In the Japanese Police Court on Tuesday, Mr, Toyado, the Magistrate, gave his decision in the ease of two Japanese naval men, a seaman and petty officer, and a civilian, who were charged in connexion with a disturbance which occurred in, Hongkew a fortnight ago. The sailors were handed over to the naval authorities to be dealt with, and the civilian was severely cautioned and dismissed.
Since the case has been the subject of "sensational" " reports in the Japanese newspapers, it may be well perhaps again' to make brief reference to the circumstances. According to a Shangh: telegram to the Osaka "Asahi, the bluejacket was "brutally saulted" by a foreign policeman, and "received serious injuries." The affair is described as a "gross insult," and as having been made the subject of an official Japanese protest to the Municipal Council. The report adds that the matter was kept "absolutely secret."
As to this latter mis-statement, it may be remembered that we published an account of the case a week ago. The evidence was very. fully gone into. three days being: occupied in the hearing. The evidence for the prosecution was that the sailor took two bananas from a Chinese hawker without paying for them, and a_ heated discussion naturally arose, eventuating in a foreign constable inviting both parties to accompany him to the police station. On the way to the station, the bluejacket drew a clasp knife, whereupon the constable drew his baton and gave him a blow. The constable's statement was that he intended to strike the man on the shoulder, but the sailor ducked and so received a blow on the head. A special adjournment of the case was demanded in order that corroborative evidence might be given by an independent witness on this point. The prosecution alleged that while the sailor was being taken to the police station, the Japanese petty officer and the civilian attempted to rescue him from the police.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.