WRONG MAN CHARGED

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 354, 15 May 1928, Page 13

WRONG MAN CHARGED

WITNESS SHOULD HAVE BEEN ACCUSED MAORI WHO WAS HAPPY (From Our Own Correspondent) OTAHUHU, To-day. When a Maori named William Herbert charged a Chinese, Ah Wee, in the Otahuhu Police Court yesterday with using insulting language to him, the magistrate, Mr. J. H. Luxford, dismissed the case and said the wrong man had been charged; the Maori should have been the defendant. Ah Wee was charged with using insulting language to William Herbert, a Maori, at Panmure on April 7. Herbert said that he was returning from the races and when passing the gardens where Ah Wee is employed, the Celestial cast reflections on his ancestry. He remonstrated with him and a mob of Chinese rushed out to the gate. In answer to the magistrate, Herbert said that unfortunately he did not have anything on In the Shade at the races, and appeared rather puzzled when asked by the magistrate if there was a little pig at one of his port of calls on the way home. Tci Mr. Tong, who appeared for Ah Wee, witness denied that he was merry, but said he was only quite'happy, “just the same as now.” Mr. Tong stated that it was a unique case as it was the first time a Chinese had been charged with using insulting la Th€> a^ magistrate interrupted counsel and said the case would be dismissed. He expressed the opinion that the witness should have been charged instead of the Chinese.