Astor House Watchman Assaulted An assault by a Sikh moneylender who alleged that the complainant had refused him admission to the Astor House Hotel, asserting that he had a prior claim on Chinese debtors on the premises, led to a fine of $5 and a word of advice from Mr. G. W. King at H. M° Police Court on Tuesday. The defendant, Amar Singh, who m-de his second appearance before the Magistrate this week, was summonsed by the No. 1 Watchman at the Astor House for beating him at 1.30 p.m and 4.30 p.m. on the 5th instant at the back premises of the hotel.
The watchman's story was that defendant came to the hotel with another man, Sadu Singh. Amar was drunk and challenged witness by shouting at him. Witness told him he could not enter the godown. He told witness that he intended to. In barring his way, witness received a slap on the face and a blew on the chest. Defendant was drunk, but he could walk. Before the police, who had been summoned by telephone, could arrive defendant escaped. At 4 o'clock he returned again, when witness saw him take a knife out of his pocket. Again the police were sent for, and again the defendant ran away before their arrival.
The No, 2 watchman said the defendant was only a little drunk. In answer to the Magistrate, witness stated he did not call the police on duty in the street because he did not have his whistle the time.
Defendant said he had gone to collect money due to him by the Chinese.
The Magistrate—But what about being a little drunk?
Defendant—I was sober and did not strike the watchman. He also loaned money to Chinese, but refused me admission because I wanted to collect mine first.
In imposing a fine of $5 or three days, the Magistrate recalled that on the 10th instant defendant was having a row in Miller Road. It was a curious fact that twice running he had been to places where he should not have been collecting debts in an excited condition. "Tell him that he looks a decent sort of fellow and he must in future keep out of mischief," was his Worship's parting advice.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.