“ON THE MATCH”
CHINESE OATH, HAD SYDNEY COURT BADLY PUZZLED. SYDNEY, Saturday. Mysterious proved the ways of the East in the Central Police Court yesterday, when a stern-faced constable and a blase deposition clerk confessed to ignorance of a Chinese oath. And in the witness-box, Percy Chong, bland and immaculate son of the Orient, persisted in a clear clipped voice that he always "swore on the match." Percy, wearing a polite smile and a spotless brown suit, stepped briskly into Court. Mr. Laidlaw, C.S.M., stared at him in momentary disapproval. ''Ask him to step outside and remove his chewing gum," he told the interpreter. Percy smiled and obeyed. Back in the witness-box, re admitted that he spoke "English — just a few" — and that he always "swore on the match." "Swear him," said Mr. Laidlaw. Here was a problem! The Court official blinked appealing at Percy, and pffered him the Bible. Percy was polite, but emphatic. Once more the Court official fumbled and the deposition clerk, appealed to, shook his head. So it rested with the Police Prosecutor (Sergeant Napper) to disentangle the tnreads and he flourished a match under Percy's nose. Percy smiled — and half-way through the oath Sergeant Napper spoke. "Hey, hurry-up! It's burning my finger — " The match went out. " . . . As this match is extinguished, so shall my soul be extinguished should I tell a lie, droned Percy, blandly.
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Bibliographic details
Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 164, 4 March 1932, Page 6
Word Count
230“ON THE MATCH” Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 164, 4 March 1932, Page 6
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