They Talked Chinese

They Talked Chinese

Dr.Carrow and Wah Lee Edified a Justice Court

All the Doctor Lacked Was a Que, Was Lee Claimed to Have Been Battered by a Tailor

The time of Justice Duffy's court was occupied Wednesday with the assault and battery case of Wah-hee, the Chinese laundry man, against B. F. Ross, a student in the employ of John Henry, the State st. tailor, Cavanaugh & Wedemeyer appearing for the complainant and Patrick Eagan and two other law students for Mr. Ross. The jury consisted of Elmer E. Beal, Wm. J. Aprill, Harris Ball, Lester Canfield, F. A. Oberst and W. Ei Bowen.

There was some difficulty in making he Chinaman understand but by dint of much effort, and repetition his story was elicited as follows: Soon after he started his laundry Ross brought him some work, the bill for which amountd to 22 cents. Ross promised to pay the bill that night but failed to do so. later Ross brought four pairs of pants to be laundered, the bill amounting to $1. When he got this parcel he brought two more pairs of trousers. His whole bill amounted to $1.72 which he did not pay. Lee, from that time on asked Ross for his money every time he saw him. Finally on the 2 2d of March last, Lee went up to Mr. Henry's tailor shop to collect his bill.He claimed Ross told him he had no money and swore at him calling him a d - Chinaman. At the same time Lee claims Ross struck him in the eye, knocking him down and putting him to sleep. He knew nothing more until he woke up when he was being dragged down the stairs by another person. In the cross-examination the foxy Chinese experienced some difficulty in understanding what was asked of him. The student attorney asked him if he knew what would happen to him if he swore falsely. Wah-Lee allowed he did not. As the student didn't either the question was dropped.

Dr. Carrow was brought in as a witness by the prosecution. He said Wah-Lee had a bad eye, what is known in the vernacular as a regular black eye, when he came to him for treatment. He had received a pretty hard hit said the doctor. After giving his testimony the doctor asked permission to speak to the Chinaman and astonished the gaping crowd by talking Chinese. The sound of the two voices was so much like two chop sticks as anything else.

When Mr. Henry the tailor in whose place the fracas occurred was put on the stand he told a very different story. He said his attention was attracted to the hall by the noise and as he stepped out Wah-Lee was in the act of striking Ross over the shoulder with his umbrella, which blow broke the umbrella. Lee had sworn the umbrella was broken when he was knocked down by Ross. The second time Ross struck Lee, Lee went down but immediately got up and sprang at Ross' throat, instead of going to sleep as Lee testified. Mr. Henry said he took Lee by the shoulder and pushed him toward the stairs and told him to get out.

When Ross was sworn he testified in substance the same as Henry, but when Constable Arthur Sweet was sworn he testified that Ross told him soon after the fracas in substance what the Chinaman testified to on the stand.

Wah-Lee's attorneys made the most of the point that Ross had not paid the bill and was angered at the Chinaman for dunning him, and dwelt strongly on the testimony of the constable. The jury found Ross guilty of the assault as charged. He was fined 5 and costs.