249
COURTS (6)
In the records of the Supreme Court of Hongkong, one finds many remarkable cases. In the Colony's early days, many rascals found this place a happy hunting-ground.
Police protection was inadequate and the enforcement of law and order became a pressing problem for every Governor from Sir Henry Pottinger's time onwards.
To make matters worse graft flourished in Government Departments and fraud was practised extensively. One of the most interesting and sensational cases brought to light was that of Mr. Frederick Sowley Huffam, Deputy Registrar of the Supreme Court and Official Assignee in Bankruptcy.
Mr. Huffam entered the Colonial Service as thin clerk in the Colonial Secretary's Office in 1855. In the following year he was appointed Judge's clerk and Clerk of the Supreme Court in 1859. From 1860 to 1862, inclusive he was acting Deputy Registrar of the Supreme Court and later became a cting Registrar. For a short time he was Registrar of Companies and in 1875, went back to his job of Acting Registrar of the Supreme Court. He had also alternately held various other positions including that of Official Assignee in Bankruptcy.
Twenty two years later entering the Colonial Service, Frederick Sowley Huffam committed the unpardonable offence of being found out.
In consequence of his defalcations while acting as Official Assignee the Governor, on August 17, 1878, directed that a warrant be issued for his arrest. Now to be forewarned is to be forearmed and luckily for Mr. Huffam he heard of the Governor's intention. Without any loss of time he bolted for Macao.
Unable to lay its hand on the absconder, the Government offered a reward of $1,000 for his apprehension and by public notification of August 24, interdicted him from office.
The Hongkong authorities applied to Macao for Huffam's rendition, but the application was refused. It was understood however, that the refusal was merely formal, owing to the absence of an extradition treaty between either Hongkong and Macao or Portugal and England.
Subsequently by direction from Lisbon the prisoner was surrendered to the local authorities and he eventually stood his trial at the October sessions before the acting Chief Justice Mr. Snowden and a special jury.
The prisoner was charged on five counts, first that he being a public servant did embezzle $50,000 the money of Her Majesty; second that he, being Official Assignee of certain estates in bankruptcy did appropriate to his own use $50,000 received by him for a public purpose; third that he, being the official assignee of the insolvent estate of Lyall Still and Others, did appropriate to his own use $46,849.79 received by him on behalf of the creditors. On the fourth and fifth counts he was charged with appropriating two sums of $20,400 and $4,831.16 respectively those sums forming part of the amount charged to have been appropriated in the third count. Attorney-General the Hon. Mr. G. Phillippo instructed by the Crown Solicitor (Mr. E. Sharp) prosecuted and Mr. Francis, instructed by Mr. Dennys appeared for the defence.
Page 250
Page 251