men always
preponderated. I never saw the slightest approach to
indecency. When the band ceased a few minutes before
twelve o'clock, the visitors all left very quietly. There was
no greater crowd outside the door of the rooms than a
theatre. I have seen pelsons refused admission. Young
persons—boys or girls. The company consisted of men and
women, who left in cabs.

By Sergeant Ballantine--Inspectors O'Brien and Les-
ter's duty would lead them to ascertain the state of the
streets after the place closed. I don't know where people
go to after they leave the place.

By Mr. Bodkin—l have seen respectable people, both
male and female, there—members of the aristocracy.
Mr. Bodkin—And are never imined there ? (Laughter.)
Richard Hird, a constable of the police force—l attended
the Argyll Rooms for about five years. During that time
I had two charges of misbehaviour. The parties were
instantly put out of the place.
Two witnesses, named Wakford and M'Lauren, police-
constables on duty at the Argyll Rooms, gave similar evi-
dence. The latter said he had seen the wives of inspectors
of police and several respectable inhabitants of Windmill-
street visit the rooms.

Mr. Clarkson, of Coventry-street, furniture printer, said
—Our premises abut on the Argyll Rooms. He had fre-
quently attended the Argyll Rooms, and seen respectable
people present. I was never in a more orderly and better
conducted place of entertainment, and if I am not mistaken
I think I have seen the learned Sergeant there. (Loud
laughter.)

Mr. Sergeant Ballantine—l don't think you have, sir
and if you had, I don't think it a thing to talk about here.
Mr. Bodkin—Oh, my learned friend need not deny it
(Laughter.)

Sergeant Ballantine—l don't deny it. I've been there
with you. You persuaded me to go. (Loud laughter.)
Mr. Bodkin—Yes, but it did not require much pressure.
(Laughter.) My learned friend and I, with several :mem-
bers of the House of Commons, went to the Argyll-rooms
one night, and we found it as well conducted as the wit-
ness described.

A number of witnesses residing in the neighbourhood
gave evidence of a favourable description.
Mr. Purdy, a musicseller, residing in Vernon-place, said
—I have visited the Argyll-rooms. I have taken my wife
there. The music is first-rate.

Mr. Sergeant Ballantine—l will not ask you what your
opinion of the ladies was, but what did your wife think of
them ? (Laughter.)
Witness—She said they were extremely well conducted.
Mr. Sergeant Ballantine--For the class ? (Laughter.)
Witness—Yes, for the class. (Laughter.) If she had
not been told she said she would not have known they were
different from other people. (Loud laughter.)
Mr. Groom, the beadle of St. Martin's-in-the-Field, gave
it as his opinion that the oyster shops and the cafes in the
neighbourhood attracted a great deal more than the
casinos. -

Mr. Jacobs, of the Haymarket, and several witnessea,

have given evidence of the respectable manna= in which the
rooms were conducted.

Mr. Armstrong (a magistrate)—l think we have had
quite sufficient evidence of that nature. Every witness that
has been called merely corroborated the evidence of the
preceding witness. The evidence on the point of respecta-
bility is overwhelming. (Applause.)
Mr. Bodkin—Then I will merely call one other witness.
Mr. Stray (one of the vestry of the parish of St. James's)
—I was present when the petition against this license was
agreed to. There was no notice given. I complained of
the irregularity of the procedure. The petition was pro-
duced ready written and agreed to, The chairman put the
"ayes," but not the "noes." (Laughter.) I was one of
those who opposed the license last year. I find that since
the closing of the rooms the number of cafes have in-
creased, the number of prostitutes have inscreased, and the
indecency has increased. We have two more cafes in the
Haymarket since last year. I think if the rooms were
again opened it would take away a groat many of the
women in the Haymarket. The women now walk the
Haymarket in deep pink stockings, red boots, and their
petticoats nearly up to their knees.
Mr. Lawrie, a magistrate—Then you think it would be
doing good to collect these people in the Argyll-rooms ?
`Witness—Yes, just so; it would take them out of the
streets until respectable people had gone to bed. (Laughter.)
Mr. Sergeant Ballantine—Have you not had a quarrel
with the Vestry of St. James's, because they erected a
urinal near your door ? And have you not said that you
thought it very bad treatment, after what you had done
towards suppressing the casinos ?
Witness—l have said that it was bad treatment after
what I had done. They had td remove the objectionable
erection. _ _ _

-----
Mr. Bodkin—This is the case on the part of Mr. Bignall?

Mr. Sergeant Ballantine then addressed the bench in
opposition to the application, on the part of St. James's,
and contended that no case had been made out to justify
a reversal of the decision the magistrates arrived at last
year. He complained that Mr. Bignall, who was in court,
was not called, and who preferred remaining in comfortable
privacy to making his appearance in the witnessbox, where,
ofcourse, he would have been subjected to a rigid cross-ex-
amination.

A female (the only one in a crowded court)—Why don't
you call him. (Loud laughter.)
Mr. Sergeant Ballantyne—That, no doubt, is the voice
of one of the respectable ladies who visits the Argyll
Rooms. (Laughter.) The question, however, was a very
pertinent one for the consideration of his learned friend.
The learned sergeant then made some very forcible obser-
vations upon casinos in general, and said that if they were
required they ought to be placed where they could be a
nuisance to no person. He then proceeded to comment upon
the names of the petitioners in favour of the license, and
dwelt particularly upon the signature, " Dean Milman,
3, Bell-yard, Doctors' Commons."
Mr. Bodkin—You make a mistake, that is not the signa-
ture of the Dean of Westminster. It must have been
placed there by some practical joker.
Mr. Sergeant Ballantine Practical joke 1 it is the
forgery of an honest man's signature.
Mr. Bodkin—A person named Dean Milman, I have just
been told, resided at the place mentioned. My learned
friend contends that it is the signature of the Dean, and I
say it is not. My contradiction is as good as his assertion.
After some further discussion on the point, the learned
sergeant proceeded with his address, and concluded with a
strong appeal to the bench to adhere to their decision, which
if persisted in would, he trusted, in some small degree im-
prove a part of the metropolis which was now looked upon
as one of the worst places in the habitable globe.
Mr. Keene addressed the Bench in support of the second
petition of the parish of St. James's.
Mr. Pownell, the chairman, then put the question, when
there appeared— _ _

For granting the license 25
Against it
Majority in favour of the license

The Chairman said the license was granted. The an-
nouncement was received with loud cheers, which were re-
peated again and again, on the result of the application
becoming known outsido the court.