Chong Hoy, Chinese storekeeper - Alexandra

[nzbc]

R.M. COURT ALEXANDRA.
John Magnus, miner, of Alexandra, was charged by Chong Hoy, Chinese storekeeper, with having, on the night of the 19th August last, thrown the contents of a bucket of urine over his (the plaintiffs) person. The defendant wrote, stating that he was going to Dunedin, and asked for an adjournment of the case for a week, in order that ho might bo able to appear to answer the charge The request not being entertained by the Bench the case was proceeded with. Mr Gilkison appeared for the plaintiff the defendant not being represented Chong Hoy (through the intropreter, who had previously been sworn) deposed I reside at Alexandra, and occupy the house between Fraser’s blacksmith’s shop and Cameron's hotel. On the night of the 19th August last I heard something fall on to my house, and on going outside saw de fendant with two others these three went into my house, but came outside almost immediately and then left. Shortly afterwards I was standing close to the fence enclosing Cameron’s back premises, when the contents of a bucket of filth were poured over me from the other side. I looked over the fence and saw defendant, and on my calling out, “I know you. Jack (Jack being the only name defend ant was known by to witness) he ran down a passage leading to the main street. I called out to Chin Toon, who was standing at the end of the passage, to stop defend ant; but he could not. I then went for Mr Wong Gyo, Chinese constable, and Constable Cameron. After examining the place where the offence took place, we went down the street and saw defendant with two others. I immediately recognised defendant as the one who had run down the passage but he denied having done anything. Constable Cameron asked him his name and he gave it as John Magnus. Sow Ming, who was talking with plaintiff at the time of the offence, Chin Toon, and Mr Wong Gye corroborated the above evidence. There was no evidence for the defence.
The Bench said that the offence was a most filthy one that it would be an insult to a dog. let alone a Chinaman or any other man, and he hoped that the punishment he would inflict would be a warning to those who had carried their pranks a little too far in and about Alexandra of late Defendant was fined LI, with costs (L 4 1a in default of payment in a week, seven days in Clyde gaol.


Dunstan Times , Issue 1384, 21 September 1888, Page 3 paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=DUNST18880921.2.7&srpos=18&e=-------10--11----0wong+alexandra--

[nzbc]

, POLICE COURT, ALEXANDRA. Monday & Tuesday, Aug. 26th & 27th. (Before Jas, Rivers, Goo. Fache, and Geo. Speneer, Esquires, J.P's.} POLICE V. MAGNUS AND OTHERS. WILWULLT DAMACUKO PROPERTY. John Magnus, John Rainham, Oscar Johnson,and Harry Redmand, all of Butcher's Point, miners, were charged with unlawfully and wilfully damaging property of Wong Sing. UrGilkison appeared for the proseoution, and Mr Macdonald for all the defendants. Mr Gilkison, in opening, said Wong Sing was a miner living in a eave, in a lonely spot about ono mile fromjßutcher's Point, where defendants worked. On 17th "August, when it was getting or had got dark, Wong Sing was cooking his supper in his eave. when the defendants entered, took down a rope from the wall, tied him hand and foot, and one of them then set fire to his bed on which were his blankets, clothes, to. They then ran away, and Wong Sing managed to wriggle out of the cave to escape from the smoke .and heat, and lay between two big rocks all nighfri Next morning another Chinaman, Ah Guit, found him and released him. The scene had since been visited by tho police, and the rope, remains of the burnt articles, &c, would be produced. 16 would be proved by independent evidence that tho defendants were in the vicinity about the time tho crime was committed. When arrested several of tho accusedi admitted having been on the track on Saturday night. He pointed out that the Chinese were subject to our laws, and were entitled to all protection and assistance from the laws. In eases like this where one man in a lonely hut was attacked, the evidence of only one man would be liKely to be available; Leung Chung, of Dunedin, acted as interpreter, and evidence was given by Wong Sing, Ah Quit, Ah Quong. Ah Gow, Sergt. McLeod, Constable Pratt, Messrs Barr Bros., and N. Anderson. Mr Macdonald submitted that only one man at most could be convicted, as only one had set the place on fire, according to the evidence given. The others could not be said to have aided and abetted. [Mr Gilki-on in reply, referred to the Criminal Code and Archbold's Criminal Law.] Counsel, continuing gtaterl he would prove an alibr. The defendants left Alexandra at, or after 0, waiteda little on tho road, met Anderson on the track in the dark, when the latter had a lantern lit, and had then a long way to go before reaching the cave, so they could not have reached it by daylight or dusk as the Chinaman said. He submitted Wong Sing had mado contradictory statements and should not be believed. The four defendants would absolutely deny that they had entered the care, or touched the Chinaman or his property. John Everett, John Magnus, Harry Redmand, Oscar Johnson, John Rainham, G. Magnus, andThos Redman, gave evidence. The four accused swore they were innocent, and were closely cross-examined. Their Worships said after a long and patient hearing, they were called upon to perform a very unpleasant duty. They were unanimously of opinion, and were perfectly satisfied on the evidence, that the four accused were the four who submitted tho offence. Almost tho only discrepancy is whether it was dusk, before dusk, or In the dark, 1 that the offence took place but there was only an hour or go in dispute. It is admitted accused was on the road that night. The evidence is conclusive that 1 the Chinaman was burnt out,, and tied up, and lay under a rock all night. Without a shadow of doubt the offence was committed by these four accused. They were therefore fined £1 each, ordered to pay for damage done (IS 15s), and costs, making in all LIJ 5s ;or in default M days imprison- I merit. At tho request of John Magnus six days were allowed for payment. The other cases against the accused were affcerl wards withdrawn on tho accused entering hito recognisances of L2S each, to keep the peace. Dunstan Times , Issue 1736, 6 September 1895, Page 5