CITY POLICE COURT.

Evening Star, Issue 3911, 6 September 1875, Page 2

CITY POLICE COURT.

Monday, Bei'tember G

(Before T, Birch, Esq., and J. Black, Esq.,

Dbcskf.xness. James Halliday, Wiliam Until, Daniel IVrgn<;--on, Robert Phillips, .Michael Paterson, and William Evans, soverady charged with being drunk at Blnuskin, not appearing, each forfeited Ins bail. John Stuart and Thomas Williams were dismissed ; John (to idard was fined os, with the alternative of twenty-four hours’ imprisonment; Mary McDonald, 10s, with a like alternative : Robert Hcpworth, for being drunk while in clunge of a horse, 40s, or three days. Theft. — Ah Chew was charged with stealing from Wong Meng on September f>, cue gold ring, of the value of Jss. Mr F. E. Chapman defended.—An intelligent lad named Ah Wong, bom in Now South Wales, acted as interpreter. On being asked what was prosecutor’s religion he said that he had no religion. Mr Chapman : Then I object to his evidence altogether,—lnspector Mallard: Mi Chapman knows very well that such cases are specially provided for by statute. —Mr Chapman differed, and asserted that the Act providing for witnesses having no religion giving evidence was only to be brought before Parliament this session.—Mr Birch :We have only the boy’s assertion that prosecutor has no religion.—Prosecutor, through the in terpreter, then stated that he had no religion.— Mr Chapman then contended that any person haying no religion could not give evidence in a British Law Court.—Mr Birch said the Bench would hear prosecutor’s evidence. They could not;take notice of such legal quibbles.—Mr Chapman denied thathe had offered any quibble: he had simply raised an objection continually made in Law Courts.—lnspector Mallard (to the interpreter): Does he (prosecutor) not believe in Confucius.—The interpreter: He says he worships an idolater’s God, and if he tells a lie his God will cut his head off. (Laughter.)--Mr Chapman: And who is his God ?—The interpreter : Our King—the Emperor of China. (Renewed laughter.)—Mr Chapman ; Then I object to the jurisdiction.— Informant was then sworn by blowing out a match and taking tile Chinese form of oath. He deposed that ho could not speak English, but at a later period, when another Celestial was giving evidence r.gainst him, he completely lost his temper, and flatly disputed his veracity. —This called from the Bench the statement that prosecutor well understood English, and the witness caused much amusement by saying to prosecutor, “You speakee English; why not speakee like me—like a man,” -The further hearing of the charge was adjourned till to-morrow, as also was a charge of assault —an indictable offence.

Stealing from a l ' Box,— Alfred Goodhall was charged by George Helmsley with stealing from the Union Hotel, Stafford street, on September 5, one cash-box containing a gold albert chain, one silk handkerchief, and Ll3 in money. Prisoner and prosecutor came out here from London in the Altcar, arriving on Monday last. They occupied the same bed-room in the tlnion Hotel, and when prosecutor went out on Friday afternoon he had in his chcsr a cash-box containing, amongst other things, the goods before mentioned. When he returned he found his box had been forcibly opened and the money and other things stolen. The chain was pawned by one Thomas Hill j n Me! z/s pawnshop for prisoner, who received a pound on ihe same.-Prisoner, wucu arrested by I ) e te drv Pain, admitted tlm theft, and -aid that ..ftw taking the mciicy out of the cash-bov h>f: the box in the hotel.—Prisoner was committed tor trial.