Cockchafer, and Ernest Crowe, stoker, of H.M.S. Woodcock, appeared before Mr. G. W. King at H. M. Police Court on Wednesday on.charges of assault and creating a disturbance in Tiendong Road at 1.25 a.m, yesterday.
Chief Inspector Bourke appeared for the police, and from his statement of the case it appeared that on Tuesday night defendants hired a motor car at a garage in Tiendong Road and drove round to various places until about 1 a.m., when they discharged the car and offered to pay the chauffeur $3. He refused to take it, and they drove to the garage. A discussion took place, ending in blows being struck, and the two defendants were arrested. There were other sailors with them, but they made off when the police came on the scene. The police were assaulted on the way to the station, and it was not until reinforcements arrived that the defendants were got to Hongkew.
His Worship—You don't charge them with being drunk and disorderly?
Inspector Bourke—They were not drunk, but had had some drink at various bars.
His Worship—I notice that Crowe had $52 in his pocket—enough to pay for the car.
When the police evidence had been given, Crowe explained to the Court that he engaged the car for an hour and paid for it. It was then taken over by two civilians, who later refused to pay. He himself offered to do so, but they dragged him away.
P. S. Rawlings stated that at the police station defendants gave a perfectly intelligible account. of the affair. He did not think they had been drinking. They were neatly dressed, and the Chinese police, though they complained of assault, showed no sign of it.
His Worship—The police say they had tremendous trouble in getting them to the police station.
Inspector Bourke—It shows that the police handled them gently.
His Worship—Or that they were
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