A coolie was charged with stealing: a quantity of steel plate cuttings valued at 2, from the ship Glenesk on the 25th inst., and with returning from a sentence of deportation, ordered on the 29th January, 1901.
Mr. Harvey, an officer of the ship, stated that on the day in question he saw the accused coming up from the ship's hold, and on searching him fotind six pieces of steel hidden about his body. He handed him over to a native policeman.
The Court ordered accused to receive 500 blows, one month's cangue on the Hongkew wharf, and three' years' imprisonment.
Extensive thefts of Iron.
This case was resumed, having been adjourned from the lst inst. for the production of two of the accused.
A quantity of evidence was given which did not throw much light upon the case, when Mr. Bidoulac, who appeared for one of the accused, a godown keeper, who had' previously admitted stealing a quantity of iron from the store of complainants, "tated that his client was willing to give evidence if guaranteed immunity "from—further proceedings. Having told his story, an objection was raised by Mr. Jernigan, who appeared for the chief members of the accused firm, to that evidence being accepted as agains! his clients, and later on a misunderstand. ing appeared to arise' respecting th position of Mr. Bidoulac's client, who it seems was not expressly guaranteed immunity by Mr. Jones, for the prosecu: tion. Mr." Jernigan' claimed that his clients bought the iron from the godown keeper under the impression that he was acting for his master, and that they came into Court prepared to welcome the most Searching inquiry into their dealing The Assessor said that after hearing the evidence he and the Magistrate were unable fo conic to a decision at once, and the case woitld be adjourned until Wednes: day, the" whole of the men charged being allowed hi More Trouble with Telephone them that night, but spoke of it the next Wires. morning.
At this stage Mr. Ellis asked that the A contractor for painting at the Court adjourn, as he desired to open his case premises of Messrs. Siemssen and Ca. on behalf of the accused, and his interpreter was unwell, and unable to be present. The lines of the Shanghai Mutual Telephone was charged with causing damage to the Assessor said that in view of the length of Ca. on various dates between the 12th of time that had been given to the case already July and 6th of Acgust, whereby the service was considerably interfered with. it was advisable ce on with it, and after declining an offer of the services of the Mr. Gustav. L. Oberg stated that he interpreter for the prosecution Mr. Ellis was the manager of the Telephone Com-proceeded to open the case for the defence, pany, and some time ago brought an with the assistance of a Municipal interaction against certain building contract prefer. tors who had damaged the wires in their Mr. Ellis said it was now his duty to operations, and the prosecution and open the case on behalf of accused. Ho fine inflicted had had such a did not propose to ofter any remarks upon good result that now they had little or no trouble from building the evidence given by the prosecution, because he would have a later opportunity contractors, though they suffered consider addressing the Magistrate on the whole able through the painting contractors, who case. What he propoied he do was to onto were the worst offenders, as they usually put line the evidence he intended to bring. up no scaffolding and frequently broke the The first part of the defence would be an wire with their ladders. The present was the alibi. The prosecutor stated that at 6.30 ing worst case on record.
The Russo-Chinese p.m. on the 3rd August accused arrived at Bank had suffered severely, and the Cemetery in a ricsha, told Lu Foh his had Siemssen and Ca. The coolie was unwell, and asked for the loan of offending contractors had been warned his bicycle, which was refused, and accused repeatedly but without avail, and now the then removed the bicycle by force. They Company was seeking the protection of the had absolutely established the time of the Court. "They did not ask for damages, alleged thefias6.3). Oueof the witnesses who though the expenses incurred were con. would say that this was a fabrication was Ah siderable. The chief hurt was to their Kew himself. A second witness, Sergeant reputation as a telephone company. He would like a punishment Tatlletet that Donnelly, saw Ah Kew at Carter Road Police Station at 6.30. The witness would would act as a warning to other contractors. state that at 6.39 on the 3rd of August he Mr. George, head overseer for Messrs. was standing outside the Carter Road Atkinson and Dallas, stated that a few days Station, that Ah Kew was also standing; agoho was told that one of the mea employed there with his bicycle, that he spoke to Al by the sub-contractor who was doing the painting on the building that his firm were Kew and asked where he wes fein and Ah renovating, had been arrested. The man Kew replied he was going to Mr. Eayeants house, Bubbling Well Road. The Sergeant present before the Court was absolutely noticed Ah Kew had a raia coat tied to the jacent of any damage. He was the bicycle, which he said be was going to show wrong man in fact: Mr. Hayward, for identification. Then Mr. Jones stated that the names of the Sergeant Donnelly saw Al'Kew ride away men who were summoned were supplied by towards Bubbling Well Road. This occur-the police, who made enquiries about the red at 6.30 p.m. The other witness was damage to the wires, and only one of them Mr. Hayward, of Hall and Holtz, who was had appeared. It'was possible that the going to give evidence to the effect detective got the wrong names. In that that on the 3rd August a Chinese case the detective must have been wilfully detective, who he thinks was Ah Kew, misled. called at his house at about 7 p.m. Though The Assessor—It seems that the accused not sure of the exact tin" he was certain it has nothing whatever to do with the matter, was quite light. He would go onto say Ah and is only a Jabourer. I think he had; better be dismissed.
Kew found him on the verandah, and that when Ah Kew arrived he oime down to Tt having been ascertained that the proper speak tohim. Ah Ker took the rain coat man to be proceeded against was in Court, from the bicycle and showed it, and Mr. the case was gone on with, and eventually Hayward said it was not his. He noticed fine of $80 was imposed. the bicycle had an acetylene lamp. Having
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.