A CHINESE PUZZLE

Evening Star, Issue 19025, 21 August 1925, Page 5

A CHINESE PUZZLE

SKEDADDLING GARDENERS WHO WERE THE “BOSSES”?. A Chinese puzzle which took a hit of solving was set out in the Police Court this morning, when nine Chinamen were charged with having worked at their calling as gardeners on Sunday, August 2. Tlie names' of the defendants were; Young Jock, Young Tong, Ah Gee. Young Yom, Young Wing, Charlie Y’oung, Young Sue, Wong Gay, and Young Lim. Mr A. C. Hanlon appeared for them all, and pleaded guilty. Sub-inspector OTialloran said that tho circumstances were that the defendants were all working in their garden at II a.m. on the day in question. Some of them had offended similarly before, and been cautioned. Tho subinspector submitted that gardening was not a matter of urgency, and that six days in the week should be sufficient for the work. Ho added that the men must have known they were doing wrong, because when they saw tho police they “.skedaddled” and hid behind sheds.

Mr Hanlon; “ Tho trouble was they didn’t skedaddle soon enough, and were seen.” Counsel went on to say that this had been a very bad season for gardening. Tho Hvcek prior to the offence being committed was particularly bad, and defendants were taking advantage ol a dry day to get in some stuff that had been lying about. “ Most of us,” said Mr Hanlon, “have had to work'at our callings on Sunday at ono time or another, but wo have jiot been cauglit. I fnigU't often have been caught if I had left a window open and a policeman had passed by.” Many people worked in their gardens and at golf on Sundays. Tho Magistrate (Mr Bundle) : Y r ou don’t call golf work, do you, Air Hanlon?

Mr Hanlon: it is very hard work the way 1 play it. Tho Sub-inspector pointed out that some of tho defendants were employed by a boss Chinaman, who made them work on Sundays.

Mr Hanlon; So far as I can make out they are all “brothers” or “ cousins, M and partners. His Worship; You will usually find that some of tho Chinamen arc the bosses, and making all the money. I d like to know tho real position. This is whore tho puzzle began. Constable Scbruffcr deposed that Young Jock, Charlie Young, and Young Lim were bosses, and tho rest employees. Young Lim denied this, however, while. Young YViug said lie was a boss. Mr Hanlon said he reckoned all tho “Youngs” must bo related —“cousins or something,” and Constable Schruflor made tho puzzle harder by declaring that the real Young Jock was not present at all. _ , Anyhow, tho magistrate, m view or the bad season for gardening, fined the alleged bosses -10 s each, with costs (7s), and dismissed Llic.- information against tbo rest.

Further complications arose ns to whom wore really bosses, pone of tbo a.lmond-cved dciendanls being eager to claim the distinction. After several futile attempts to get the pieces of the puzzle iu place, Mr Hanlon said he thought His 'Worship had better let the matter stand as it was—Young Jock, Charlie Young, ami Young Lim being recorded as bosses for tho purpose of the fine. “'They'll adjust it ail right,” said counsel.