Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1853-10-26
CHINESE VIEW OF A JUDICIAL TRIAL.

In the San Joaquin Republican, Of April 80,
says the Cincinnati Commercial, we find the fol-
lowing description, by Chinese, of trial by ju-
ry in California Some persons may be dispos-
ed to consider it a satire We give it Z" for what
it is WORTH" as the lawyers say of doubtful evi-
dence:
Use Chong- Chez 10 T,Si- Choac- Ch0o:
CELESTIAL COUSIN: The way wrongs are
righted in this country, is not the least curious
of the manners Of the barbarians. If man robs
or cheats his fellow man here, the evi-doer is
not at once punished and made to give the first
fruits of his crime. Instead of this, they first
try him to see whether he did it or not. A Sc
rious truth, assure you. This trial is n matter
of singular. but rude complexity, ingenuity and
mystery. The scheme is well contrived, both
to test skill and develop lying and fraud; and
am led to think that one design of it is, to per-
feet the natives in out-leing and out frauding all
the tribes Of the earth with whom they come in
contact. The trial, or administration of JUS
tice," as they phrase it, is in this way:
The guilty man and he who accuses and seeks
to fetch him to justice, each hires man to lie
for them while the matter is under investigation
and the result of the trial depends upon the skill
and ability of the professional men, and not up
on truth (that is absurd) and justice. When
these hirengs are ready on both sides to begin,
what are called the witnesses are brought before
them. These witnesses are Of two kinds Just
those who saw the transaction and those who
didn't see it. The first are to relate what they
know, and the last are TO relate what they don't.
The most curious part of the thing is that nei-
ther what is thus told by those who do, and
those who don't know, is submitted to the tri-
ers as matters of fact for them to sft and sepa-
rate what is true from that which is false; but
after both sides have been thoroughly worried
by questions and cross-question, the lawyers
get up and :ell the triers what the witnesses
said and what they didn't. And here something
very absurd occurs. The lawyer this side con-
tradicts that on the other side, by set speech
uttered with great vehemence, fury and wrath
The first one that gets up contradcts all the
witnesses who saw or knew anything about the
contest. Then the other gets up and denies ev-
erything said by his adversary, and contradicts
all that the witnesses said who knew nothing
about the matter. And then the first one closes
up the debate by denying everything the latter
said. Then the matter is submitted to the trers
to say which told the truth; or if neither told
it, then to say how much truth is in the entire
mass of falsehood; and then to assess the value
if they find 1T worth anything. This is n seri-
Gus, daily business; and am told that some
professional men attain such great skill in this
mode of lying, that he eau satisfy the triers that
neither he who affrms nor he who contradicts
tells the truth oRany part of it. When skill has
arisen to this degree of triumph, it is called
hanging the jury" rs the triers are called |
might make many philosophical observations on
this scheme, as tending admirably to assist and
protect rascality, but need not for your acu-
men will at once see it for Yourself
cannot but pity the poor, however, when
they have a trial with the rich The rich man
can always have the best falsifer; and he can
also hire as many witnesses who don't know
anything about the matter rs he pleases, to tes-
tify concerning it, And you will remark that
the evidence of those, in this scene of juggery,
weighs just as much, if properly hired, as those
who know all about it. But if both parties were
equalin all respects, it is hardly possible, with
the best intentions and most sincere desires, to
do right on the part of the trers, that right can
be ascertained and justice administered under
such constitution of things The only fair
thing see about this scheme is that they have
generally Hu.ge-man or Judge as they call