The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1890-10-11
SOME STRANGE GASES.
How n Chinaman Took an Oath in New
\ ork Police Court,

HOW " CntnhmNn nm Vhtu IN - NOV
ork Police Court.
The police courts Of this city furnish
more amusement in one day, than the
average theater does in week. A day
spent at the Tombs, the principal police
court in this city, where one can sit and
watch the curious throng that continu.
ally moves in and out of the room, and
listen to the many interesting dialogues
spoken in languages rich with accent
amply repays person for his time. II
will give you lots and lots of opportu-
nifty to see the ups and downs of life and
furnish your brain sufficient matter to
feed upon for months. Strange sights,
although sometimes sickening ones, are
seen daily, and they tend to instruct a
person in the vagaries of human life.
The mode of swearing of the different
prisoners and witnesses who are brought
before the magistrate are sometimes
very amusing. Ninety-nine out of a
hundred witnesses and prisoners in a
police court are satisfied with taking
the usual oath, holding up the right
hand while the justice repeats the oath
and then pressing the lips against the
cover of the well-worn Bible, but once
in while an objector against this mode
of oath-taking will turn up. Recently
q case, involving an assault on China.
man by gang of Mulberry street hood.
lums, was brought before Justice Smith
in the Tombs. Several witnesses, in.
cluding the assaulted Chinaman, and an
Italian bootblack, who had seen the
assault, were sworn in the usual man.
ner, when witness was encountered
that proved rather obstinate. He was
Chinaman, with fair knowledge OF
English, and dressed in very rich ap-
parel. He was somewhat above the
ordinary New York celestial, both
in appearance and manners, and
when he took his seat in the
inclosure set aside for witnesses, every
eye in the court room was upon him.
The clerk handed him the Bible, but the
clerk silly by requesting to be sworn in
accordance with the ancient custom OF
ais country by the ceremony OF lighting
/ fire, placing it on saucer, and then
breaking the saucer to pieces; but the
was that the requisite article
vas not at hand. The clerk told the
1hinaman that such thing could not
'e done. The Chinaman persisted and
he clerk expostulated. Finally Justice
smith thought that he would settle both
he Chinaman and the question by re-
Let him take the usual oath.r
Very WE'LL" answered the Chinaman,
give me your book; or ask me ques.
ions and trust me-" Neither of the al. |
ernatives was accepted; but the witness
ersisted that it was no business of his |
D provide saucer, though he suggested !
hat a saucer could be obtained from |
ear-by croclsery store, and, diving. his
and down into the inside pocket of his
llken blouse, he brought out we'll
lied pocketbook, selected dime, and,
y permission of the court, sent police
ian out to procure tho required article.
he policeman, no doubt anxious to see
ne fun, was not long in obtaining the
lucer, and when he brought it into the
ourt room. and placed it on the desk
efore the justice, every neck in the
,urt room was craned toward the desk.
everal sheets of paper were placed on
le saucer, lighted match applied, the
lrning paper reduced to ashes, the
lucer broken into fragments, and the
blowing oath administered by another
hinaman: "Duly, in the reign of
uong Sue, in the sixteenth year, second
onth and seventh day, l arrived in this
,urt to be sworn to tell the truth, and
tell every word of it. If tell false.
pod my soul will be extinguished like
lis incense" Thus the testimony was
)tained. d.-Once a Week