121 prisoners were prosecuted by Mr. Dennys, Solicitor for the Government; they were defended by Mr. Holmes, solicitor, representing the Chinese. Cross examination of the witnesses was allowed.
In the cross examination of one of them it came out that instead of being a respectable member of society as he gave himself out to be, and a very important witness in the case, there was every reason to believe he was an old Chinese offender and that his evidence was worthless. The fact was established to my satisfaction to the extent of its being proved that he was branded with the Chinese words "Sit so" meaning "Thief."
The Solicitor for the defence then and there wanted me to discharge the prisoners and to prosecute the witness for perjury. I declined to make any order on the subject but intimated that my refusal did not prevent anybody else from taking any action they chose.
The Solicitor for the defence, asking time to consider the point, I adjourned the case for two days.
In the interval he had the witness arrested.