The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-03-11
IMPORTANT PROCEEDINGS UNDER THE
COMMON LODGING-HOUSE ACT
From Punch. J

FROM Fhnch.
Mr.. John Bull, keeper of common lodging house. |
much frequented by foreigners, was charged with
various offences under the Common Lodging house
Act, and generally with keeping adsorderly house,
and harboring VIGOROUSLY bad characters.
The principal witness against him was French
man, formerly ledger in the house, who gave his
name Charles Louis Napoleon. The witness stated
that Mr.. Bull the landlord of the house, systemati-
cally violated the provisions of the act which re-
quired him to open the windows of his rooms for
certain number of hours daily, to turn down the bed
clothes, and generally to keep up close surveil-
lance the inmates of his house, and ventilate
everything in the apartments occupied by his
dodgers.
He further stated that whereas the act bound the
landlord to give notice to the police of all danger
cases of contagious and epidemic disorders, and
of all attacks arising from such disorders that
might occur the premises, with view at once
| to the removal to safe custody of those in whom
they might break out and the preservation of those
they might attack, Mr.. Bull had been in the habit
! of allowing such cases to get to height without
informing the police, and of permitting his dodgers
to associate unfortunately with persons suffering
| from the most dangerous and contagious disorders,
particularly what called in France "La Fieore
Rouge"
The magistrate wished to know if this was the
same scarlet fever, and begged the witness to be
little more precise in his statements, and to ex-
press himself in English, he seemed to know the
! language well.
The witness said he did, having long resided in
England, at Mr.. Bulls house. He had been a
special constable here in l848, shortly after which
he lett England, seeing opening for an active
young in France, where he had since held
responsible situations, and was now earning very
high wages. La Fierre Rouge epidemic
which had made great raVages in France, and was
much worse than the worst kind of scarlet fever
known in England. 1t was highly infammatory
disease of the most contagious character, and at
tended with delirum.
The magistrate inquired what part of the body
it attacked.
The witness said it generally attacked the upper
eXtremties, beginning at the crown.
The magistrate inquired if the witness was amed-
ical practitioner.
This witness said he had practised in France for
the last nine years, five of them ON his own account
and had particularly devoted himself to the treat
ment of this very disorder. He believed his.treat
ment was considered highly successful 1t consisted
in letting blood freely, followed by lowering and
suppressive treatment, and the strctest separation
and close confinement of the sufferers. Change OF
air, too, he had found useful, particularly removal
to hot climates like Algeria. lie considered Cay
enne almost specific, and had administered it il
large doses, especially during the very out
, break of the disorder in 1852. All movement wa
dangerous, and all mental exertion. He considered
the worst were those which had originates
among Mr.. Bulls lodgers who often brought tn
disease into France. Considered Mr.. Bull guilt
under the act, for not bringing these to tn
knowledge of the police.
The witness closely cross examined by the de
PENDANT.
Admitted he had several times been lodger il
the defendants house declined to state what hi
means of subsistence were while in this country
Might have been charged with attempts at burglar
: at Boulogne and Strasburg. Would not say he ha
+ not been tried for murder arising out of tn
\ former charge. Would not swear he had not bee
:, | imprisoned on the charge. Might have espresso
i strong opinions to Mr.. Bull the subject of thi
act during the time he lodged with him. Wou
not say he had not told him the police had no bust
. ness on his premises. The windows of his room
=. were generally kept shut. Never complained then
:, Was not in good circumstances at that time
. Might have borrowed money of Mr.. Bull Would no
; swear he had not left in his debt Might have hat
La Fierre Rouge himself; had associated freely
( with persons suffering from it. Might have toll
o. Mr.. Bull it was not dangerous; knew better now
3 Did not what that had to do with the presen
n charge Declined to state whether he had mad
"a any communications TO the police. Had friends i
q the police now, and considered it honor
= Thought Mr.. Bulls house ought to be shut up, an
. his license as common lodging house keeper take
- away, for the safety of society at large. Was yer
:, much interested for society at large Considere
il he had saved society at large. Was not aware
! that opinion general, but day seldom passe
y without his being told so by persons in the hghes
- positions in France.
Mr.. Bull called several witnesses to speak of tn
character of his house, including old Austria
, of the of Metternich, (whose cautious an
% roundabout way of giving his evidence much anus
n ed the court,) several members of family of tn
# name of Bourbon, whose father had lodged wit
q Mr.. Bull under the name of Smith, and host
q I1ungarians, Italians, Poles, and Frenchmen, VIII
proved that Mr.. Bull complied strictly with tn
. terms of the act and that they had no complaint
# make OF the house. Several members of the polio
force also gave evidence. 1t appeared, on eros
=, examination, that the informer had for severe
a years past been in the habit of making complain
against Mr.. Bulls house. and had endeayored to il
;, duce the police to enter the premises in disguise
q He had had the act explained to him, and had a
ways been told that any charge of violation of an
4 Of its provisions would be strictly looked into
There might be grudge the informers pal
against Mr.. Bull.
i The Magistrate, after careful consideration
4 the act, said it did not appear to him that tn
- charges made out. There no proof tina
the defendant knew of the existence of the allege
cases of the very serious disorder deposed by tn
: principal witness. Mr.. Bull not bound to in
form the police Of suspected cases. He had pow
n to detan his dodgers, to prevent their leaving
his house. All powers of an inquisitorial characte
required to be exercised cautiously in this country
He thought it i'll became the witness who by hi
account, seemed to be under considerable obi
cations to Mr.. Bull, to bring such charge as tn
+ present on such loose and unreliable foundation
u Mr.. Bull would leave this court without any stall
" on his character. The magistrate no ground
whatever for taking away the license of the house
' On the contrary it seemed to him to be very wei
i conducted, and it was great blessing to man,
Ii distressed foreigners that they had such place t.
resort to.
The decision of the worthy magistrate was loudl
cheered, and Mr.. Bull on leaving the court wa
warmly greeted by his numerous dodgers. The wit
e ness, Napoleon, allowed to leave the court BY
the private entrance in cab, there seemed con
siderable disposition among the crowd assembled il