Assaulting a Chinaman.—

[NZBC]

Assaulting a Chinaman.—James O'Hara, Stephen O'Halloran, Patrick Collins, and George Burton were charged witli assaulting Ah Chung, by throwing stonos and cowdung at liim, and O'Hara with kicking him on the legs, on the £ith inst. All pleaded not guilty. Ah Quoi was sworn interpreter, and Mr. Laisliiey appeared for the prosecution, and opened the case by stating the facts which would bo detailed in evidence. The assault took place in the Domain, on Queen's Birthday, by a crowd of about 100 who chased the Chinamen home, smashed their windows, and pulled up their cabbages. He asked that the case against Burton might stand over till Thursday, and then proceeded to prove the case against the others. Ah Quoi deposed that since the assault he had seen Collins, who admitted being present cn the occasion of the row. He also saw O'Halloran, who admitted being thee, but denied having taken any part in the transaction. This was in the presence of Sergeant Jackson. Ah Chung, the prosecutor, deposed that he was a gardener. He was in the Domain on the Queen's Birthday, with a number of other Chinamen, whom he named. They went to see the sports, at 3.30 in the afternoon. He saw the three defendants there. He had knowD one of them before, having often met him in the street, and another he had also seen, but he did not remember having ever seen O'Hara before. While he and his friends were together, a number of boys surrounded, them, and called them names, .after which they threw stones and cowdung at them, and they ran home. They gave the boys or youths no provocation whatever. O'Hara apjieared to be the leader._ He saw O'Halloran throw a stone at him, and Collins threw cowdung. Ho did not see O'Kara throw any stones. Two of tha Cninamen were thrown down, and he saw O'Hara hammering them. One Chinaman went for the police, and one constable came. Some of the boys followed them home, and broke the windows; but he did not know who threw the stones. The three defendants were present. The youths also pulled up cabbages and cauliflowers in the garden. In crossexamination tha witness swore positively that the three defendants were there, and took part in tba outrage. The witness produced about half a-dozen scoria stones or road metal which were thrown through the windows. The evidence of the prosecutor was corroborated by about half a-dozen of: his oountrymen. The defence was an alibi, but the Justices, after consultation, held the case proved against O'Halloran,. and sentenced him to fourteen dajs' imprisonment. O'Hara was fined 20s and costs, and the other defendant wa3 discharged. New Zealand Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 6406, 30 May 1882, Page 3