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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 16TH MARCH, 1895.
Street Robberies.
195
I regret to say that an English maid was the object of the first of these robberies. On the 18th of January last at 3 P.M. while walking on the Bonham Road she was seized by a man who tried to possess himself of her bangles and not succeeding in this attempt snatched her umbrella and ran away.
The remaining eight cases bear no feature of special importance. With one exception, that of a European sailor who was robbed of a pocket book containing papers and $2.50 in money while under the influence of liquor, the robberies were committed in the Chinese quarter of the town on Chinese and the amounts stolen varied from $1.00 to $11.00.
On the 14th of October a seaman was arrested at Yaumati for robbing his father of $2,700. He formed one of the crew of his father's fishing junk and he poisoned the evening meal of rice with datura alba, and while his father, sister and brother were lying stupified with the drug he stole the large sum of money mentioned. He was convicted and sentenced to 6 years' imprisonment.
I have drawn attention in a separate report to this case and to two others of attempted poisoning, and have suggested the desirability of placing restrictions upon the sale of poisons in this Colony.
The remaining case occurred on board the s.s. Tantalus: one Chinese fireman robbing another of $25.00. The fireman was arrested, but the case which arose out of a quarrel was dismissed.
5. There is an increase as compared with the returns for 1893 in the following offences:-
1893.
Robbery with violence from the person,.......... 19
1894.
29
Drunkenness,
.192
302
Nuisance,
.510
538
No Light or Pass,
57
191-
Desertion, refusal and neglect of duty,.
69
93
Rogues and vagabonds, suspicious characters,...103
153
Breach of Public Vehicle Ordinance, .... .145 Cutting trees or earth,
153
...147
170
Obtaining goods and money by false pretences,... 39 Damage to property,
67
34
50
Trespass,
76
112
Breach of Dangerous Goods & Arms Ordinances,. 101
112
On the other hand there is a decrease in the following offences:-
Burglary or larceny from dwelling, Assault with intent to rob,
1893.
1894.
66
41
4
3
Larcenies,
.2,156
2,103
Felonies not already given,
78
67
Assault,
Gambling,
1.057
1,007
319
218
Kidnapping,
72
48
Unlawful possession,
327
278
Mendicants,
386
251
Unlicensed hawking,.
.1,021
779
Street Cries,
155
103
Breach of Harbour and Coast Ordinance,
353
301
Breach of Spirit and Opium Ordinances,
804
742
Breach of Registration Ordinance,
15
6
Breach of Police, Gaol & Deportees Ordes.,
67
42
Breach of Pawnbrokers, Markets, Weights
and Measures Ordinances,
711
597
Spurious coin,
11
7
Intimidation, extortion, bribery and cons-
piracy,
15
Cruelty to animals and furious driving,
38
32
Contempt of Court and false charge,
25
6385
10
13
There are the same number of cases of attempted suicide, viz., 13 in both years.
The principal offences included under the heading of "Felonies not already Given" were-
Five cases of forgery.
Four cases of cutting and wounding.
Two cases of demanding money by menaces.
Three cases of attempted arson.
One case of incendiarism.
One case of rape.
One case of drugging.