SERIOUS ASSAULT.

CELESTIALS BEFORE THE COURT,

The almond-eyed sons of the Flowery Land once more rolled up in largo numbers at the Police Court this morning to watch the operation of tho law in sifting the most recent "tragedy" which has invaded the Chinese quarters. Four Celestials rejoicing in the names of Ah Bing, Ah Sing, Kwang Shang, and Chee Sang, were arraigned before the Resident Magistrate to answer a serious charge, and James Ah Kew was sworn in as interpreter. The accused persons were charged that they did on the 2nd May unlawfully assault- and boat one Sou Mcc, by stabbing him on the leg with a knife, by hitting him on tho head with an iron rod, and by beating him on the leg 3 with bamboo sticks. Dr. Laishley appeared for the prosecutor Sou Mcc, and Mr S. Heskoth for the defendants, who pleaded not guilty. It was anticipated that tho case would bo a'protracted one and the accused were permitted to occupy a seat behind counsel. Dr. Laishley, in opening the case, said that from what ho had heard from witnesses he believed there had been a most deliberate attempt to murder Sou Mee. A short time b ,ck tho present defendauta

were before the Court, on another charge, and therewas a cenn te r charge. The caseswere dismissed, but His Worship admonished the Chinamen to cease their assaults upon each other, upon the penaltyofseverepuuishment in the event of subsequent assaults being proved. The difficulty hitherto experienced was that the whole of the witnesses were Chinamen, but on this occasion the witnesses included European witnesses. The facts of the occurrence were these: On the very night of the last Chinese case, the defendants deliberately waylaid Sou Alee in Abercrombie-streeb. He was so badly beater, that he was laid up for some days and was attended by Dr. Dawson. He (Dr. Laishley) was convinced that had the defendants not been interfered with by Europeans, Sou Mcc would have been fatally injured. He proposed to go on with the summary information, leaving it to Hi 3 Worship to decide whether there wa3 not sufficient evidence to justify an indictable case. All witnesses were ordered out of Court. Sou Mcc, the informant, having taken his solemn oath to swear the truth, the whole truth, and nothing bub the truth, so help him, by blowing out a match, told his story a.t considerable length. He was going up Abercrombie - street, and when near tho Wynyard Hotel, met Ah Bing and Ah Sing. The latter had an iron rod about two feet long in his hands, and with this he beat witness over the head, while Ah Bing assaulted him from behind with an old file about two feet long. Witness ran up Symonds-street, and three other Chinamen ran after him. Ko called " Murder," and one of the Chinamen knocked him down. Chee Sang struck him with a bamboo stick, and Ah Chee said to Quang Shang ilStab him; kill him," and a knife was stabbed into him. Witness then called out "Ah Chee's killing me >: and some Europeans came and rescued him. Ho was subsequently attended by Dr. Dawson, and had so stop in bed for several days. This witness was cross-examined by Mr Heskebh, evidently with the object of showing that he was mistaken as to the identity of the accused, but witness swore most positively that they were four .of those who attacked him, a fifth Chinaman who was concerned being away from Auckland. Dr. Dawson deposed to having attended Sou Mcc for injuries. He was bruised all over, there were wounds on his head, evidently inflicted by some blunt instrument, and there was a cut on one leg which might have been inliicted with a blunt knife. The case was proceeding as we went to press.