BRAWL WITH CHINAMEN

Hokitika Guardian, 22 May 1925, Page 1

BRAWL WITH CHINAMEN

FREE EIGHT AND NO APOLOGY. WELLINGTON. .May 19. II lie had not staggered into a Chinaman x‘. 1 1 iI, • in his cups, John David Altilhulhiu.l would have saved hi nisei I a good deal of trouble. As it. happened lie humped the Chinaman hard, the imparl was resented, and a light ensued. The story was fold to Mr C. K. Orr-Walker. S.AI.. at the Magistrate's Court yesterday. MulHolland and another man. Percy Churchill. were jointly charged with drittikennexs ami with asf-aulting Wing On. Air E. 1!. Anyi.ti appeared for ('hurihill. and Mr A. I!, tsievwrighfc for Mulhollaml.

Sub-1 iispei'tor Hollis described tho bumping incident., and sail! that Wing On and a friend were walking quietly idling when tile trouble, with defendants began. Mr Anyoii said that when Mnlhollaud staggered into the Chinaman Wing On forcibly objected mid a light eventuated. The Chinamen ran down the- street, with the i"o defendants after them, as far a.* Vivian stiict. Churchill did not strike tin: Chi unman. although he might have touched him on Ll.e shoulder. It that "ere the assault alleged, it. was a, very slight one. Chur,hill had a very good character, ami was working in the city with an uncle. His people were highly respectable citizens, and lie (counsel) asked that an order ho made siippre-.iug his mime from publicet inn.

Mr Si." wright. addressing the cnirl on behalf of Al it I holla ltd. said he was informed that there were other |Ktople concerned in the alTair. and it was a matter lor regret that the bystanders tried to urge, on the disputants. The language had been used not by defendants Inn hv the bystanders. The magistrate: The police have withdrawn that charge.

(’oniitiuing'. Mr Sicvwright sain tin. bump the China ilia it received was purely a' cideiital. and no notice should have, been taken of it. When tho light, occurred a bottle was thrown by one of the Chinamen, and it struck Al til holla ml on the arm. His client had received just as severe a drubbing ns the Chinaman. Mail it not been f:it* the interference ol the bystanders the (rouble would not have oecur,Vl|. He asked that Alulholland’s name be suppressed and suggested tho issuing ol a prohibition order anil proha t ion.

The polite railed Wing On as an exhibit in the case. His lelfc eye was bandaged. The Magistrate said the whole thing was just a drunken brawl, and Lo would make no order for the stippres si on of the names of defendants. “D these young men get into these scrapes they must pay for them,” he said. Both defendants were convicted, and on the drunkenness charge were each lined |os. On the charge ol assault Inev were ordered to pay costs.