Criminal to Allow Raw Countrymen in the Shafts "It is criminal to allow such a man to pull a ricsha in such crowd-fed streets as those which we have in Shanghai," said Mr. J. E. Jacobs, Ameriaan Assessor, at the Mixed Court on Thursday, when w coolie was charged before him with negli ently pulling & riesha at the corner of Nanking and Kiangse Roads when he collided with and dams a motorcycle which was being' driven by Mr. Yao Chung.
The owner of the motor-cycle said that he had to swerve very: sharply in order to avoid knocking: down pedestrians who were passing: at the time with the result that his machine was badly damaged Prisoner said that he was not a regular riesha coolie and had never: pulled a riesha before. Me had come to Shanghai the day before: the accident.
The Assessor said that it was time that the police took action in these matters. "Here was an untrained coolie pulling a riesha in a crowded public thoroughfare who had never pulled a riesha before and who haa only born in Shanghai for a day. Tt was criminal to allow a man to do this. There should be an investigation, said the Assessor, regarding ricsha hongs taking thes: mon into their employ. This man was quite raw to the work and it was like putting a greenhorn on a motor car with two tons of steel and letting him drive it through the streets, The police should take action to see that the different companies tried out these men before Placing them in charge of rieshas They ought to be more experienced before being put on the roads. The companies are much more. guilty than the accused, continued the As-
Sub-Insp. Higgs remarked, that the companies probably had never seen the men. They simply got the men from foremen, Magistrate Kuan—It ie a very dangerous practice and likely to) lead to unfortunate results, The Astessor—The ought to be fined. We the accused, but the police investigate so that the company can be summoned.—If there is anything. in the regulations governing. there cases, charges can be brought against the company.
Complainant asked what would be done regarding the damage to his motorcycle and the Magistrate said that he could sue the company civilly for damages. The prisoner was then warned, to which he replied, have must some rice to eat."
'The charge sheets were marked "Accused cautioned, but police should consider taking action against the company who owns the ricsha, they have employed a m: arrived in Shanghai, totally an-familiar with the' traffic. regulation
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.