Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1860-09-08
Mode of Administering Judicial Oath to
Chinese in California


On the lth of July batch of Cclcstials
were arranged before Judge Crcanor, in the
District Court of Sonora, Tuolumnc county,
for the murder of one of their countrymcn
at Big Oak Fiat, some months since The
Sonora Democrat thus describes striking
scene in Court during the trial:
When the witnesses were placed upon the
stand, considerable difficulty was experionc-
cd with regard to their taking the required
oath. The interpretcr--an intelligent Chi
naman, who took the obligation in the usual
form-informed the Court that in order to
administer AN impressive oath to the wit
ncssrs, it would be necessary to conform to
the custom of the Chinese, which was by cut
ting chickens heads off aud going through
certain other ceremonies, such MS burning
paper, candles, etc. This announcement, it
must be confessed, rather staggered the Court.
Judge Q. had never before been called on to
do anything of the kind although he had
seen ten years active service on the bench
i'll California, and it was somewhat of n poser
with him how to 60 about it. Finally, after
being satisfied that by no other means could
they be made 20 understand the soemnity
and import of AN oath, the requisite num-
ber of shanghais were ordered, and pret-
ty soon they made themselves heard in Court
Then followed scene which attracted the
attention of all, and which we shall not soon
forget
The chickens were taken out on the bal
cony OF the courtroom, and there the half
dozen witnesses repaired, after each received
a piece of marked yellow paper about the
size of mans hand On the railing of the
balcony, four colored candes-each six in
ches in length--were lighted, on the right
and left of which were bundles of thin sticks,
(wc believe they arc called Josh-sticks,) also
on fire Pretty soon, after all the prellmi-
nnries had been satisfactorily arranged, one
OF the Chinamen stepped forward and after
mumbling over some words, the exact pean-
ing of which we failed to comprehend, Kneit
upon one leg, seized hold of a chicken with
one hand, the hatehet with the other and in
a twinkling dealt the former blow across the
neck, which put an end to its earthly career.
Then rising, Immediately after the consum-
nation of this bloody act, he bowed reverent
ly three times before the lighted altar, which
probably represented his Josh, lighted his
yellow paper, cast it on tho floor, and retired
Another came forward and went through
the same operation, each sacrificing chick.
en-, until the whole number were thus sworn
to tell (" the truth, the whole truth and no
thing but the TRUTH" so help them JOSH
After this ceremony was over, the trial pro
ceeded in the usual manner, with the excep
tion of there being little more gcsticulatinp
aud loud jargon than is gencrAl in the Court
All this Joshing was very funny and move
to the " outside barbarians," who seemed t.
relish 1t greatly, although John was in nc
wise Disconnected at their eager curiosity axe
derisive smiles. 1t was one of the scenes
which are not witnessed every day, even ii
California, and wo doubt whether in any
other State of the Anerican Union, such
proceeding has ever transpired. Truly ma,
to which their brethren of the Atlantic State.
aec entire strangers. Y ags,9.6f
BE- calm and quiet in your life. You ar,
not necessarily eeryiceable 10 others when 70.