IN CHINATOWN.

NZ Truth, Issue 239, 22 January 1910, Page 5

IN CHINATOWN.

DEGRADED WHITE WOMEN.

Quarrel Over Ciiows.

Yellow "Mongrels" and White

11 Queens."

An Orgy of Vituperation.

High-toned Haining-street aristocracy had quite an airing at Wellington's S.M.s Court on Monday morning, where Magistrate Riddell sat m all his glory. The appearance m court of fairy queens from our Chinatown seldom fails to be interesting, and those who attend the courts as spectators had something on Monday to appease their peculiar appetites. The reason of Haining-street society gracing the Hall of Justice is explained m the fact that on the chargebook one Nellie Young Hee, a young woman, was charged with having, on December 17 last, used obscene language m that salubrious thoroughfare. To this charge she pleaded not guilty, and was defended by Mr Percy Jackson.

Sub-Inspector Norwood, who prosecuted, called Kate Melville, a young, tall, flash, but much freckled female, dressed m black silk and resplendent m jewellery, who unblushingly declared that she was single and lived with a Chinaman m Haining-street. . Ab0ut, 6.30 p.m. on December 17 she saw the other female m | the case there. "What did she do?" queried the SubInspector. Witness r She insulted a Chinaman and I told her not to use such language m front of the children m the street. What did she say ? "I won't say it," said Kate, imperious-'. ly. At the request of the Sub-Inspector, the woman wrote down the unprintableEnglish. She stated that the language, was used m the presence of a number of children— European children. 'Asked what she (witness) had to say m reply to the obscene outburst, she replied, "I said if you don't go home I'll j give you a good hiding." The accused's response was to lift up her clothes over her head and behave m a most unladylike fashion. The polite Percy then took on the contract of cross-examining the witness, and remarked, with emphasis, that she lived with Wong Ling: "You're not married to' him," continued the lawyer. "No," snapped Kate. "It's nothing todo with you if I'm married to him or not." Wong Sing is divorced from his wife ? He was divorced some little time back ? Witness : It's a long time. Five or six months ago ?— lt's more than that. Kate raised her voice m anger, and was 4 preparing to annihilate her tormentor when the Magistrate interfered. Mr Jackson : You are not friendly with this woman ?— I don't know her. Don't you quarrel with every woman m the street ?— No. You wish to remain supreme as the Queen of Haining-street ?— No, Ido not. Don't you think that you are the only one lady m Haining-street ?— No, I do not.

Further cross-examination elicited the fact that one Charles Young Sing was iii Haining-street about the time that Nellie exploded, and Kate observed that he did not use a filthy expression to the woman; m fact, he ran into a neighbor's yard to escape. Mr Jackson : Do you ever use bad language ?— No. What did you say ?— All I said to the girl was "I'll give you a good hiding." With your tongue or your fists ?— My fists, of course. Did she call Young Sing a yellow mongrel ?— -Yes. Didn't you say, "Why do you call him a yellow mongrel when you're married to a yellow fr- yourself ?"— I said,"You call him a yellow mongrel and you're married to a yellow mongrel yourself." Were you drunk ?— I don't drink. Why, aren't you under the influence of liquor everyday ?— No. That's nothing to do with the case. I never drink intoxicating liquor. Are you addicted to .the use of opium?— No, I am not. You never touch it ?— No. Weren't you suffering from the effects of opium that day ?— No, I wasn't. It's four years since I smoked opium. Didn't this lady (defendant) tell yon ttr mind your own business ?— No. She lifted op her clothes. ; She spoke to the Chinaman ? — Yes, and then turned round and swore at me. She remembered, she said, the language tiat was used, and she had not put m the obscene words herself. You -were horribly shocked, I suppose ?— I was shocked far the children's sate. It's nothing to me. You've never heard it before ?— No, not; such language as she. used. Isn't it the kind you heat daily ?— No, it is not. An oleaginous-looking Chinaman, who kissed the "Bible with considerable unction and gave his name as Charlie Young Sing, a tesident of Kent Terrace, next gave evidence. He was m Haining-street on.' the day m question and saw the defendant there. She called him a yellow b ; asserted that she washed his etc. clothes; that he kept a brothel, and wound up with a grossly indecent expression. He had said nothing to her and had known her a long time. To Mr Jackson : The defendant wa& married to Young Hee, and he did not know how long she had left him. You tried to be friendly -with this lady when she was living with Young Hee ?— No, I never fliendly. You don't like her now ?— I don't speak to her. Did you call her a dirty mare ?— I say nothing. What bad language did she use to you ? — She call me yellow . Didn't you say you would settle her ? — No, not a word. Constable Doyle, of Mount Cook, deposed that when he served the summonson the defendant, she asked him to read it over, and she replied, "Thatls quite true; they've got to prove it." The last witness had complained. To Mr Jackson: He had known the defendant for some time. She was not livings with a Chinaman. She worked and drank and fought with all the women m Haining-street. He believed that she had been before the court. Do you know anything against . her ? — I know nothing m her favor. Mr Jackson : You are an out-and-out constable. Do you know anything against her ?— I know she is continually drinking and her moral character is not good. Mr Jackson : You're not veryrgeuerous, constable. To the Sub-Inspector.: Frequent complaints were made of her disorderly conduct and fighting. - Helen Young Hee, m her evidence, said she was the wife of a Chinaman named Young Hee; but sh&had not lived with him for eight years. She lived at 17 Alma-street. She went out scrubbing and .din work for the' Chinese. Chi the day m question she was m Haining-street when. 'She met the Chinaman Young Sing, who called her a dirty mate. He always greeted her that way. She turned round and called him a dirty yellow mongrel. The "queen" of Haining-street then came on the scene and said, "You had better go home and look after yowr dirty yellow that j r ou're married to." The "queen" was then told to mind her own business. She had often seen the "queen" under the influence of liquor. When thejconstable came to her place, he said he had a "stiff" for her. He told her the words, and she said they would have to prove it. The S.M. said that probably the defendant had some provocation. He imposed a fine of 40s and costs, or 14 day»' imprisonment.