William Meyer

W. Meyer
Occupation	Publican
Years active	1861-1862
Known for	White Swan Hotel
Home town	Creswick

W. Meyer was a publican in Creswick, Victoria, <1861-1862>.

History

Meyer was granted the license for the White Swan Hotel, Melbourne road, Creswick, in June 1861 and June 1862.

He had a serious accident on 31 November 1861:

ACCIDENT.-As Messrs Stevenson and Drummond were returning from Ballarat on Saturday evening they found Myers, the landlord of the White Swan Hotel, in Creswick, lying insensible near Graham's Halfway House. He bad purchased an unbroken colt in Ballarat, and was endeavoring to lead him home. The colt in trying to get away kicked Myers on the head, rendering him unconscious, and then bolted. Messrs Stevenson and Drummond very kindly assisted bim into their gig, the shafts of which had been broken by an accident about a quarter of an hour before, and by travelling very carefully they succeeded in reaching Creswick without any further accident. Myers had by that time so far recovered as to be able to walk home.

In December 1861 he was charged with keeping a disorderly house:

A DISORDERLY HOUSE.-At the police office this morning, Mr Meyer, of the White Swan Hotel, Melbourne road, was charged by Sergeant Archibald with allowing prostitutes to assemble in his house. The case was dismissed by the chairman, who at the same time cautioned Mr Meyers that if any complaint was made by the public against the house, the license would be cancelled.

The nature of the hotel was revealed when Meyer's wife was charged with using abusive language in January 1862:

ABUSIVE LANGUAGE.-John Moore Davis v - Meyer, wife of the landlord of the White Swan Hotel, Melbourne road, for using filthy and obscene language in a public place.-Mr R. D. Thompson, for plaintiff, and Mr Burton for defendant. This case, from the notoriety of the lady engaged, created a great deal of interest, and the court was crowded. Mr Thompson opened the case by stating that the licensed house, of which the defendant was the landlady, was notorious as the receptacle of loose and profligate characters, and he mentioned this to show the description of person they had to deal with, whose only reason for using the language complained of was that his client had faithfully reported a charge brought by the police some time previously against the house kept by the defendant. On the 15th of December Mr Davis called to ascertain the particulars of a fire that had occurred at the White Swan on the morning of the previous day. On going in, he called for a glass of ale, and tendered a pound note in payment to the daughter, who was in the bar. The defendant brought him the change, and then accused him of putting in a false account respecting them in the Star. She then used to the complainant such vile and filthy language, that none but one reared among the dregs of society, and accustomed to associate with all that is despicable could either use or understand. Mr Davis gave evidence in support of the charge, which, was not denied. Mr Burton, on the part of the defendant, contended that the charge must be dismissed, as the language having been used in the bar of a public house, such could not be considered a public place within the meaning of the act. The bench, however, were of a different opinion; and fined the defendant £2, or three days' imprisonment. A COUNTER CHARGE.-Meyer v. J. M. Davis, for having used on the 16th December insulting language to the complainant, likely to create a breach of the peace. The bench after hearing the evidence in support of the charge, fined the defendant £1, or twenty-four hours imprisonment.

In June 1862 the police commented that the hotel had improved:

Sergeant Archibald stated that till the last two months the house had been very badly conducted, but now there was an alteration for the better. Granted.