Ah Long

A headline in the Queensland Times on 3 April 1891 read: The Chinese Row at West Ipswich. Accused "Guilty" of Common Assault.

The Chinese element was well represented at the Police Court, yesterday, when Ching Chang, Yam Tuk, and Ah Chong were charged before the Police Magistrate with having, on the 24th of March, at West Ipswich, unlawfully beaten and ill-treated Ah Long, occasioning him grievous bodily harm. James Young (a Chinaman who stated that he was a Christian and wore some Salvation Army emblems on his coat) was sworn in as interpreter. Senior. Sergeant Browne prosecuted and Mr. J. G. McGregor (from Messrs. Foxton and Cardew's office) appeared for the prisoner. Ah Long (who appeared to be suffering, and who elected so be sworn by blowing out a lighted match) deposed that he was a vegetable hawker, residing at West Ipswich; on the 24th of March about 4 o'clock, he was in his house at West Ipswich opposite the Bell's Head Hotel; saw the three men going into his houses; he was lying on his bunk; Ching Chang said, "Give me back that opium ;" he replied, " I never saw nothing; I never been where you were ; "Ching Chang struck him on the legs and knocked him down; then Ching Chang hit him on the face with an opium pipe (produced) more than once ; Ching Change finished hitting him, and then walked away; Ah Chang struck him with a wooden yoke more than once, and cleared away ; the yoke belonged to witness; and Ah Chong got it out on the verandah; Ah Chong kicked him more than once; Yam Tuk got a piece of board (produced) and hit him with it; the three came together to his house, and stopped there for a quarter of an hour ; the door was open when they came; he could not tell where they went to; witness then went on to Brisbane street, West Ipswich, and sat on the street near the saddler's shop a young man at the saddler's shop and a young woman at the grocer's shop came out ; about ten minutes after, one of his countrymen came with a cart and took him to the hospital; he had been in the Hospital since, and was still, suffering from the effects of the beating; he gave them no provocation; he was certain it was those three men who beat him; saw them that evening in the Hospital with Senior-Constable Greig; five Chinamen were taken there, and he identified the three prisoners as those who had beaten him; he had known Ching Chang for over two years, Ah Chang for over a year, and Yam Tuk for a few weeks; the three were beating him at the same time. By Mr. McGregor : I was not fighting in Brisbane-street with Ching Chang before that day ; I do not know a Chinaman named Ah Mann; I smoke opium; I had a few pipes on the 24th of March. Dr. Mellish (acting Medical superintendent of the Ipswich Hospital) deposed that on Tuesday, the 24th of last month, he saw the last witness thereabout 5 p.m. he examined him, and found severe contusions on the right elbow, a large bruise on the right leg, a small bruise on the point of the right shoulder, and a bruise on the back ; the contusions extended slightly up the arm; it was discoloured, and it appeared to have been done by more than one blow; could only see the signs of one blow there might have been more; a stick like the one produced would cause those wounds; a pipe like the one produced would cause the injuries on the leg; they proposed at the Hospital to discharge him that morning ; those wounds would inconvenience him following his usual occupation; he would not be able to resume work for another ten days. By Mr. M'Gregor: A man could not injure Ah Long with his hands in the same way; I saw the wounds this morning; I should say that he at present is not suffering from opium smoking; it would temporarily injure health; he was disabled for some days, but not seriously; the same injuries might probably be done by a man's hand. By Senior-Sergeant Browne : Those wounds could not be caused by opium smoking. By Mr. M'Gregor : Opium smoking would aggravate the injuries. Frederick Weise, a youth, residing with his, father at West Ipswich, deposed that about 4 o'clock on the 24th of March, he was on the verandah of Gogg's Terrace, about seventy-five yards from Ah Long's place; he saw the three prisoners go up the yard, and look under Ah Long's house; heard a noise of kicking on the floor, and heard blows on the floor and walls; thought that they were fighting; the three of them all went down to another Chinaman's garden; they had nothing in their hands when they left the house; Ah Long came down the yard home, and stopped be-tween Weise's and Wilces's shop; he sat down on the foot-path for about seven minutes, when another Chinaman came up; two boys took Ah Long to the Hospital in a cart ; he had a pair of pants and shirt on. William Stevens, a saddler, John Quing (who said that he went to the 'Wesleyan Church ' sometimes, and took the oath on the Bible), and Senior-Constable Gregg recalled, gave evidence for complainant, as did Watchhouse-keeper Beezies, who deposed that Ching Chang had stated that he did not beat complainant with a stick; that the latter had stolen some money from him, and that he had beaten complainant with his hand. This was the evidence for the prosecution. In answer to the usual question, Ching Chang said: l am a shopkeeper in Ipswich, and sells groceries and fruit. Ah Long called at my place at half-past 8 o'clock on the morning of the 24th of March. Ah Long said, "How long before you be back," and I replied "About 12 o'clock." Then I went out to sell fruit, and came back at 12 o'clock to the shop again. I noticed one side window open, I saw a drawer in the counter open, and missed six tins of opium. I had 15s in coppers and 6s. in silver; they were gone. Because Ah Long asked when I would be back I had a suspicion that he took the money. Ah Long stole some fruit from me before. At this stage, Mr. M'Gregor said that the prisoners might be discharged on the more serious count, and re-arrested for common assault. The Police Magistrate said that it was only a case of common assault, and it would be best to deal with them for that offence. They were therefore discharged, but were immediately re-arrested for common assault. Mr. M'Gregor pleaded " Guilty" on their be-half, and asked that the fine should be made as lenient as possible. The defendants were then fined £2 each, and ordered to pay between them £1 Is. medical fees, £1 interpreter's fees, and 15s. witnesses' expenses, amounting to £2 18s. 8d. each; in default, fourteen days' imprisonment. The fines were paid.