A Chinese Prosecution

The Police Court was occupied for some hours on Saturday hearing a. charge oj theft preferred against Clio ~yr Chok, a Chinese, by one of his countrymen, LowMing. The information, alleged tbnt Chow Chok stole £23 8s 6d, the moneys of a partnership firm of- market gardeners, known as Hy Lee.— Mr W. Macalister, with Mr J. Moffett, appeared for the prosecutor, and Mr M. Gilfedder for the accused. Mi Chang w a s appointed officiaj interpreter, but two of his countrymen gave their assistance. Mr Macalister said that the accused was a member of the -firm, which carried .011 a market garden at Kew. His business was to go round with the cart and sell vegetables* collect account, and make purchases when necessary. Some time ago he became acquainted with a young woman in tow» and conceived an affection for her. He left InVercargill in her company, and took a good amount of the partnership money with him. In Welßington he found that the damsel had more love for his money than for him, and she left him stranded there. Chow Chok- had frequently represented to his partners that certain accounts had been paid, but investigation and an accumulation of unpaid bills showed that misappropriations had been made. The offence with which the accused was now. charged was the theft of. £23 8s 64, paid him by Mr Bastings, of the Club hotel. Edwin Bastings gave evidence that Chow Chok purveyed his vegetables, at the hotel for the firm of Hy Lee. Ho produced an account rendered by accused, amounting, after certain reductions, to £23 8s Get He paid, by cheque for that, amount to accused on. 2sth April/ The cheque was cashed on the day of issue. Low Ming said tliat he was a member of the finm known as Hy Lee ; the other partners were Kirn Pbyv Chow Yilig, "Joe Ming, and the accused, who drove the cart, kept tiie books, and collected money. The cash book (produced) showed that on 25th April £2 3s 4d only was paid by Mr Bastings ; there were no other Club hotel payments that month. Chow , Chok informed, the partners that he had paid certain accounts, one amounting to £27 7s sd, but this had not been paid. He went away on 10th August ; witness did not -know that he was .going.— To Mr Gilfedder witness gave particulars as to other Chinese whio had been employed by the firm. When the creditors of the firm heard the accused had run away they sent in their accounts. If anyone wanted a holiday they * had to ask Kirn Toy. Chow Chok got £7 ■ from Chow Ying before he went away ' to pay his expenses. Mi Chang (Walkaka) translated a letter which had been sent by accused to the partners. It gave an account of his trip to Christchurch, and added: I ami going with. a girl ;' I am very foolish: I cannot explain it to my mates. That girl is in Wellington now. I think that girl wishes to pet my money ; I don't think she loves ime. I owe Lock> Si Lum £20, and Low Ming owes me £16. If Loct'i Si Lum is gr>ing home to China I ask my partners to pay him. lam going to give h n lf my share in the garden to Chow Hik. ... I owe all English people money ; when I come back I asm. going to pay it." This concluded the evidence, and Chow Chok, who. reserved his defence, was committed for trial. Bail waa allowed; accused in hris own surety of £50, and two others "of £25 ' each. • A. further charge was adjourned till 17th geptember. :: ■:.-,'. ■■".■•■'."-.-■ ■ . "