J. H. Hodgkiss, second officer on the str. Hangchow, appeared before Mr. G. W. King at H. M. Police Court on Wednesday, charged with having been drunk and disorderly in Whangpoo Road on Tuesday evening, and with assaulting a Sikh police constable.
Inspector Sinclair, who appeared for the police, told the Court that defendant engaged a ricsha at about 8 o'clock and after using it for some time, alighted at the Astor Road corner. When the coolie asked for his fare, defendant searched his pockets but was unable to produce any money. He started to walk away and when the coolie followed and demanded payment, defendant turned and threatened him. A Sikh policeman was then appealed to and defendant struck him without any provocation.
The coolie stated that defendant had the ricsha for an hour and a half, and he expected to be paid 30 cents.
Defendant explained that finding himself without money to pay for the ricsha, he was unable to make the coolie understand that he intended to go and get it. A crowd assembled, and he merely pushed his way out of it.
P. S. Gladwin said that defendant was drunk. He took his coat off in order to demonstrate that he could take it off.
His Worship—Is that one of the tests of drunkenness?
Fined $5, and the coolie to be paid 30 cents.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.