The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-08-31
A FUNNY DAY IN COURT.
WITNESSES IN CRIMINAL CASES
WHO BROUGHT DOWN THE HOUSE.

Lung, tae Chinaman Makes "a star
Witness and Creates Great Deal
of Observation-Disclosures Proves an
Abba COIOred Woman Who stood
Up in the Witness Chair-Alfred Sc
bro Acquitted.
Henry Matheney, accused OF being one OF
the two men who assaulted and robbed
Sing Lung. the BrOughton street laundry
/ man. Saturday night. July 13. was ac-
quilted yesterday in the superior court,
the jury rendering verdict Of not guilty
in less than ten minutes after leaving the
room.
1t was a star day in the superior court
for fun at least. Seldom have the speota-
tors found so much 20 be amused at. The
colored witnesses in the minor criminal
| trials made so many bad breaks and did
and said so many peculiar things that the
| spectators were kept in a perpetual grin
! This ripened into broad roar when an
/ old colored auntie stood up in the wit
ness box when told to take the chair.
Another tried to 90 up into the judges
stand.
The old Chinaman, Sing Lung. capped
the climax, however, in his picturesque
pantomimic manner Of telling about the
robbery and how he was tied. He could
not speak any English, and so Lung Jen,
| a bright. Ameracanized Chinaman, was
sworn as his interpreter. He asked the
/ questions that were propOunded by the
attorneys aud then repeated the answers
made by Sing Lung. The old fellow was
I lot, In 81
and thin cotton trousers, his slim queue
tied over his head. his deep, sunken eyes.
flashing up at some question or other.
and then telling his story by means of
gestures and signs.
When he was brought in and the in
terpreter was sworn, Mr.. d. b. Lester.
who was acting as solicitor general pro
TEN, began the questions. Mr. Morgan of
counsel for the defense objected. He said
that there We're 1.-TWO witnesses up there
! Qaughter), and he wanted to know wheth-
er or not Sing Lung could speak English
Judge Falligant suggested that Mr.. Nor
| gan ask him In Chinese. This provoked
roar of laughter. Mr.. Lester finally ask
ed the imperturbable Chinaman if he could
speak English The old fellow sat stil
/ and blinked at Mr.. Lester in a manner
| that brought down the house again.
Speak to him in Chinese" suggested
his honor.
Mr.. Morgan tried his hand at it. But
the old Chinaman, if he could understand,
| gave no sign, and finally they gave it
| up and had TO ask the interpreter to ask
him. Sing Lung quickly ratified off a lot
| of gutturals, which the interpreter said
| meant that he couldn't
! Mr.. Lester began questioning Sing Lung
| through the interpreter as to the crime
and how it occurred. At the first word
| of the question the old Chinaman satsup,
| his eyes flashed and he began speaking
rapidly and making gestures with his
| hands and feet. When he came to tell OF
| the assault and tieing he choked himself
| and then crouched down, crossed his
arms under his legs and made motion
/ as II something was in his mouth, in
| fact, telling the story so graphically
| that half the spectators could fol-
! low him in detail. According to- his
| story he was in his place at 1880 o clock
! that Saturday night. A man came in
and laid down a bundle near him. Sud-
| denly this man leaped at him and began
! choking him. second man who came in
| right after him, closed the door and
! aided the first one. A towel was used
| for gag, with something on it, ex-
! planned the old naundryman, that
| 'smelled bad" He was then tied up
| and his legs fastened also. The two men
| then took all the money he had, $751; and
| then with a dark lantern searched the
| house. When asked If he could point
| out the man, the fellows face lit up
! with a glare of rage. mis- black eyes
snapped, and starting out of his chair
| he STROBE forward several feet and
pointing his long, lean fingers at Ma
| theny, who was seated near by, said
| In Chinese, with emphasis as could be
judged from his manner that this was
the man. 1t was a most dramatic scene,
and the state made the most of it.
on the cross examination many
questions were asked, but Sing
Lung would answer in his
own way every time. He had a no
ton that the defendants lawyers We're
against him. and his replies were guard
ed When asked If he could identify the
man, it being about the NTH time that
he had been asked 1t, the patience of
the Chinaman gave out, and rushing
from his seat, he crossed the floor, ran
up to Matheny and parting the latters
breast with his long, tapering fingers.
excitedly said, so the interpreter stated
| that this was the man.
The written testimony of w. w. Over
ton was admitted, by agreement of both
parties. 1t was general IN its nature. He
| stated that Matheny came up to his
room that Saturday night to change his
| shoes He had noticed the piece of paper
| that had been found in the Chinaman's
room, that was taken from his room.
| 1t was there at night, but the next morn
| ing it was missing He added that he
/ knew that Matheny was short of funds
! and was behind in his board bill, and yet
| he had been showing money.
| A good alibi for Matheny was estab-
| lished by st. J. Armand, who testified at
| length that he was with Matheny all
that evening from about 8 o'clock till
after II o'clock, with only few minutes
| interval at 10:15 O'Clock, when Matheny
went to his room to change his shoes.
Other witnesses corroborated this, and
] Mr.. Williams, trainmaster' of the Flora
! ida Central and Peninsular stated that he
had paid SIS to Matheny the last week
in June. 1t was also proven that he had
| received some money from friends
! through the express office.
Matheny then took the stand and made
| a straightforward statement in his. own
| behalf. He gave a detailed account OF
1 his whereabouts that night, and told
/ about his money Noting In the Sunday
! papers that a piece Of paper had been
| found in the laundry, he visited the
/ lhfuaman'g laundry and taIlrad rvfth