The Archive · 1912

A boy from the Hanbury Coffee

House was called and said that he noticed that the Chinese constable had a baton in his hand, but he did not see him use it.

His Worship—A complaint has been made that the police assaulted this man and it will have to be inted. The Court will adjourn for a few minutes.

On resuming, " witness was called who stated that he saw the accused arguing with a ricsha coolie outside the coffee house, He tried to enter the house but was turned out.

Witness saw him talking to the Chinese constable, who took him away by the arm after a little time. There was a struggle in Tiendong Road. The policeman hit Wells with a stick. It was not a very hard blow.

In answer to Inspector Bourke, witness said that he did not see the accused trying to kick the constan ble. He did not strike him with his baton.

His Worship said it was a matter which ought to have been investigated. He certainly did agree that the Chinese constable should not have used the stick. It was a dangerous precedent if the Chinese police constables thought that they could assault people.

Inspector Bourke said the accused was a perfect nuisance in Hongkew, continually going about with unemployed men more or less under the influence of drink. There were eight convictions against him.

His Worship said that he had hoped when Wells went away from Shanghai last time he would have stopped away. What he had said about the Chinese constable did not excuse him, however, and he would have to go to prison for seven days.

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Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.

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