Shanghai, 8th July. Before J. C, E, Douctas, Esq., Police Magistrate.
Mvatom Razanr.
Mustom Razart, a Lascar fireman on the Oceano, was charged with assaulting the first oticer on the Gth inst. and with threatening to stab him.
Accused pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Detective-Sergt. Vaughan stated that on the previous day he, arrested the accused on a warrant, The man made a rambling statement about ill-treatment.
W.. G Dent, first officer of the Ocoano, depassd that about 10 a.m. on Sunday the accused was in one of the forward rooms behaving in a riotous manner and using bad language. Witness went forward and cautioned him, and'the man then asked if witness wanted to fight and he replied that if he did not behave himself he would be put im irons, About 11 a.m. witness was called to the gangway where he saw accused with only a jersey on. Witness called the man up feom the gangway and tried to persuade him to go forward. He went towards the ladder and then made a filthy remark. Witness took him by the shoulder and put the man towards the ladder down to the foredeck.
When the prisoner got to the ladder he took hold of the rails and would not go any further. Witness tried to move him by force and then accused attempted to strike witness. He failed the first time but the second time he struck witness under the left jaw. Accused n grappled with the witness, tore his jacket and singlet, and after that took him by the throat and witness w.s com-Felled to defend himself. With the assistance of two or three of the crew the rom was taken down to the foredeck and witness got some hundcuffa and put them on him with the assistance of the second officer and the second steward. After prisoner was handcuffed he shook his fist in witness? face and said that he would kill him with a knife. The man was then put in the coal bunker. About 4 p.m. witness went to see the accused and to take'the handeufis off him if he was quiet, but. he started to curse, swear, and rave again and s" he was lof alone. Witness then walked to the bridge deck where the doctor was performing an operation on ove of the men. Accused followed him and going over to the doctor asked him for a Knife making the statement that he wished to kill witness. 'The doctor said the mai was dangerous to have about the ship, gave hin injection of snorphin; the man being removed to the officers' hath-room where he was given food ud water. The prisoner was kept locked up unti Monday afternoon.
Accused stated that he had bee locked up for three days. "He did not use a knife on the witness or he would not have been alive in Court.
In reply to the Court witness said that to his knowledge none of the crew had any liquor on board. The pris. if ho was out of appear to have been drinking, Prisoner said witness tried to make him eat pig's flesh and that was contrary to his religion. He had three witnesses who could prove this.
Witness said he had nothing whatever to do with the food.
Thomas Lancaster, second steward, corroborated the statements of the first officer. When the man was on the gangway in the morning there was a chance of his falling into the river. Witness assisted to hold the man down while the handeufis were put on him. When prisoner had been handcuffed he told the chief officer that he would kill him. Witness was on the bridge in the afternoon when the prisoner asked the doctor for a knife ashe wanted to kill the first oticer. When accused was in the lock-up he was given to On being asked whether he bad any questions to put to the witness prisoner said he depended entirely on God.
Captain Davies said he shipped the man tt Colombo, Ho had not had any] trouble with him except that the other firemen had complained of his ill-treating them. Six Lascars were shipped' at Colombo. On two occasions—witnoss had been awakened in the night by shrieks and had found the prisoner delabouring the man whom he relieved.
Prisoner said that he did not wish to stay in the ship as they had this time treated him badly and next time might throw him into the sea.
The Captain ho had no wish to keep the man, but unfortunately he bad drawn a month's advance and a fortnight was not worked out.
Prisoner, in reply to the Court as to whether he wished to make any statement, said he did not wish to ask anything from anybody except God.
His Worship said he would be sentenced to one month's imprisonment with hard Labour. - He believed prisoner was a bad character.
Prisoner said he was willing to take. six months' imprisonment, but he did not. want to go buck in the ship.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.