Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-04-16
CITY AFFAIRS.
LAFAYETTE OYSTER SALOON.

On Saturday the Mayor of the city issued warrant
requiring Wm Null the keeper of the above house. to
snow cause why ne should not be presented for keeping
dlsoroeriy mouse. Inc warrant having been executed
Saturday, Mr Null yesterday appeared to answer
Mr. T. p. August appeared as counsel for MulI and
asked the Court under what law the prosecution had
been brought
The Mayor said the warrant charged an offence which
would properly come under the common law of Eng
land but he had not heard the evidence he coud not
undertake to say whether not the prisoner had COM
rnitted any offence against the law.
Witnesses were then sworn for the Commonwealth
and the investigation proceeded The first witness called
| to the stand was
! Il. M Nepbern-Keeps hardware store next door
to the Lafayette Oyster Saloon-complaned of Mups
house. because he believed to be devoted to improper
purposes-had frequently seen lewd women going into
ana coming out OF the house. at all hours Of the day
arI music and dancing in the rooms over the bar
room, till II or IL o'clock night The house const-
tuted source OF annoyance to the neghbourbood.-
Witness said he did not know much about the charac
ter Of the house of his neighbours having been
absent from the city part OF the time since Null had
opened the house. Common report, however. pro-
nounced the house to be of illfame the bad re-
pute OF the house affected the responsibility of the neigh
bourhood-operated to keep respectable ladies from the
stores adjoining it, and therefore injured his business
The noise in and about Muls house disturbed witnesses
family who resided over the hardware store; complain
ed OF the noise and confusion" gene rally kept up in
the house till unreasonable hours of the night Witness
stated In reply to questions popounded by counsel for
Null, that he did not know personally any one Of the
lewd women who visited MuFs house-said common
report declared them to be improper women Saw, on
one OCCASION hack drive up to the front door, with
these women in it-they called for liquor, which was
supplied them from the bar room-presumed no decent
woman would act thus
Il. III. Barnes sworn-Keeps grocery store next door
to the Lafayette Oyster Saoon-his family occupies the
dwelling part OF the tenement over his store-hs yard
separated from MulPs by brick wall about ten feet
high. Corroborated fully the statement made by Mr.
Newbem. Has seen lewd women 90 to Mulls house
at all hours and heard Null admit that they came to
his house-heard him invite young man to meet four
or ve OF these women there occasion-sad they
would be at the house between II and IL o'clock on
certain night and that if the young man would come
nothing should be said about it. Witness said that his
family were frequently kept awake from IL till o'clock
by the noise created in Mushouse and that he regard
ed it a nuisance to the neghbourhood Witness said he
could not say positively when he heard Null say the
women would be at his house. but thinks he said We'd
nesday night MulFs family did live in the neigh
| bourhood-saw Mrs. Null at the house once &c.
| b. w. burton sworn-keeps an apothecary store
two doors above the Lafayette Oyster Saloon-knew
little personally nbout the house had heard no unusual
noise there, but had go there at night and
rumour said they lewd women. He had heard
that gentlemen could be produced who would certify to
having been invited by Null to meet women at the
house. He had complained Of the house, in common
with Messrs Newbern and Barnes, because he thought
the responsibility of the neghbourhood seriously leo
parded by the house
Witnesses 10
first one called to testify was
Mrs. Gregory, who said that she sometimes went to
Mr. Mus tavern for the purpose of assisting in his bu
slness-had sometimes remained in the house till late
recolecs having staid there Saturday night till
o'clock-Mr. Gregory was with her-had on one occa-
sion gone there in hack-Mr. Gregory and herself
went there in hack Witness said she had kept bar
for Mr. Null before she married Mr. Gregory, and had
never seen any improper women about Mr. Mulls
house.
Mrs. Ferguson sworn-Lived at Mr. MulPs tavern
had lived there as housekeeper since Null opened the
house-had Mrs Null and her sister there but had
not seen any improper characters in the house-had
never seen any music dancing in the house, but had
seen an organ there twice. So far from keep
ing disordery house, she thought Null kept first rate
order in the house." In reply to questions, witness
stated that Mrs. Null and sister came there in hack
Mr.. Bush sworn-Had lived with Mr.. Null as bar
keeper-thought the house very orderly one-recol-
lecs having seen Mrs Null and sister, Mrs Gregory
and Mrs. Ferguson at the house several times-had
never seen any improper conduct about the house.
Witness said he had other females at the house
but could not say they improper or ewd females
W. Jones sworn-Had frequented the Lafayette sa-
loon trequen y but had any thing improper
in or about the house. He regarded it as very quiet
orderly house.
W. rI-
hood OF the mrke &c, and had very frequently called
at Mus tavern during the day. though seldom at night
had not seen much racket there other similar
public houses and had therefore come to the concu-
sion that it was very quiet orderly public house.
Several other witnesses testified the same effect
Mr. Barnes remarked to the Court that if necessary
he would send for the young man who lived in Mr..
Newoern's store-that young gentleman could inform
the Court that Null had invited him to meet certain
VIGOROUSLY profigate women in his (Mulls house. on
certain occason-he could also give the names of
some of the women, &c.
The Court-Why did you not cause this young man
to be summoned along with the other Witnesses?
Mr.. BarneS-Because he could not leave the store
during Mr.. Newbern's absence. Mr.. N. having given
in his testimony, will to his stoe and send up the
young man, if necessary Mr. B. remarked that he did
not think it necessary, however, send for the young
man. He regarded the case as fully made out
Mr. August briefly summed up the case, and submitted
to the decision of the Court
Tile Court shall require Mr., Null to enter into
security to keep the peace and be of good behaviour for
the space of II months.
Mr.. Null rendered his brother surety and there the
matter ended far the Mayors Court is concerned
MAYORS COURT, April IS.
Three negroes were arrested and lodged in the cage
Saturday night, for rotous and dsoderly conduct in
the district described yesterday, lying between Cary
street and the canal the head of the Basin Several
other negroes were also brought before the Mayor
charged with venia offences His Honour sent ma
jority of them 'beow" for correction