Page 16-
THE CHINA MAIL, AUGUST 20, 1940
BELIEVED SHE KICKED A MUI TSAI
TO DEATH IN A FORMER LIFE
EXTRAORDINARY TALE OF CREDULITY AND FRAUD
IN A CASE WHICH attracted wide interest among the Chinese, Mr. E. Himsworth at Kowloon Magistracy this morning delivered a written judg- ment convicting Lau On, 32, barber, of stealing $280. and a gold coin from two women by false pretences.
The barber was originally grievance seems to be, not that! by U| charged with obtaining $800 and hey have been robbed two gold coins by falsely pretend-rogue, but that about two thirds ing that he would appease a cer- of the money which should have tain spirit on behalf of Leung been returned was never forth-1 Wah-toi, baby amah, and Sin coming. Wai-fong. a married woman.
Inspector T. K. Whelan was for the prosecution and Mr. C. d'Almada for the defence.
Accused was fined $200 or three months' hard labour and ordered to re-pay $100 or serve a further two months.
Delivering judgment, the Magistrate said:-
This is a case where the Ma- gistrate is called upon to act in his capacity as jury rather than
is Telling a story which
working in four months old, collaboration on this enterprise convinced' because they were that in their previous existence they were sisters, it is not sur- of prising that the standard Intelligence displayed in giving that evidence should result the many inconsistencies which, the evidence shows.
In
Remarkable figures of incr :ases in munitions output in recen weeks were given by Mr. Her- bert Morrison, Minister of Supply, when in the House of Commons he reviewed the work of his The production of various types of tanks has increased 115 per Department since, he took over.
This picture was taken at 'a cent whilst other arms have been increasing by leaps and bounds. Royal Ordnance Depot (a distributing centre for the Army) and shows tanks receiving finishing touches. (Copyright, Fox).
tastic in its conception, ingenious
Indeed, I should have ques-in its detail, and should we per- a judge, for the questions at isioned the evidence had it been fect in its presentation. The sue are purely those of fact. We therwise. The first complain-mind that can-conceive of such have here two stories, one told ant's mental capacity is well a cleverly contrived story woula by the witnesses for the prosecu-elow average, and, throughout, cloth it in a much more tion of an amazing swindle and he obviously did not have, and sistent language in the the other told by the defence of still does not have, a very clear box.
bull
con- witness
a sordid relationship which finish-dea of how much she paid. Se- Moreover, I am at a loss to ed up with a false accusation.zond complainant is more pre-understand why the second com- The story told by the prosecu-zise in the amounts for which plainant should come and corro- tion bristles with
responsible, borate a cock and discrepencies she knew she was
story. and inconsistencies while that of and it was because we have only There is no blood, contractual, the defence is cut and dried, been dealing with the complaint or even amicable relationship straightforward and
was not of the first complainant and that between them to suggest shaken
cross-examination. because I could only feel sure they should conspire in the man- And yet I believe that the story that $280 of the monies paid by ner alleged by the defence, told by the prosecution witnesses he first complainant were paid But this "reductio ad absur- is the correct version of what on her sole account, that I amend- dum" method is not the happened.
on
"Kicked To Death"
d the charge accordingly. Fantastic In Conception
The evidence of the two wo- they men is the story of how
I am asked by the defence to parted with $900 and a gold coin believe that this story of the pro- to the defendant to appease the ecution is a trumped up charge
kicked spirit of a mui-tsai
to brought by the first complainant a broken death by the first complainant in to allay the pangs of
this a "previous life." These two heart. But to believe that women, and in particular thecould be so is to admit that thei
of first, are ignorant, credulous and first complainant, is capable gullible women, whose chief'concocting a story which is fan-
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best way to adduce the real value of evidence. I do not overlook the fact that the defendant's story is watertight and is supported by witnesses who agreed with him) in all details.
ac-
But a consistent story even while it must be given its due weight does not on that count alone always overrule Jess consistent evidence, for otherwise any "smart Alec," as balleve this defendant to be, could prey upon credulous women and then coms to the Court with a manufactured story and seek the Court's pro- tection for his nefarious prac- -tices.
Rang True
But having listened to the evidence of the witnesses for the prosecution and those for the defence I am absolutely certain shown my own mind that the first complainant gave a true account of what happened four months! ago. Her evidence, given with conviction and in spite of her Door presentation of it, never- theless rang true. I was equal. ly impressed by the support of] pat-he second complainant, who was
bold
There are neat terns as well as stripe, check and spot
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much clearer on details. But I thought after the defendant's evi-!
STOP
PRESS
dence that his story was a tissue TRIAD
of lies. True it was supported
by witnesses who collaborated in 66
full.-
It was the same story, cast ir the same mould and agreeing therefore in the most minute details.
WAR" IN
KOWLOON
My Impression of the de- A free-for-all between
fendant was that he was lying
and to
were his confederates; two triad societies in Nam and in his lying he did not Chang Street, Shamshui-
npfrain from stooping to em-
ploy the basest methods of be-poo, last night resulted in smirching the moral character two casualties being re- of the first complainant.
moved to Kowloon Hospi-
I do not believe that she is the tal with severe injuries. moral reprobate which defendant has painted her... I do not be It appears that shortly before ieve that she ever spent a night midnight, several members of one with the defendant. in a hotel triad society went to a tea house falthough no doubt he did); in Nam Chang Street,, demanding! lo not believe she ever knew that a waitress in that establish- 'he defendant before this incident ment become one of their mem-
kept his company except for vers.
Call and let us show them to you. We know the day she had him arrested. The waitress, who was already,
they will be of interest.
Wm. POWELL, LTD
∙10, ICE HOUSE STREET.
Having heard and seen both par-a member of another, society,} ties in the box I am satisfied the called for assistance from her story for the prosecution is the protector", who immediately sent correct version of what happened a batch of fighters" to the scene,! and I think that any jury which where they after strong orgu-| had had the same opportunity of ments over their jurisdiction, hearing this case would come to started a fight. the same conclusion.
It is alleged that over 20 gangs- ters participated with various The prefix Special to telegrama Webpons. usad by the Sunday Herald" arid The police were summoned but! China-Mall" to indicate newn which both parties had scattered before! strictly copyright under the provi-their arrival, leaving the injured slons of the Telecommunications or behind.
ad under any circumstances; alther)
Printed and Published for the Proprietors, The Newspaper Enter- prise Ltd. by GORDON CADE
dinance, 1930, and may not be 'reprint. The police are still investigat wholly or in part, without prior aring, but no arrests have been ef-BURNETT, Windsor House, Vice
·fected.
rangement.
itoria, Hong Kong,