The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1896-07-18 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

CHINESE SAILORS AND THEIR WOES. At the Borough Police Court on Monday, Aldermen singleton and C. T. Gostenhofer beard a summona for assault issued at the instance of Yung SOOO, second steward of the as. Mogul, lying in the Morpeth Dock, against Albert Gill, third officer, and GenlKee, chief steward of the same vessel. There were croes-summonses for assault against the complainant. Mr. Quilliam appeared for the last-named who, he said, made a report to the shore captain that the third officer had been receiving drink from the chiefeteward. In consequence of the report this assault was committed. At half-past nine on Friday morning, Goal Kee went to the complainant, and after cursing him in the Chinese language he bit him with his clenched fist on the jaw, cutting the jaw with a ring he had on his finger. Guel Kee also hit complainant in the ribs and threatened to murder him. At about half-past eleven, Albert Gill, the third officer came along and got hold of Yung Soon by his pigtail and dashed his head on the deck and also kicked him about the body. Mr. Qui'Ham called evidence to prove the assault, and the evidence of Yung Soon and Foo How was to the effect that in consequence of the complainant having reported to the shore captain that the chief steward had been giving drink to the third officer, the chief steward came to him on Friday morning, called him bad names and struck him. Later on the third officer came to his room using abusive language, took hold of him by the pigtail, banged his head several times against the deck and kicked him on the chest and ribs. Dr. Cornwall, police surgeon, said the complainant had several black bruises on the chest, ribs, and loin, which had recently been caused by some blunt instrument. There . were no wounds on the complainant's head. Heplyuii t the defendant Gill, the doctor said that the injuries oould not have been mused by the Chinese practice of self-pinching. In def. nee Gill all-iged that complainant and two other Chinamen were attacking the chief steward, when he interfered and put the complainant into the pantry. Complainant afterwards ran after hint and struck him on the hack of the neck, whereupon he (Gill) struck him with his open hand to quieten him. He denied having used his fist or having kicked the man. The other defendant corroborated. Charles Battler, chief officer, said that there had been several rows among the Chinese sailors. He heard the complainant, Yung Soon, swear at the third officer, but he did not see the latter' hitting him. The tench fined Gill 10s, and coats, being of opinion that while he had received great provocation, he bad exceeded his duty and inflicted more punishment than was necessary to quell the disturbance. They also fined Yung Soon and Gaul-Kes ss. and costs each.  BIRKENTICAD FRU PUBLIC LlBlllMl2l.—Statiance for the week ending July 11th, 18Vc1uses issued: Reference Library, 1,303; &Vend* Pi% IT 217. Leading libraries, 4,306; average per   I 4  • e' ,  R' - I  ..'.. i ' f 1i , , q , :l -,: ' . '  i , !'. e',.. '. F' 4 . t .',,i..4'.4.1 .. , , , , . i . ',  ! , ,jdil r  t I ' 4 • -1 • i ~r .