Smashing Furniture and Assault on Manager: 14 Days with Hard Labour Reference to the recent correspondence in the North-China Daily News" concerning the alleged indifference of the foreign community to its destitute nationals was made at H. M. Police Court on Saturday, when H. Mooney, an unemployed ex-service man, Was charged before Mr. G. W. King with damaging property at the Hanbury Institute to the extent of $30. There were two further charges of assaulting Mr. J. H. Inwood, manager of the institute, and of drunken and_ disorderly behaviour in the Broadway.
Mr. N. Langley Smith, prosecute ing on the\two charges, said that the defendant had been at institute for some time. month's absence in hospital he was given an opportunity to act as, ausistam, manager during atr Morgan's absence. This entitled the defendant, who was without means, to free board and lodging. Everything was done by Mr. Inwood through the' various patriotic societies to obtain for this man a position. Upon the return of the assistant manager, St. Patrick's Society paid for the defendant's board and lodging for several days. On Thursday, before that period had expired, Mr. Inwood, hearing a row between Mooney and the boys, came down stairs. Half way down he met Mooney, who swore emphatically about the boys and threatened to smash the place up. Then with his clenched fist he struck Mr. Inwood, who warded off the blow with his wrist. Mooney then caught hold of the complainant to try and throw him down stairs, with the result that Mr. Inwood received cuts and bruises which required medical attention. Mr. Inwood and Mr. Morgan left the institute after tiffin to resume their respective office duties. Mooney went out some while later, to return at 5.45, when he began to smash up crockery, windows, ete. On learning the police had been summoned he again left the premises, but not content with having already caused all this damage returned at 7.16. The police were again, sent for and the defendant once more succeeded in getting away before their arrival. On Friday he made two visits to the institution, He was finally taken into custody in Broadway. The charge is not itself serious," said Mr. Langley Smith, "but it is serious when viewed in the light of the allegations being made in public that the foreigners here are indifferent to the imperative needs of their unfortunate and often destitute nationals. In this case Mr. Inwood had given a poor man every assistance. He showed his gratitude by this dastardly assault, as well as by committing this wicked and stupid destruction of the institute's property."
The Magistrate remarked that letters in a certain newspaper about unfortunate people did not influence him in the slightest in dealing with the case before him.
Mr. J. H. Inwood gave evidence bearing out his counse]'s statement. Defendant, when permitted to question the witness, declared that the latter had amplified the evidence. He bad never given him (defendant) money. It came from the United Services' Association. The witness affirmed that he did provide Mooney with money, to which the defendant retorted, Well, you should have told me where it came Addressing the Magistrate, defendant said he had a very severe attack of smallpox. "At times I believe I am crazy. It is all very regrettable. I am sorry for it," he added.
Taylor said that when brought into the charge room the defendant appeared to be out of his mind. He had evidently been drinking Chinese wine, "Three foreigners were required to take him to the cells.
Remarking that if people behaved as the defendant had done the Hanbury Institute would not exist very much longer, the Magistrate sentenced the accused to 14 days' hard labour on the charge of damaging property, and entered a conviction in respect of the two further charges,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.