"LOOKING FOR A WIFE"

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10688, 7 September 1920, Page 6

"LOOKING FOR A WIFE"

IN A CHINAMAN'S LAUNDHY.

ALLEGED .THEFT AND ASSAULT.

Charged with' assaulting ' an ' - aged Chinese laundryman, named Sing 1 Lee, and stealing the sum 'of 35a from him, a young man' named Androw B. B. Sommerville wa« summoned before Mr J. S. Evans, S.M., yesterday. .Chief. Detective Ward appeared for tho prosecution, and Mr W. Perry for the dc „ fendant. With the aid of an interpreter, tha complainant stated : that the- accused came into his- shop..,- in-, Mokmsorth 6treet on August 24th, when complainant was having his evening meal. He could see that the accused had had a few drinks, and offered him. soma , rice. The accused said he expected to find his wife on the premises of Sing Lee, and, after searching, left the premises. It was alleged that he helped himself to the sum of 35s from tho till as ho was leaving, A Chinese youth corroborated the complainant's evidence on certain, points,, and uaid ho saw accwed take the money while the complainant was searching for a policeman. In the evening the accused returned, and threatened witness with a table-knife if he did not allow him to further search the -premises in quest of his apparently elusive wife. Sing Lee objected to the search being made Accused then became suspicious of the Chinaman's-action, lit a candle, _ and insisted on searching the house. Accused said Me had quarrelled with his wife that day, and, being suspicious of her. actions, made up his mind to follow her. ,jHo said he saw her enter the premises .of Sing Lee; he had provioifey found his wife there before they were married, and fully expected to again find her there. He denied that he had taken any money from the till, and also denied committing any act of violence upon tho Chinaman. "You are predisposed to acts of violence, aren't you?" said the chiefdetective to accused. "I had reason to be," answered the man. . After hearing the evidence, His Worship said he thought that tht case for the prosecution was weak in itself, and he was not satisfied that a theft had been committed. He would give accused the benefit of the doubt, and dismiss the case.