1921-04-05 — Page 3

THE RECENT DISTURBANCE BY AMERICAN SAILORS,

3 PROSECUTED AT THE' MAGISTRACY.

FINES TOTAL $100. The riotous proceedings of sailors of the U.S. Navy in the bar of the Hong kong Hotel, and in the centre of Victoria on the night of March 18th. wers investigated by Mr. B. E. Lindsell, at the Magistracy, yesterday afternoon.” Mr. Hugh St. E. Miller, who attended оп behalf of the United States Consul,

'occupied a seat on the Bench.

After a hearing which lasted nearly three hours, the Magistrate convicted all- the defendants of riotous behaviour and of assault and sent the ringleader to

THE HONGKƠNG DAILY PRESS. TUESDAY, APRIL 6TH, 1971.

The Magistrate: Certainly. I think that will bo most satisfactory, and take lesa time than if each of the defendants questions the witnesses,

•

Noel Bernard White, steward of the Hongkong Hotel, said he had been called to the bar just before, the disturbance Some bluejackets and civilians were in the bar, they were all behaving quietly

and were sober. An American sailor,

with a white hitid on his arm, brought in

30 or 40 more.

The witness was sent to make a circuit of the defendants but he returned to the box with the information that he could not identify the man with the white baad on his arm."

Continuing, the witness said the big- est side "the Americans—"went for": the British sailors. He mw blows struck

Witness: I never saw any of them

A FUNERAL PROCESSIONS, The Magistrate (to the witness): Is it used. a fact that eight men casue in first!

Robert Warren, another defendant, Witness: There were two lines of said he was assaulted in a house in Ship them! It was like a funeral procession, Street by a large number of British lining each side. In cate the American sailors, on March 17th: Attacks by five | Navy-I thought it was.

British seanien to one American were

Was the fight started by eight men 1-frequent.

H... Titania, the next witness, iden- Lending Stoker. "Thomas O'Brien, of

tiffed different man as the ringleader. He spoke to being knocked down and kicked in the chest.

no

to

In reply to Mr. Hazlerigg, he could not assailants on prosions occasions. identify any of the mea in the hotel bar

The Magistrats (to Lient. Möcuni) :) Dd understand you to say witnesses in the hotel' could give material evidence on your men's, behalf

minor differences with British sailors

Lieut. Mecum Were there more Ame; ricus than British -We stood

Lieut. secum said that they were only chance there were too many for as to casual acquaintances who spoke to him. fight.

He did not know their names. The Magistrate: It was not man

Mr. Hazlerigg, addressing the Magis man-Well, the ringleader said that,trate on the evidence for the defence, prison for fourteen days with hard with fists and leather bands on fists-one man each," but more came in. I remarked that any number of previous labour, but subsequently, or the applica. He also saw a few men using lengths of should say there were 30 to 8. tion of the Naval officer in charge of the piping. One British sailor was laid Mr. Haalarigg said the whole 30 would meu, changed the sentence to a fine of out in the bar. Not much damage was not be in the fight: the witness Kad said $50. The defendants admitted instigating done to the hotel property.

some were not fighting but were over the affair bit said by way of extenuation

turning tables. that they had suffered much annoyance for some time previously from parties of British bluejackets who outnumbered them.

The Assistant Crown Solicitor (Mr. Hazlerigg), appeared for the prosecu tion; the Assistant Harbour Master (Major C. Willson, O.B.E.), the Cap tain-Superintendent of Police (Mr. E. D. C. Wolfe), and Lieut. R. G. Chichester. B.N., H.M.S. Titonie, also attended.

*

Lieut. C. H. Mecum, U.S. Navy, repre- sented the Commander of the U.S.S. Wilmington.

There were 23 defendants, and the accommodation of the Court was consider ably taxed to find room for them all. At any rate they were spared the indignity of standing in the dock: the space in front of the "dock was also insufficient, so the men were ranged in a wide semi- circle which included the lock in its orbit

In reply to the Magistrate, Lieut. Mecum said the defendants were. legally represented.

THE CHARGER.

know the three charges?

a copy of them.

not

The Magistrate: How many men do you say the nun with the white band brought in?

,!

Witness: bo or 10, at least. At this a titter went round the semi- circle of defendants, and they were sharply told by the Magistrate to keep order.

Forty of our man jumped on about eight British-Between 30 and 40..

Did not some stay nutside -No, they all came in.

First Stoker William Hart, H.M:S. Titaxin, agreed with the first seaman's identification of the ringleaders and estimated. the number of Americans who entered the bar as 13 to 20, and the number of bluejackets as 6 or 8. He I was knocked down by a blow of the

This question aroused some discussion with the Magistrate and Mr. Hazlerigg, And the witness was told he could only

used -Yes, 1, saw them,

You are positive these weapons were speak of incidents within his personal

would recover without going to hospital? Do you think anyone bit-with them

can't say that..

WHO WOS THE WAR

knowledge.

PREVIOUS, DISPUTES I

Lieut. Meema took occasion to indicate the defence. This kind of thing, he said, did not come out of a clear sky, unless there was some instigation.

|

could only be pleaded in mitigation of punishment in this case.

The Magistrate: Certainly,

Mr. Hazlerigg: To justify an assault one most be actually defending blows being struck. The evidence shows that this was a very serious assault, and the defendants are fortunate that they are not standing here on much moYS serious charge.

The Magistrae: Of course, you can- not bring home the assault to more than Avery tow

"ALL "EQUALLY, QUILTY."'

WAS

Lient. Hecum: They all started to back. fight?

Lieut. Mecum: Did you hear of any.

·Witness: Yes, they all lined up first trouble the night before, when a large in two manks.

number of bluejackets, act upon Ameri-witnesses for the defence has borne out Mr. Hazlerigg: The ovidence of the mans, (whom they out-numbered ? *; *

the suggestion of the prosecution that the whole affair was a planned and organised reprisal for a number of previous griov together, all are equally guilty, whether ances, either fancied or real. As all came it the assault or the disturbance out- side.

Lieut. Mecum agreed that the only plea penalty. American sailors were trained possible

оло of mitigation of to act for themselves, and he did not kan, until he investigated this affair on ship board, that they had all these prior police and the naval authorities knew of after themselves. If the trouble had grievances. They did not go to the The Magistrate was informed that the police; they took a pride in looking no disturbance on the previous night." been brought to the notice of the proper

Stokez Edward Titchie, said 30 or more attacked & British have been avoided; the American Navy Wilkins, H.M.B. | authorities the affair in the hotel would sailors. Four men attacked him at oner. had always experienced every support After further similar evidence Police modore. The defendants were young, and co-operation from the British Com Sergeant Elson described the proceedings one of them was over 25 and the aver in the street when the crowd left the bar, When he told the men to be more orderly, age age was 31; there were only 200 of there was a small chorus of Here's them compared with 2,000 British naval: hastard policeman : shall we see him off "men in the port. From pride of country and Eventually, they were arrested by the race they stuck together to try and fight naval picket. Sgt. C. E. Terry gave this thing out. Of course, they had no sicular evidence. He said that in the right to do so, but sailors were not very street, as the Americans seemed to be reasonable be.ngs and the men had not looking for trouble," he telephoned, the realised the seriousness of their offence Central Police Station for assistance. and the consequences it would have.

Lieut. R. G. Chichester, H.N., spoke as to the arrest by the picket. The men gave British. I quite agree, it can't be done "The "idea" concluded Lieut. Mecum, no trouble at all when arrested.

"was to fight it out man to man with the This concluded the case for the prosceu in a vilised, town like Hongkongous don't think there was anything vicious in it no more than a glove fight on the fo'estle.".

Lending Stoker Joseph Anthony Guest, of 1.3.8. Titunia, said that at 8.30 p. on March 18th he and a friend were having a drink in the Hongkong Hotel bar prior to going to the theatre. About eight or ten British sailors were in the bar...

The Magistrate: The defendants

In walked that man there," continued Ligut. Mocum: We have never received the witness, dramatically, the second

from the stanchion (the "stanchion The Magistrate, addressing the defen-being the post at one of the corners of dants, said: The first charge is that you the dock. A count showed thist this was all, behaved in a noisy and disorderly the 16th defendant, named Koster). manner in Pedder Street (that is the street facing the Hongkong Hotel) on the

The witness: He said, "Who won the war? 18th March last. The next charge is that you damaged tumblers and glasses, valued at $340, the property of the Hongkong Hotel Company, and the third charge is that you unlawfully dit asenult Acting- Inspector Field, of the Police Force, Mr. White, stoward of the Hongkong Hotel, and William Hart and five other British samen.

None of us knew laughter) no one answered him. He called in the guys"-in came quite a large force. don't think all these were there, but there were a lot more that are not here.

at the estimate),

THE MAGISTRATE'S DECISION.

The Magistrate: I find the first charge of behaving in a disorderly manner proved against all the defendants, and on that I fine them $10 each.

Lient Meen said that some of the defendunts wished to give ovidence. He would call Defendant 16, Koster If I guess will guessing do, sr-About several witnesses as the ringleader.

How many do you think altogether-The Magistrate: The man identified by

(More titters from the defendants HEN THE RINGLEADER'S STORY,

Hedry Orville Koster, coxswain of the What happened when the guys came U.S.S. Wilmingtong said: This bunch. went over there principally with the get thrown up to us every time wo go walls and get argued with as to who wen vielion against all the defendants, but ashore. We get shouldered off the side As regards the assault, I record a con Boing usually in a minority I shall impose no penalty except in the we could not put up much of a fight case of the man (Koster) who appears

Mr. Hazlerigg The charge in respect of assaulting Inspector Field and Min They started an attack: we were object of finishing up the arguments we in the course of the disturbance; I shall

White is an error;

The Magistrato: Then the charge off

assault is in respect of six nával men.

sitting down. One of our chaps went out the window. I did not know the too--(laughter). A chap hit me over

The damage is such a small mattor and might have been caused by either party dismiss that charge.

window was there or I would have gone the war.

It seems to be the British idea of fair to have led the whole thing. He will

44

t,

circle and work with their boots. We with hard labour. The remainder, no didn't like that a bit, sul That night pensity. --- bar of the Hongkong Hotel I called We went to square this thing up. In the them (Tha withose added that he ex

Mr. Hazlerigg, in opening, asid the case arose out of a disturbance already the head with a bottle. There was a blud play to get. 10 or 12 British sailors, ina have to go to prison for fourteen days reported in the Press. He would call evidence that

of the defendants attempted to start an argument with blue jackets in the bar of the Hongkong Hotel; no notics was taken of him and be then called in 35 or 40 naval ratings from the Filmington who, without any provocation whatever, asmaulled the seven

not been brought with the object of Mr. Hazelrigg said the prosecution had revenge, but only to prevent a recurrence.

This was done, in a personal surety of

geon-you have got it here I don't know why hit me with that. It was a ing a defendant with red hair)-who hit ginger chap-not that one (indicat. me with a bottle. The witness went on plained to the men the grievance just He would like the other defendants to to explain that he received a severe blow narrated and concluded; Any arguments be bound over to keep the peace. struck his head if he had not kicked his best Navy; bave it out). He continued: with the bludgeon which would have about who won the war or who has the zasailant..

1. then walked to the door and said $100 each. Mr. Hazlerigg Look at the materialThere's 14 here," and 14. Americana came or eight men in the bar, who, by weight wrapped round the bludgeon. Do you in and proceeded to decorate the 14 use that on the Titania-No, it's an British sailors with their fists. That some of numbers, wore overpowered and American invention. We have no in of the witnesses say they were out-num received more or less serious injuries. sertion" (insulating material the witness hered was due to the fact that sonde left Some of the accused had, not exactly meant) this width, Mass production that, by the window route; but at the begin knuckle dusters, but knuckle protectors

ping it was man to man. No British on their fista, and one, at least, was mon entered the bar It was about that. than one American,

Lieut. Mecum: You are positive 30 milor was engaged at one time with more armed with a weapon of a dangerous I was guessing. I asked if a guess would nature piece of iron or lead piping, with which a man might easily have been than four to one.

It was more than two to oneMors killed. That was material, becauso it They jumped on you about four to one! showed that the whole assault was pre-Yes. It would have been nine to one meditated. Mr. Hazlerigg described the

if all the Americans present had jumped defendants' riotous procession through the Liont.. Mecum suggested that the wit atronts and the stopping of Service men, De was not very reliable-nine to one

he suggested with the intention of ashore that day.

would be more than the Wilmington had having another fight,

NOT A SEDE LARE.

on

Afterwards, Lieut. Mecum applied to the Magistrate and asked him to recen- instead of imprisonment, in the case of sider ha decision and to impose a fine, Roster, who he said, find a very good record in the US. Navy

The Magistrate consulted the Captain Saperintendent of Police, who said he had no objection, provided that a substantial fins were imposed, and the Mag.stente then decided to vary the penalty to a fine. que The bearing lasted about three hours.-

Lieut. Mecum asked the witness about arlier disputes.

Mr. Hazlerigg I don't think this is of 850. relevant.

The Magistrate: I think it is. It shows motive. An entirely unprovoked assault is very different from trying to get your own, back."

Mr. Hazlerigg: One might go back from one dispute to another, right bick to the War of Independence.

The Magistrato: I think it is a

La fair question. I admit it.

The witness said that a few months ago a bunch of British sailors took him for a soccer ball." It was 20 mon to two. On another occasion a boat land of bastard and not one of them would come British sailors called him a Yankee ashore to fight it out

ALLEGED ILLEGAL RAID.

CONSTABLES CHARGED.

Two Chinese constables, one of whom offerates as court constable in Mr. Lind- soll's Court, wore yesterday charged before the Magistrate with violation of duty,

Chief Detective Inspector Murison Enid the defendants were alleged to have cou that, according to information received,

Se ducted an unauthorised-raid on a louse he mentioned that he denied striking one serious charge proferred against the

The defendant caused a diversion when

in Chinatown and stolen $50 in money,

his statement from his neat Wait while.

The Inspector also stated that another of the witness; the witness re-alarming 1-call him a liar, said the defendant. Aset for remand.----

defendants was being investigated, and The defendants were remanded until April 11th

A. MATHEMATICIAN. Witness: I am a mathematician as The evidence, he suggested, would well as you, sir. Eight aine's are satisfy the Court that this was not a

(The lieutenant was taking the witness's more lark by liberty men on shore for the tested Licut. Mecum a statement that outside estimate). The witness next con- evening, but that the assault was of a there was only one US. Nary vessel in the port at the time; he averred that very aggravatod nature and might easily there were two, havo resulted in the death of some of the Lieut. Mecum remarked to the Magis mm; and further, he submitted that the trate that he did not understand the whole disturbance was premeditated, gravity of the charges, and he had to He asked the Magistrate, if tho ring incident, or he would have tried to bring leave for Amoy immediately after the lander wore discovered, to make such an evidenco of people in the hotel who sup example of him as would preclude any ported the claim of his men that the likelihood of any recurrence of this kindringleader let in-eight mea, so that there NO WRATONS, USED..!

of disturbance in the fown

On the catry of the first witness into the box, Lient Mecum asked if he had the privilege of appearing as counsel and questioning witnesses

you must leave it at that. Do you deny like that here. He has sworn to it sud The Magistrate: Your roust not go on

you took part in the fight-

ALLEGED ATTEMPTED MURDER. interested spectators Kasured him that struck that man. He added that none of the pelico in Saigon Street, Yaumati, might be a fight, man for man. Dis Witness Not a bit I only deny that A Chincus picked up on Saturday by was what happened. It was rather ob the Americans used weapons. Jotionable-to-say the Americans fought British sailor tried to crown & guy now lying in the Government Civil Hos One suffering from several stab wounds is dspitalin a critical condition Attempted

four to one s

with a beer bottle

Mr. Hazlerigg: It does not make The Magistrata: This holding, up the murder is suspected, and enquirios pro much difference if they used bludgeons) hudgoon) was picked up

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