A PUGNACIOUS CHINAMAN.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19048, 19 December 1923, Page 3

A PUGNACIOUS CHINAMAN.

ABUSES A POLICEMAN. FINED FIVE 1 SHILLINGS.” Lee Hung, a bottle, gatherer, appeared before Mr J. K. Bartholomew, S.M., at a brief bitting of the Police Court yesterday afternoon on a charge of using threatening behaviour in Dunbar street. Defendant was an elderly man, and apparently knew just, enough of the English language to call a constable names and get himself arrested. In the court, however, he required an interpreter of - his own nationality, and a voluble conversation ensued between them, from which few facts wore elicited. Senior-sergeant Mathieson represented the police, and evidence was given by Constable Coatsworth, who said that at 9 a.m. yesterday ho and Constable Ellens were working in the part of the exercise yard at the police station, facing Dunbar street, when the defendant entered. Witness asked, “What do you want here?” ami then told him to go away. Witness left the yard for a few minutes, and on returning found the defendant still there. He called witness a. name and threatened to “fight.ee,” and then commenced to use filthy language. There was no doubt that he was in earnest. Witness told him to get away, and (he defendant went down the road for a short distance and resumed his language. Witness thereupon arrested him, as a crowd was beginning to collect. The Magistrate: What was the defendant doing in the yard? Another rapid dialogue ensued between the defendant and his interpreter, and it was ascertained that ho had come there for battles. Defendant was in the habit or "fossicking” round the place, and when no one was there he would help himself to botl les. The Magistrate: This is a very unusual charge. Senior-sergeant Mathieson: Yes; as a rule these people arc very well behaved. It was mentioned that when the defendimt was arrested his language could bo heard all over the barracks. A fine of Ss, in default 48 hours’ imprisonment, was imposed.