At the Mixed Court on Wednesday morning (Bist ult.), before Mr. Chang (Magistrate) and Mr. S. F. Mayers (British Assessor), the six men charged on Monday Inst with assaulting a native detective on the 23rd July and hanging im by his queue to a post in a wall were brought up McNeill (Messrs. Dowdall, Hanson and McNeill) appeared on behalf of the police, and Mr. A. M, Latter (Messrs. Drummond and White-Cooper) for the defendants.
Mr. Latter mentioned at the beginning that the entrance door to the Bank was an open-work door that gave on to the courtyard, s0 that everything was clearly open. The front of the Bank was on the tientsin Road and the alleyway where the detective was taken was at the back. He proposed to call his witnesses, and the first man called was Cheng Pai-ling, who said he was a coolie of the Pao Ho Bank. Othe Tuesday in question he had been told to take some money to a certain place. He was carrying a roll of $50 and two bank orders in one hand and chit book in the other. On reaching an opium shop at the corner of the Tientsin and Shanse Roads, he saw there was a quarrel, and in pushing through, he met the detective, who slapped his fea, in doing which the roll of dollars fell to the ground. The detective began to kick them away and as he stoop-to pick them up, he was pummelled on the back by the detective. He thereupon cried for help. Another man from the Bank came to his assistance. He did not succeed in picking up all the dollars. The other man, named Wong, from the Bank, took hold of the detective's queue and asked him why he had struck Cheng. Witness had hold of the detective at the time, but let go on Wong's appearance. Some words ensued between the detective and Wong, after which the latter told witness to hold on to the detective while he went to the Bank to report. When Wong came back they proceeded towards the Police Station and on the way called at the Bank to deposit the dollars and bank orders he had picked up. The detective at first refused to go into the alleyway leading to the Bank, but after a little time went in with them' and sat on a chair in the compound. The compradore ut the Bank also went in with them. Witness told an apprentice of the Bank to watch over the detective, while he went to deposit the bank orders and money picked up with the accountant. Before he had deposited the dollars a native constable came in, who at "once arrested witness and the apprentice. While they were being taken through the alley way, the detective struck him. At the entrance they were met by an Indian constable, to whom they were handed over, and even then he was assaulted by the detective. Two other men came up on seeing him assaulted and said it would be proper to go to the Police Station as the detective had right to strike them. The detective arrested one of these men and the three were taken to the Station, where they had to wait some time. Wong, the man who had assisted witness in the first instance, was next brought in and afterwards the manager and shroff.. They were then all searched and their names taken. No explanation was allowed them and they were laced in the cells for beggars. Witness knew they were beggars' cells because they were dark and a lot of beggars were there. They all entered one of the small cells at the rear of the bars. Shortly afterwards a young prisoner came to witness and said the detective wanted to see him, but he refused to go, whereupon thres other prisoners came and dragged him out. On nearing the barred gate, the detective said he had something to say to him; getting closer to the bars the detective seized his queue, bum is head against the bars and struc onthe side. Two prisoners were holding him and he cried out. Hearing a door open, he was set free.
Dr. von Schab was next called and said he was a duly qualified practitioner, practising in Shanghai. He saw the last witness at 12.30 on Tuesday night. Witness complained to him of a pain on the right side of his chest. Hy examined him and found only a contusion of the ribs, and nothing else. He saw the man again on Thursday when he had distinct symptoms of pleurisy on exactly the same place he had noticed the contusion. He therefore thought the pleurisy had been caused by a severe knock with a fist or something hard.
In reply to the Court—He noticed marks on the man's head at the time. They were on the right side and the head was bruised and swollen. They were shown him, He saw the men in a Chinese house.
In reply to Mr. McNeill—Pleurisy was not always caused by blows, but could be caused by a very hard Wow." He thought it was caused by a blow in this case.
The first witness cross-examined by Mr. MeNeill—The money ($50) dropped out of his band when he was struck by the detective, but being rolled up in paper did not break loose. The detective kicked the bundle and the package burst. He could not say ex"ctly how much he picked up, but it was something over $20, While endeavouring to pick the dollars up, he was being pummelled by the detective. The money was spread all over the road. Atone time his queue was held by the detective. He could see into the charge room at the Police Station from the zells.
In reply to Mr. Latter—After reporting the matter of losing the dollars, Wong came back.
Some discussion here arose as to the situation of the cells and the charge room at the Central Police Station, and Capt.-Superintendent A. M. Boisragon made a rough sketch showing that there was a large iron-barred verandah in front of the cells.
Wong Ah-yung was next called and in reply to Mr. Latter regarding the assault in the Police Station, aid he was placed ide the iron bars." It was a very largo place. All six were placed there. He saw a small boy cull the first witness to come tothe iron bars, as_the detective wanted to speak to him. He saw the detective get hold of the first witness by the queue and strike him in front, while other prisoners held and pummelled the man behind. He was too much afraid to call out. were dark inside, but it was light outside.
In reply to Mr. MeNeill—The cells 'A witness nam d Lo was called, and in reply to Mr. Latter stated he was at the Bank on Tuesday in the accountant's office, when he saw a large crowd come to the Bank. The first witness and the detective were struggling together. On coming inside, the detective sat on a chair nearalarge post. The first witness told him to look after the detective while he went to deposit some money, but before that a native constable came up.
In reply to the Court—The constable probably came up on hearing the noise. Witness stood behind the detective, took hold of his queue and turned it round the post, but only lightly.. He. did not see the constable enter the room. He was arrested by the constable. Three of them were taken to the Police Station, where they had to wait three hours. Their names were taken, but no charge made against them. There were no foreigners in the cells. When they went in they all entered a room at the back and sat down there. He satin such a position that he
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