From the Freeman’s Journal, 9 December 1887:

“THE PENALTY OF MIDNIGHT VOCALISM

Yesterday, in the Northern Division of the Police Court, Mr O’Donel presiding, Charles Dunne, barrister, 14 Haddington road; Arthur Sommers, doctor, 6 Clyde road, Joseph Johnstone, 5 South Circular road, clerk; and John Wilson, 25 Synge Street, student, were placed in the dock, charged by Police-constable 35C with having been guilty of disorderly conduct the previous night between 11 and 12 o’clock, by shouting and singing in Beresford place.

The Constable deposed that he arrested two of the prisoners.  One of them was singing at the top of his voice, and they were all disorderly.

The above addresses were given on the charge sheet.

Mr Dunne cross-examined the constable, who said that he, Mr Dunne, was not singing or shouting, but he was along with the others.

Mr Dunne said it was his friend, Mr Sommers, who, being the possessor of a good voice, was singing.  He believed that gentleman would plead guilty to the charge, but as regards himself and his friends they entirely denied the charge.

Mr O’Donel said of course from what he saw on the sheet he assumed that Mr Dunne was aware that in a misdemeanour all the parties concerned were equally guilty.

Mr Dunne said he was aware of that but he respectfully referred his worship to the constable’s evidence, and asked him also to consider the position he was placed in.

His worship could well appreciate his position.

Mr O’Donel, considering Mr Dunne not guilty, discharged him; but as for Mr Sommers, he wished to remark that he did not think Beresford-place at midnight was a suitable place or hour for Mr Sommers to air his vocal accomplishments (laughter).

Mr Dunne reminded his worship that Mr Sommers had a very good voice (laughter).

Mr O’Donel fined Mr Sommers 5s.

As regarded the two others, Messrs. Wilson and Johnstone, who proved that some time after the arrest of Messrs. Dunne and Sommers they proceeded to the Store street Police Station where they were detained, were discharged with a caution.”

Beresford Place was exceedingly close to what was then Dublin’s red-light district – Monto, James Joyce’s famous ‘Nighttown.’ Possibly Charles and his friends were coming from there?

Charles Dunne (who later changed his name to Dunne-Lindsay for the purpose of securing an inheritance) was an extremely young barrister at the time.  He later went on to a successful career on the North-West Circuit and was also active in Dublin and Derry society, being named (along with John Godley BL, another barrister of that period well known to this blog) as one of the ‘young men to watch’ of 1890. 

In the Long Vacation of 1906, Charles married Marion Mellor – below is a report of their wedding from the Londonderry Sentinel, 17 August 1906:

Marion died in 1916, and Charles died at Easton Terrace, Belfast in 1924 at the relatively young age of 61. 

It does seem, however, that he lived life to the full!