Lurton yesterday, on a charge of stabbing two Chinese coolies without justification. The temporary U.S. Marshal, Mr. Charles. Richardson, prosecuted, and Mr. P. F. Kops represented the defendant: Yesterday's hearing was ofan investigatory nature, and was held to determine whether there was sufficient evidence to\bring the defendant to trial, his guilt or innocence not being in question.
The first witness was Dr. T. B.
Dunn, who stated that on July 26 he examined a Chinese by the name of Chung Wei-tse, who had been stabbed in the neck, the wound being an inch deep. The spinal cord was cut, and complete paralysis of the body below the diaphragm had resulted; the Chinese was now an invalid for life, as he could never walk again.
Wong Shui-fu, a coolie at the Inernational Dock, gave evidence to the effect that he had been stabbed by accused while working on the s. Saigolon in dry dock. He was stabbed in the abdomen and struck on the face without reason, he stated. and fell down unconscious immediately after the alleged attack. Witness exposed his person in court, and revealed a superficial wound. Questioned as to whether he had seen accused stab the other man, he said he could not say, as he was unconscious.
The attack took place on the deck of the ship, there being some twenty other persons around.
Alleged Assault Described The-next witness, Kou Wong-ziang, said that he was on deck when the fight started, but immediately went below, until' called by a watchman, who told him that everything was finished. Tsang Yang-tso stated that he was carrying four pieces of wood to the bow of the ship when he was stopped by a Chinese watchman, who held his hands and called a Filipino officer. The officer heard his explanation for taking the pieces of wood and released him, immediately going towards the first witness, whom he hit in the eye, and stabbed, without reason. Chung Wei-tse, the more seriously wounded Chinese, was standing next to this witness, and tried to take the knife away from the Filipino, who immediately stabbed him in the neck.
At this stage of the court proceedinzs Mr. Kops stated that he wished to produce further witnesses, who would tell an entirely different story from that of the Chinese witnesses for the prosecution, A. P. Gonzales, Chief Engineer of the s. Saigolon, was called, and said that on the day, in question, July 26, he was on decig when he heard a watchman calling for help, and ran towards him, catching hold of the last witness. When he did this he was struck on the back of the head by a Chinese coolie, and, on turning round, saw someone with a knife in his hand. He called to a passing sailor for assistance, and when the latter was coming he saw him stabbed in the back by a Chinese, who was not present in court. The accused, Alvarez, struck no one, and was not even present at the time.
Statement Differed Mr. Richardson, cross-examining, asked the witness about a statement he had made to the River Police, when the latter were investigating the affair. In this signed statement, declared Mr. Richardson, witness had said "Alvarez rushed into the fray, ard stabbed a Chinese with a knife. after seeing his brother sailor stabbed in the back." Witness stated that he had forgotten, and could say nothing.
Another Filipino witness called by Mr. Kops, A. Alentago, said that he saw a group of Chinese attacking the First Engineer on the deck, and went to his assistance. As he approached he was stabbed in the back and therefore went away to call the First Officer, who was down in the hold. He was unable to identify the stabber, he added, but said that he was wotinded with an iron-scraper, used for scraping rust and paint from the sides of ships.
Atter consideration of the evidence Commissioner Lurton found that a "Prima facie case of assault with a knife, with intent to commit bodily harm has been. established." Alvarez was bound over for trial, with 'US$1,000 as bail.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.