James Choong

James G. Choong lived in Bunbury between 1898 and 1899 while running a business on Arthur Street. His business was called Choong & Co. (J. G.) and operated as a tea merchant, greengrocery and fruiterer next to the Salvation Army Barracks (reference). James was known for being neatly dressed in European styled clothing (reference). He had also converted to Christianity since emigrating to Australia from China (reference). 

In 1898 James participated in the Bunbury Cup festivities and won a prize drawn at the Prince of Wales (reference).

In October 1898, James had a dispute with his business partner, which led the authorities to charge him with being of unsound mind (reference). He was taken to the Bunbury court on 4 October 1898 and was found guilty of being of ‘unsound mind’ and was remanded to eight days of medical examination (reference). On 7 October, Dr Williams and Dr Joel examined James and found him fit to be discharged (reference).