On 6 December 1876 Charles Barthing was summoned under common law to answer a charge that “on the 28th October at Gipps-street, East Melbourne, and on divers days and hours between that day and the date hereof (29th ult.) he did keep and maintain a certain common dancingroom near the dwelling-houses of divers subjects of our lady the Queen, and also divers public streets there, and for hi