The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1881-09-25
MEXICAN OATH no GOOD.
Cinnamon who Puzzled the Court

The proceedings taken by VIC
Lung, the Chinese keeper of laun-
dry on Thirteenth street, near Mar.
ket, against Lee Ton, who is en-
ployed in q wash house at toe north
east corner of Sixth and Spruce
streets, were given the most amusing
twist of all yesterday in the Court of
Quarter Sessions. Lee Ton is charged
by his brother celestial With having
obtained q gold watch ana diamond
ring under false pretences. The
jewels were left as pledges FOR a gam
bling deOt by Wsh Hoo, a Washing
ton Chinamsn, and Lee Ton is
charged with having obtained them
by representing that Wah Hoo had
authorized him to redeem them,
which was false. He was arrested
some days ago On a warrant sworn
out by Wo Lung, before Magistrate
Pole. He denies the allegations
againat him fatty, and was taken into
court yesterday on writ OF hsbeas
corpus in an epdeavor to obtain his
discharge.
Lee Ton, who seems tn be the pos
SCISSOR of considerable cash, retained
Maxwell Stevenson to defend him,
and bad John Baptiste, a Chipamsn,
who is the interpreter OF the New
York Criminal Courts, brought over,
at an expense of ten dollars a day
and his expenses, to translate the
language of the Celestials into the
verpacular of their barbarian oppre =
sors. One of Lee Tons friends, who
was ready to go to any length in de-
Tense OF Lee Ton, kissed the Bible
fervently. but the Court was informed
without feeling that the operation did
not place him under any more obi
cation to tell the truth than if be had
pressed his lips to the Court Clerks
white high hat. The witness was
Obliged ruefulIy 10 admit himself that
he could not see anything sacred in
"Melican" oath. "But al samee, bis
could kiss that bcok as beautiful as
any Mclean man."
What is the equivalent in Chinese
to an OATH" inquired Judge Finletter
of the New York Court interpreter, a
Chinaman of extraordinary linguistic
requirements.
Cutting of a chickens head or
breaking saucer" replied Mr.. Bap-
tiste.
81 don't think We shall nave airy
blood shed in this temple of justice"
replied the Court, though the case
ought to be postponed until some
chinaWare can be brought il"
"Will your Honor proceed with the
case if we send for a ssucer?" asked
George w. HarE!ns. toe counsel fer
the prosecution.
I'VE should require more than one
saucer" replied the Judge, looking at
the small knots of Coinamen scat.
tered throughout the court.
Then let US send to Wanamsker's
for a whole tea set," ohimed In Assis-
tant District Attorney Warwick.
1.-The case had better go over until
Friday next" said Judge Finletter.
"When the oath can be administered
in such manner as to be efectual
upon the witnesses minds"
COB! Why postpone it? We have
the rooster here" said Mr.. Stevenson,
soto woes, looking very hard at the
flushed face OF Attorney john II.
Fow. IAN ne need is the knife to
cut his throat" There was general
giggle among the lawyers round
about, but no one attempted TO make
the sacrifice and the case went over.
"Would 8 Cinnamon kiss the Bible
and lie?" asked the reporter of
Charley" a friend OF Lee Tons,
who speaks excellent English.
'Oh, yea" said Charley; "but be
never would lie when the chickens
head was cut of. There is a paper
On which the words of truth are writ.
ten and the blood falls on them; that
is very srict oath. No man would
hurt any Chinamsn for lie then,
but the gods would punish him. Now
if Wo Lung wants to lose this case be
will tell the truth; if he tells g lie, he
will win it; but then he will wi:her
up and soon be will de-"
Mr.. Stevenson said subsequently
that he will on Friday next bring a
sufficient number OF roosters and a
large enough amount OF crockery
into court to prevent the possibility of
a second postpenement on the grounds
givenly esterdsy. philadelphia Times.