Dr Septimus Swyer + proviso

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A curious sounding incident recorded here: https://archive.org/stream/b19974760...M0624_djvu.txt

" Take all the Epsom Salts." — In the City of Lon- don Court on Monday, before Mr. Commissioner Kerr, the case of Bowles and Cross v. Swyer was heard. The plains- tiffs, Messrs. Bowles & Cross, of 3 Lambeth Hill, E.C., sought to have the defendant, Mr. Septimus Swyer, surgeon, of 23 Whitechapel Road, committed to prison for the nonpay- ment of 51. 16s. lOd. due. The plaintiffs' representative said the defendant was in a very good position and with a good- practice. The defendant's representative said he was in a. very bad way, as he had ten judgments against him. Mr. Commissioner Kerr : Why do the plaintiffs not levy on his drugs and other things ? The Plaintiffs' representative : Can we do that ? Mr. Commissioner Kerr : Yes, take all the Epsom salts you can find in particular. (Laughter.) No order was therefore made on this summons, the plaintiffs to levy execution on the defendant's goods.

"The defendant's representative said he was in a. very bad way, as he had ten judgments against him." - this line in particular, was he bankrupt and in debt in 1891 and so did a runner to the USA to escape his creditors? This does seem to say something of his character.

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South Wales Echo 31st of October 1885 has a fairly detailed article on the Sarah Schwartz case. A fearsome story with a collection of dodgy sounding characters.

The Outrage on an Austrian Girl. r TREASURY PROSECUTION. I Shocking Revelations. I At the Thames police-court yesterday, Lewis and Alary Keavy, man and wife, and proprietors of a coffee-house in Church-lane, Whitechapel, were charged, on remand, with being concerned, with others not in custody, in committing an outrage on a youns Austrian girl, named Sarah Schwatz.—Mr Bachelor prosecuted on behalf of the Treasury Mr Morris defended.—The evi- dence of the prosecutrix, which was read over, showed that last Sunday week she entered the prisoners' service as a general servant; but owing to the rough characters who frequented the house, the prosecutrix, the same evening, told her mistress that she intended to leave. The female prisoner then told some young men that theycould do what they liked with witness and her if they felt inclined, could kill her. There werea to- gether 28 men there. One of the men placed his hand over her mouth, so that she could not call out, while another man closed her eyes with his hands. She was then thrown down. She could not tell which it was of them that threw her to the ground. The men acted in a shocking manner towards her. They also unhooked her dress, and pulled her about, and hurt her very much. The prisoners were there during the whole of the time, and encouraged the men to do what they did. Mr Bachelor said the Public Prosecutor thought, as the girl was a foreigner, it was only right he should take the case up. There was no doubt that the story told by this poor girl was quite true, as would be proved by what the female prisoner had told Dr Swyer. The prosecutrix was then recalled, and her evidence interpreted by Mr S. Smith, She said, in answer to Mr Bachelor, she had left Hungary about six months ago, with the object of going to America, but on account of her losing her money, could not go. She first entered the service of Mr Kalinski in Cable-street, and remained there for two months and a half. From there she went to a Mr Lewis, in Castle-street, Whitechapel, where she remained for three months, leaving on account of having a bad finger, and being unable to work. A man named Hirsch took her to the prisoner's house. He was the landlord of the house where she was lodging. After she left the prisoners' house on the Sunday night she went to a Mr Gerard's house. By Mr Morris She was now speaking in the Jeddish language-a mixture of Hebrew and German. She thoroughly understood the language that was being interpreted. Before the outrage was committed on her she wanted to leave the kitchen, when the men pulled her down to the ground. The actual assault took place in the passage. The men first threw her down, and then assaulted her with a stick in the manner she had described. She was certain the male prisoner was in the room at the time. She had never seen the male prisoner until she entered his service. During the day he had not attempted to take any liberty with her. After she was assaulted some man washed her with some water, and she got a little better. This man was not one of those who were concerned in the assault. She did not know the names of any of the men who ill- treated her, but would know the man who gave her the ten shillings. When the man gave her the money he said, Don't bring me to prison." She admitted having slept with a young man on more than one oocasion. The man who gave her the money was named Scott." Simon Geller, 130, Back Church-lane, St George's, stated that the prosecutrix had lived in his house eight days before she went to the prisoners' place. On the Sunday night the girl came to his bouse, and be noticed that her dress was disarranged. The girl stayed at his house about a couple of hours, and appeared in a very weak condition. Two or three nights after that witness met the male prisoner, and he told him he wanted to "square the girl." Keavy offered to give the prosecutrix j62 if she would not say anything. Witness afterwards went back to Keavy and told him the girl wanted £10, and would not take less. During the eight days the girl stayed at his house she conducted herself in a respectable manner. By Mr Morris: He communicated with the Treasury on Friday. He had been subpoenaed for the defence. He had made a different statement to him (Mr Morris), but did so on account of the prisoners' friends havinsr threatened his life. Mrs Sarah Rubenstein, 63, Lambeth-street, Whitechapel, stated that her husband was a lodg- ing-house keeper. On Monday, the 12th inst., the prosecutrix was brought to her house. She showed witness one of her breasts, which was covered with bruises. Her leg was also very much bruised. Marks Rubenstein, husband of the last witness, said, in consequence of what the girl told him he brought her to that court, and applied on her behalf for a warrant against the male prisoner. The warrant was granted, but, having no money then, it was taken out on the Tuesday. At the request of the magistrate he had kept the girl ever since. When the girl first came to him she was very weak and ill. Dr. Septimus Swyer stated that on the Tues- day evening, the 13th iust., the prosecutrix came to his surgery in company with a young man and an interpreter. The girl stooped slightly, and was lame. She appeared to be in pain. On examining her he found recent bloodstains on her underclothing, and found she was suffering from contusions, lacerations, and bruises about her legs and knees. Such injuries were probably caused by some blunt instrument. The same evening the female prisoner called on him. What she said to him was done through an interpreter. The prisoners were then remanded.