Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-22

mien, and spoke in glowing terms Of the
Americans He referred particularly to the
handsome way our troops acted in the siege
Of Pekin, and said his brother-ln-law who
resided at the capital, told him the Ame-i-
can soldiers did no looting. We spent per-
haps a haf hour in discussing matters until
he finally suggested 1t was time 20 open
the court.
Opening Court.
Through his invitation I occupied a seat
on the bench by the side of the American
representative and became interested in a
moment in the novel sights presented. The
court room was similar to our police court,
there being a raised platform for the judges
and a dock for the witnesses The person
mel of the court was large, there being at
least fifty runners. who were drawn up in
respectful silence on the left and stood at
dignified attention while the cases were
called. On the right several policemen.
who by their coclSney accent proved their
birth, were ready to give testimony against
the accused. There were also present sew
eral Chinese policemen in their quaint cos
tunes. as well as several sikhs-the SOL
der police from India whose stately bear
ing and handsome and swarthy faces at
traCted especial attention.
The court was opened without any for
mality, Chinese boy being led to the space
before the judge by his queue. He bowed
low in salutation and the case was ready.
From the testimony 1t appeared that he
had robbed his employer, who was a tailor,
OF silk coat. When charged with the
offenSe he answered stoically that he had
not stolen the garment, but had taken it.
The magistrate asked If he had any excuse
for transgressing the law. and he answered
No. Three hundred bamboos," said the
court. and the prisoner was led away to
be punished in the afternoon.
An Assault Case.
The next case called was one where the
tested itself. a Chinaman Of the middle
class accused three men Of assault He
testified TO having employed one Of them
70 take him to a certain place in his rick
shaw. and when he arrived at his destina-
ton he was set upon by the accused and
two friends and numerically beaten. His
testimony was corroborated by one witness,
apparently friend, and I was beginning to
feel sorry for the accused The magistrate
thought for moment. and then called upon
the youngest OF the trio to give his version
OF the affair. He was only a boy, perhaps
seventeen years of age, and I have never
seen a more dramatic figure than he pre-
scented as he raised his head and looked
the judge square in the eye and commenced
his testimony by saying, by the love
bear my father and mother I speak the
truth He was still on his knees and gave
his testimony in that position, which was
In effect that he had seen the prosecuting
witness fighting with his rickshaw man
and had gone over with his friend to sepa-
rate them. He had not participated in the
fight. save to bring about peace. The Judge
listened attentively to the testimony and
then called for the accused coolie for his
testimony. He was q poor, miserable fell
low. ragged and unkempt, but he told a
straightforward story, which was in sub
stance that he had agreed to carry the
prosecutor a certain distance for so much
"cash.' and that arriving at his destina-
ton the witness had refused to pay him
While expostulating with him friend of
the witness came up and all Of them jump
ed on him, whereupon his two friends had
interceded.
Turning quickly to the prosecuting wit
ness the judge asked him IL he had ever
seen these men before. He replied in the
negative.
What reason then had they for assault
ing YOU
He did not know
ut seems to me-" said the MAGISTRATE,
"yeu have formed nice little conspiracy
not only TO rob this man, but to have him
punished. I think. perhaps II would be
well for me to enter this conspiracy, and SO
will give you a dose Of the medicine you
intended for this man. You can have 500
bamboos after you pay him what you owe
him, and your friend there who has gone
out OF his way to help you in this matter
shall have 800
1t was interesting to note the changed
conditions The accuser became the con-
v1cted, and the coolie, with many protesta-
lions OF his thankfulness to the magistrate,
Withdrew. while the men who had borne