The Sun.
London, England, 1829-01-30 00:00:00

GUILDHALL

Yesterday Mrs. Sarah Tomhins, widow, of No. 8,
Bromley's-buildings, Bread-street-hill, was brought
before Sir P. LAURIE, charged with keeping what,
in this age of liberalism, is called "a house ;" that
is to say, an " unfortunate girl" manufactory, where
young sinners are qualified for "the powdering-tub"
and the gaol, and where old ones are finished up for
the next world. A

The Prosecution was instituted against Mrs. Tom-
kills by the; parish in which she resides; and the
particular nature of her business haying been depo-
sed to, one of the witnesses (a char-woman) stated
that she understood the house and the business be-
longed to a Mr. Moses; and-

" You understand!" cried the solicitor for the
defence, angrily interrupting her ; " what right have
you to tell us what you understand? We don't
want to hear what you understand; confine yourself
to/acts, Madam, if you please."

Sir P. LAURIE, however, being of opinion, pos.
sibly, that facts might be brought to light by listen-
ing to what was only "understood," ordered the
witness to go on. " When lam investigating any-
thing (said the Worthy Alderman) I like to .know
all about it. Now, it is notorious that neatly the
whole of these infamous houses are the property of
Jews, and I should like to know who this Mr.
Moses is."

The solicitor threw down his pen in a pet, and
the witness proceeded to state that Mr. Moses is a
Jew, residing in the Tenter-ground, and that he

and hie wife Oed to come and receive the t 8 profits '
of the business" from Mr. Tomkin..

By this statement, which was verified by some-
thing more than a mere understanding on the part
of the witness, it appeared that Mrs. Tomkins was
nothing more than Mr. Moses's cars paw, with
which, as old Burton would say, " he rakes chest-
nuts out atilt devil's tire;" mid Sir Pethtt LAURIE
asktd Vrliaher it was not possible to lay hold of Mr.
Moses.

The prosecutors said it was not ; and then Mrs.
Tomkins was ordered to find bail for her appearance
to answer an indictment at the

.•••• • i
" 91)! w'e Pra4ared Vvtll respectable bail !"
Itie solicitor; and thereupon he called Mr.
George Joel and Mr. John Davis.
Mr. George Joel, a hoary-headed Israelite, in an-
swer to the questions put to him, said, " I am a
Jew, and I lives at No. 22, Acorn-street, Bishops-
gate. I have been a furniture broker, and I comes
here to oblige a friend. If I must tell who my
vhy I must. It is Me. Levy. If I must
tell vhat- he is, vhy I must. Hes a Sheriff's officer.
I low can I tell if he's the ()Writ!' of any bad houses ?
--because nnver ak'd hilt the question. I
call him sty frieall because he's my customer. I sold
him furniture—household stuff—many times; but I

never ax'd him vhat he vhanted it for; nor I didn't
care. If people buys goods of me, and pays me,
'chat do I vant to know about it after that ? I am
north more as 201. after all my debts is paid, s'help
me God."

Here somebody repeated the name "Levy," and
the solicitor for the defence, who is very deaf, called
out to Foster, the Marshalman—" Hold your
tongue, Mr. Foster l nobody asked you any ques-
tions. You are not giving evidence, and you have
no right to speak. I heard what you slid, Sir ; and
I tell you it is very irregular, and ought not to be
tolerated in a Court of Justice !"

" You could not hear me speak," replied the
Marshalman, " because I have not spoken ; but if
you want to know who Mr. Levy is, I can tell you
he is a sheriff's officer, and the owner of a u►tmber
of brothels."

" Really this is too bad !" exclaimed the agitated
solicitor ; while every body else laughed in such a
way as showed they thought it very good.
Mr. John Davis, the other "respectable bail,"
described himself as "a travelling confectioner,"
living at No. 41, Charlotte-street, Whitechapel ;
and when asked whether he would be worth SOL
after all his debts were paid, he replied, " Yes—
forty !"
" Of what does your property consist ?" demanded
the Alderman.

" Of my stock in trade—my horse and cart, and
lounges, and lollipops, and all them ere kind of
things ;" replied Mr. John Davis.
" And do you come here to oblige a friend ?"
asked the Alderman.

: I come to oblige—Mr. Levy," replied Mr. John

Davis.

" Why, then, I shall require twenty-four hours to
inquire into the respectability of your bail, Mr. So-
licitor," sKid the Alderman ; and in the mean time
Widow Tomkins was sent to prison.