New-York tribune., 1905-08-10
COOLIE CASE PULLING.
Jurisdiction Ouer Cre5o of the
Dordogne Not Settled.

A complicated question of law has arisen over
the arrest of seven Chinese coolies Of the crew
of the British tramp steamship Dordogne, on
the charge of attacking their officers, while the
ship was living off Liberty Island, Tuesday night
after two hearings in the Tonbs police court
Yesterday, consultations with tbs British and
Chinese consuIs and the local federal authorl-
ties as well as the appearance in the case OF a
representative of the Department Of Commerce
and Labor. Magistrate Breen held the seven
coolies in 1000 bail each until this morning,
that he might obtain the advice of the District
Attorney as TO the Jurisdiction in the case. The
coolies could not give bail, having no friends IN
New-York and were sent to the Tombs-
Aside from the legal questions involved in the
case, its merits are open TO discussion. if the
story told by the prisoners, through an in
terpreter. is true. Captain F. ". Gray OF the
Dordogne, puts all the blame on the coolies but
the prisoners said that they We're compelled 10
defend themselves from the assaults Of
drunken engineer.
When the prisoners were arraiGned Edmund
F Price. a lawyer, appeared in their behalf.
saving he hadIbeen asked to do so by the Chi
nAse Consul here He argued with Magistrate
Breen that the court had no jurisdiction If Cap
tain GRAY charged the coolies with mutny, but
that they must be turned over 10 Brltlsh Ao-
uiralIy Court. Captain Gray lnterpoSed say
ing that he wished to charge the coolies mercy
with assault. Then Magistrate Breen heIQ lnat
on such a charge his court had jurisdiction, ana
he ordered complaint of felonlous assault 10
ha drawn His ground for this was that the al
Ieeed assault was committed in the waters OF
New-York Harbor. It is possible, however, that
he offence was committed in the water or New
Jersey il being a question as 10 just where the
T,ordogne Law on Tuesday night. Should II ap-
near that the assault committed in Jersey
wa ters that State would have TO take the case.
Magistrate Breen put the case off till after
noon Mr. Price went 10 United States Com
missioner Shields and asked him 10 interfere,
bur the Commissioner refused, and advised him
m see the British Consul Price did so, and
vas advised that the British Consulate would
not interfere in the case. as II considered the
matter within the jurisdiction Of the local
courts.
When the afternoon hearing opened man
who said he represented Commissioner Berk-
shire of the Department of Commerce ana
Labor aDpeared and asked that the coohes De
sem hack to the Dordogne and taken IN IRONS
IN Jamaica the nearest British Admiralty court
where thev could be tried. His contention was
that the coolies. as Chinese, and eXcIuueu from
this country should be turned over TO the Brit
ish courts O. ooo -, -,
When Magistrate Breen imposed Sl,ooO pan on
the prisoners the representative OF the Depart
rnent of Commerce and Labor OBJECTED saylHS
that the coolies as excluded Chinese, snoulu not
he given chance 10 obtain even freedom mere
Through an interpreter. the coolies salu tHey
would rather go to jail ana stay thele lIIai' -
back to the Dordogne again, as they IeIIeu ~ @ eiie
engineer would kill them In revenge II they "elI
back Captain Gray feared the cooies W1!!u 2!
rise when opportunity came, ana XIII ule "llte
officers Of the ship.