The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-02-21
A COURT OATH In CHINA.
SWEARING BY A CHICKEN BEHEAD-
ED IN A GRAVEYARD.

Charlie Lee Gets Out OF Paying a ung
Lees Debt by Sharp Trick-Hung
Lee refuses 10 Take Christian Oath
and Charlie Lee DECLINES to Swear a
IL C,inese Because He is Sunday
School Boy-A Novel Scene in JUS
tice Naughtin's Court.
Charlie Lee, who robbed old Hung Lee
of 500 short time ago, had bis prelim-
mary trial before Justice Naughtin yester-
day and was discharged. There is no
doubt that Charles stole the money,
6nt he goes free because
scholar. Hung has not improved his oppor-
tunities. He has been in this country 80
years and has neither learned the English
language nor accepted the christian religion.
he was made TO regret his deficiencies
yesterday.
The trial was attended by six Of the
Chinese laundrymen Of the city. In fact,
the cass is all the topic of conversation
among the Chinese residents.
Ida Lee, Charley's wife, was also present.
The case opened at 10 o'clock. 7. d.
Rockwell. Esq, and George W. Owens. ESQ.,,
represented Charley Lee, and Otto Schiller,
Esq, appeared for the state.
Wing Chin Lee, who keeps q curiosity
shop at No. $50 Broughton street, acted as
interpreter.
WOULDN'T TAKE THE OATH.
The case consumed over two:hours, but lit
tiesprogress was made; in fact the first wit
mass did not 90 so far as to take the oath.
hung Lee, the prosecutor. refused to
swear In the christian manner. This
blocked the proceedings to begin with.
| There was good deal of discussion and
much excitement among the Chinese over
| this point. People on the streets thought
Justice Naughtins Office had been turned
into joss house, and quite a crowd gath
cred there. The interpreter at length
snns that Hung Lee would
He explained that it would
be necessary to procure a chicken whose
| head the witness would cut off at the same
time declaring before all the gods that II he
told not the truth be was willing for his
own head TO be cut off. The counsel on
both sides discussed this novel oath and at
length agreed TO it. Mr.. Seller gave Hung
Lee half dollar and told him to get q
chicken.
| CHINESE WAY OF SWEARING.
| Hung went out and came back shortly
with big white rooster. This appeared to
facilitate matters, but the trouble had only
begun. Hung then proposed that the court
should adjourn to the cemetery to perform
the ceremony OF cutting off the chickens
head, according to custom in China. This
the court was unwilling to do.
After moro discussion among the Chinese
Hung agreed to cut off the chickens head in
the yard back of the magistrates Office if
Charley Lee would assist in the ceremony.
Charley agreed to this at first,
but afterward refused, as he was
a Sunday school boy, and would
not swear in any such heather
manner. The opinion among the Chinese
seemed to be that Charley was afraid to
bind himself to tell the truth by what a
Chinaman would regard as a sacred oath.
The form OF the oath required two persons
30 take part in the ceremony of cutting off
the chieken'shead, and Hung called on some
Of his brethren to join him in the
OATH. They seemed to have q dread of it,
somehow, aud excused themselves on the
ground of being Sunday school scholars.
Then there was more gibbsrish among the
Chinese. 9e ~ m
WOULDN'T BEHEAD THE CHICKEN.
Between the counsel and the Cinnamon
that be declared he would not cut the
chickens head off unless Charley Lee
would assist him and swear to give bis
money back. Argument could not move
him and the case was dismissed for lack
Of evidence. 134 E,9u4Le
Charlie Lee, whom lboth white and vel.
low agree to be a rascal, was allowed to 90
free. The chicken which figured so prom
inently in this case was left at Justice
Naughtin's office. but he sent it round *
Mr.. Seller.
The Chinese seemed to think very poorly
of American law. Wing Chin Lee, the in
terpreter, said that in China Charley would
have been made to swear and give up the
money. Wing Chin expressed the opinion
that it was the same old story. The rict
rascal went free and the poor man had t
suffer loss. yfe7
Charley have money; get two, thre,
lawyers--get him off. Hung Lee have M
money--gst nothin'." gSr
GIFTS FOR THE LAWYERS.
Wing Chin Lee. who is an intel
ligent fellow, presented Mr.. Seile
with large embroidered Chimes
silk handkerchief yesterday afternoon as
token OF the appreciation of himself ant
countrymen Of Mr.. Sellers efforts in bshal
Of Hung Lee. He assured the attorney tina
whenever the Chinese got into trouble in tn
courts hereafter they would always go &
him.
Wing also presented Mr.. Fraser sill
handkerchief, which the solicitor refused
explaining that be was not allowed to 40
cept anything for his services