CHINESE AND CUSTOMER.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 800, 25 April 1910, Page 8

CHINESE AND CUSTOMER.

•' ALLEGED ASSAULT. On Saturday night, between the hours of sis and seven'' p.m., while a Chinese • laundryman, of ' Majoribarika Street, was pensively ; gazing at his ironing-board, -there entered his place• of- r business one. Ferguson,, a Euroj>ean client. Ferguson had come for hia linen, but had lost his check. Hero a difficulty arose. Ferguson wanted his linen, naturally; and the laundrymah wanted proof of identity —no check, no shirts. Ferguson insisted but.the Chinaman was obdurate. Somewhere amongst that bewildering array of paper parcels, with their cabalistic signs, were Ferguson's' shirts, and without his little slip of paper, bearing the duplicate sign to one of those on the shelf,. Ferguson could not get his parcel. Then Ferguson became angry, and stormed and threatened, Whatever it was' that Ferguson said, or did, is not very clear, but certain it is that'he received a severe blow on the temple. Tho man reeled and fell, against the doorway, the' blood flowing from an ugly wound.

A boy scout patrol from Mount Victoria happened to be coming along with then- scoutmaster, and naturally tho outcry attracted thejr attention to the shop. .Instantly, three of them, divining the position, doubled, to the Clyde Quay' Police Station, while Scoutmaster M'Donald . 'whipped out first aid with a quickness and despatch. Meanwhile a big crowd had collected, and - the laundryman's ' establishment was subject to some hostile criticism. Happily for the peaoc of the neighbourhood, and the safety of the shop windows, Constable M'Kelvie, led to the spot by the boy scouts, was quickly on the scene. The crowd was ordered back, and Dr. Henry, who was also summoned, '• put: the finishing touches to, Scoutmaster M'Donald's first aid, and the wounded man, now patched up, was escorted home, while a Chinaman named Wing Lee was haled away by the police to durance vile. .

Both Ferguson, and Wing Lee will he invited to explain matters to his Worship £t the Magistrate's Court, this morning.