The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1860-09-11
CHINESE IN CALIFORNIA.

Mode Of Adasiniaertng a Jadicial Oath
- On the 11th of July batch of Celestials were
arraigned before Judge Creauor, in the District
Court of Sonora, Tuclumne county, for the murder
OF one of their ceuntrymen at Big Oak Flat some
months since The Sonora Democrat thus describes
ralstriking scene in Court during the trial :'a#
When the witnesses were placed upon the stand,
considerable difficulty was experienced with regard
to their taking the required oath. The interpreter
an intelligent Chinaman who took the obligation
in the usual form-informed the Court that in
order to administer an impressive oath to the
witnesses, it would be necessary to conform to the
custom of the Chinese, which was by cutting
chickens heads off and going through certain
other ceremonies, such as burning paper candles,
etc. This announcements, it must be confessed,
rather staggered the Court Judge ,Creanor had
never before been called on to do anything of the
KIND, although he had seen ten years active service
on the bench in California, and IL was somewhat
of poser with him how to go about it. Finally
after being satisfied that by no other means could
they be made to understand the solemnity and
import of OATH the requisite ntlmber Of shan ghas
were ordered and pretty soon they made themselves
heard in Court .sf sas.}az ~ ~ -aa@- So, st5sa
Then followed a scene which attracted the
attention ofal and which we shall not soon forget
The chickens were taken out on the balcony of
the court room and there the half dozen witnesses
lcpdiieu. dlter each received piece OF marked
yellow paper, about the size of a mans hand" /" On
the railing of the balcony, four coored candles
each SIX inches in lensth-were lighted on the
right and left of which were bundles of thin sticks,
Eve believe they called Josh-sticks,1 also on
fire. Pretty soon, after all the preliminarics had
been satisfactorily arranged one of'the ChinameR
stepped forward, and after mumbline over some
words, the exact meaning of which we failed to
comprehend, knelt upon one leg, seized hold of a
chicken with hand aud hatclet with the
other, and in twinkling dealt the former blow
across the neck, which put an end at once to it's
earthly career Then rising, Immediately after
the consummation of the bloody act, he bowed
reverently three times before the lighted altar,
which probably represented his Josh, lighted his
yellow paper, cast it on the floor, and retired
Another came forward and went through the same
operation, each sacrificing a chicken, until the
whole number were thus sworn to tell ''the truth,
the whole truth, and nothing but the truth" 50
help them Josh. After this ceremony was over,
etFjfRd n5GqqfGRedledu 5q in tbs Hssg
and loud jargon than is general in the Court. All
this JoShing was very funny and very novel to
the 'outside barbarians," who seemed to relish it
greatly although John was in no wise Disconnected
at their eager curiosity and derisive smiles. 1t
was one Of the scenes which are not witnessed
everyd day, even in California and we doubt whether
in any other State of the American Union such
proceeding has ever transpired. Truly may it be
said, that our people enjoy many sights to which
their brethren Of the Atlantic States are entire
strangers. . .r f$ -.