RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1918, 25 February 1875, Page 2

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT

THIS DAT. (Before H. 0. Lawlor and E. W. P«ok«v. B« qi ., J.P.'t) ASSAULT ON A CHINAMiK, William Reid was charged with unlan • fully assaulting one Ah Fah by striking him on the eye with his clenched hand. Mr Macdonald for prosecutor;l Jffr Tyler for the defence. Ah. Fuh was called. The Bench asked if the constable was prepared to swear the witness. Mr Bullen informed the Bench that it was the duty of the Court not the constable.

Mr Tyler said that on this case previously coming before the Court Mr Macdonald had appeared for the complainant, and the difficulty of swearing the witness haying then arisen, the ease was adjourned, as it was thought that Captain Pye could interpret, and in order to ascertain whether lie was sufficiently acquainted with the tongue for that pur« pose. The Clerk of the Court; said he had queitioned Captain Pye who said he would not attempt to interpret, as the Chinese had so many gods that it would be difficult to tell what oath was binding with them* Mr Miller informed the Bench that there was a person in Court who could speak the Chinese language and was willing to interpret. The person mentioned was called, and said his name was-William .Wah.

Some difficulty occurred to the mind of the Bench as to how the interpreter was to be sworn, and a good deal of time was spent in discussing,the point. Mr Tyler ultimately suggested that the interpreter should be questioned touching his idea on the subject. _ The Bench (to Mr Wah): Bo jA* know what you hare been brought hero for?

Mr Wah: I do not know anything much about it. The Bench: Do you know you come to interpret the evidence of Ah Fun. . Mr Wah: Yes. The Bench: It is necessary before you act as interpreter that you take an oath, and this Court wants to know what form of oath would be binding on your conscience.

Mr Wah: Some break the saucer, and some blow the match out. The Bench: Do you believe in a God P Mr Wah : I believe in a God. Mr Tyler : Supposing that you blew out a match, and then spoke falsely as to the evidence, what would be the a result.

Mr Wah : I should go to a bad —Xhis-j^pjyappeared to give a satisfac« toryprooftnaTiVfr-WaliJtaiewabout as . much of the consequences ofeTlTaTTnoit—'people. The Bench expressed itself satisfied, and the oath was then administered.

The. Clerk read orer the form, and explained its meaning. He then, read it over a second time, the Chinaman first lighting the match, and when the Clerk had concluded Wah blew it out again, saying " so help my god" after the Clerk, and the ceremony was completed. The interpreter then administered the oath in the same form to defendant Fuh before he was examined. . . ' Ah Fuh deposed—l lire in Parawai. I;know the defendant. We hare been working together about twelve months. We were working together on Wednesday last week. Defendant uai cleaning a

bullock, and I was cleaning a pig-stie in the slaughter-house. I had a bucket, which I had been usiny. There was another boy who wanted the bucket, which I would not let him have, because I was using it. The boy said to me, I must have it. The defendant began to strike me first. He struck me about four or fiye time. He blackened my eyes. He hit me with his fiat. I did not touch him.

Cross-examined by Mr Tyler —Defendant's wanting the bucket was the commencement of the quarrel. Defendant sent for the boytojgrt the bucket from me. I did not ask "Willie (defendant) to fight." I did not knock him up against a post when he came out. I did not strike Willie first.

By Mr Miller—After receiving the black eye I ran for a policeman. Thomas Watson was called, and stated —I know defendant and complainant. Saw them together last week. Sjaw the Chinaman put up his hands and say "you likie to fight?" William (defendant) said nothing when the boy went up to the Chinaman. The Chinaman put up his hands when William hit him. He might have hit him three or four times. He could not have hit him more, as the Chinaman ran away. ' By Mr Tyler—The Chinaman appeared excited, and came up to where Willie was standing. By Mr Miller—William went up to where the Chinaman was to sweep the muck down, I suppose. The Chinaman then said, "you likie to fight?" and William stepped up and hit him. He had to follow him up,, as he could not stand a mile off and hit him.

Mr Tyler commented upon the eridence giren for the prosecution, and cailedrThomas Bennett. I remember last week Wednesday. I went for a bucket, and John ran after me and took it from me. Willie asked the Chinaman why he had not taken the bucket down. The Chinaman then Iweht/ to r Willie and said "you like to fight?" and put his face, against Willies and' pushed him- against the post. Willie then hit kirn. The Chinaman was going to play 'tipioe!4wc^^^:iCr-''Bateinan, came up to stop the fight. By Mr Miller—l saw nothing of the row from the time John told me he would knock me down with a broomstick to when Mr. Bateman went to stop the fight, , Robert Bateman deposed--I remember Wednesday of last week. I was cleaning a bullock in the slaughterhouse. I heard the Chinaman challenge the defendant to fight. I did not see T'ominy. When I approached the Chinaman was standing against the wall, and both looked as though, .they had just left off from a fight. : / THE LIBEL CASE. Catherine Gleeson was charged with a malicious and scandalous libel against one Alexander Johnson.

' This case was adjourned from the 22nd init., on which date the plaint was published irifull.

Mr Tyler appeared for the prosecution. He said this case had been adjourned from Monday last, as it was considered probable that a settlement would be come to before the case was again brought on. As their Worship's would observe, the case was a charge of libel, and the information set forth the extent of that libel, contained in a letter which reflected very much upon the conduct of defendant, and suggested that he had been guilty of taking specimens from the Manukau mine. It was on this account that the prosecutor had brought the case. It was absolutely necessary that he should take some notice of it. And this proceeding was not for the purpose of obtaining money,-but simply to set the prosecutor right in the eyes of his employers and the public, and in order to have an opportunity of proving that there was no ground for such a letter; he had therefore thought proper to consent to forego proceedings on condition that the defendant published a statement in the Thames Advertiser that she knew of nothing to warrant her in writing such a letter. Mr Tyler further said that defendant had | acknowledged she was the instrument of some other person, by whom she had been* induced io pen the letter. The case was therefore settled on the condition mentioned by Mr Tyler, the letter to :be published, with; the statement of Catherine Gleeson attached, and the prosecutor to pay the expenses of the action. INSULTING LANGUAGE. Owen Grifliths was charged with using insulting and provoking language towards one Henry Stillwell for the purpose of annoyance, tending to provoke a breach jthe peace. There was no appearance of either party. CB¥ELTY TO ANINALS. Owen Griffiths was charged with that he did unlawfully cruelly beat and illtreat ahorse. There was no appearance of the defendant. ■-■■ •■■••-

Mr Bullen said as regarded the first case, th« offence committed by defendant only affected one person, Mr Stillwell,;' -^-init^did not object to its being struck out, buOhe TaKeT-Tmse-wss-diflkent^ Doubtless his example would cause others to act in the same way, and cases of the kind, though preralent, were difficult to detect. He would ask for an adjournment until Saturday when Mr StiJlwell would be brought up as a witness. If persons were allowed to withdraw from them there would be rery little use in trying to bring such cases before the Court. The adjournment was granted. Court adjourned.

£r conteibporary prints a receipt— v How to keep furs from moths.'* What people want to know, however, is how to keep moths IVom fur*.

Advertising in California.—A recent work on Northern California and Oregon says that an occasional flash of broad humour enlivens some of the land circulars and advertisements of the latter state. The writer says : —" I found one on the hotel table, headed ' Homes,' with the following sample : 221 acres, four miles east of Silveriown; frame house and a log house (can live in either); log barn; 20 acres in cultivation ; 60 acres of timber land; balance pasture land; well watered. We will sell this place for 1,575 dollars. Will throw in a cook stove and all the household furniture consisting of a frying-pan handle and a broomstick; alsoacow and a yearling calf; also one bay heifer; also 8,4001b of hay, minus what the above-named stock has consumed during the winter; also 64 bushels of oats, subject to the abovementioned diminution. If sold, we shall have left on our hands one of the driest ani ugliest-looking old bachelors this side of the grave, which we will cheerfully throw in if at all acceptable to the purchaser. Old maids and rich widows are requested to give tbeir -particular attention to thi* special offer. Don't pass by on the other side." \

A Mayob's Akathema.—A Cornisli correspondent writes :-—Of the many curious scenes which the 9th of November eyoked, the mayoralty contest at Penrhyn, in this county, was surely the strangest. The retiring mayor desired and anticipated re-election, .for he was a Liberal, and the Liberals in the Council out-numbered the Conservatives by one vote; but one Liberal councillor, Samuel Cox by name, proved inconstant, was won over to the Conservatives, and when voting-time Came, amid intense excitement, lie voted I not for the Liberal, Mr Lavin, but for the Conservative, Mr Howe. The Mayor, when the result was known, made the following speech :—" It is on record' that about eighteen hundered years ago one Judas sold his Master for 30 pieces of silver. Struck with remorse, he went and hanged himself. I would recommend Mr Cox to go and do likewise. He will ever be like Cain— go forth in the world branded on the forehead as renegade and traitor." Mr Sam. Cox, however, had not hanged himself up to the latest intelligence. On the contrary, he and the; Conservatives were last night dining with the new Mayor. Wooed in Couples.—Two fair girls were wooed by one lover, who engaged himself to both at the same time. Neither knew of the other's attachment, but both at the same time jilted him for another swain, whom they also similarly discarded, each taxing him with coqueting with another. One of them has finally wedded a gentleman to whom the other was 'engage'd-before.:.:"''>.lJnkiibwii to each other they began to be wooed in couples. They are still personnally unacquainted, having never met. Young ladies will immediately comprehend this mathematical abstruseifosity.—American paper. The Awakening fbom Love's Yofng I)eeam. —r A repentant bride recently wrpte^ to Her from across seas : " The motion of a screw steamer is like riding a gigantic camel that has the heart disease, and you do not a single throb. I know of nothing to compare with it for boredom, unless it be your honeymoon when you have married for money." Instinct.—A Yankee in one of the New England towns, going into the market to buy some sausages, held out a link to Tiger, his dog. Tiger rubbed his nose against them, as if to smell a bit, and instantly bristled up and showed his teeth; upon which his master dropped them like a hot potato. "■What's the matter?" demanded the vendor of the pork, "Do you find any fault witn my sausages. Only dog won't eat dog, that's all! " The market man told^both to leave as soon as possible, and they did. What risk do people run who sit in free pews in church ?—Of being good for nothing. "Go for it while it's hot!" was the exhortation of a rural youth to his ladylove, as he handed her a foaming glass of lemonade.

The Mighty P*n Fabmfb.-—Brown Lad a great fancy for fine hogs, and came intq town one '„. day. in a JhigK state of excitement to find " a pig from that /ere pen that was mightier than the sword;"

In a southern police court, the other day, a witness was asked, " Did you ever kill a man?" "No," was the reply, " but I tilled a, nigger once." ,

"As T never pay my own debts it isn't likely I shall pay hers.' 1 This is the frank way in which, a Tacoma man advertises his errand wife.