May 21, 1896.]
The Attorney-General-Yes, I was looking into that the other day, but the difference there would be that the prisoner would be liable to cross-examination by counsel. The law is a via media, and it is simply for the Judge to ask questions if he thinks fit.
His Lordship-I quite agree with you that it is a very valuable power, but it should be used with some discretion, and only where it might really throw light upon a case.
The jury found the prisoner guilty, and the Attorney-General mentioned the previous sentence passed upon the prisoner, and said he | would write to his Excellency the Governor asking that the prisoner, having heen convicted of the more serious crime of manslaughter, should be pardoned as far as the rest of the
sentence in the otlier case was concerned.
His Lordship sent the prisoner to gaol for fifteen months with hard labour.
His Lordship-I see in this case that the prisoner was taken to see the dead body of the deceased man. I looked into the Ordinances, but could find nothing of that kind. Are you aware of any provision on the subject?
The Attorney-General-There is not any. my Lord. I do not know why it was done. Of course it might have been in the mind of the Magistrate or some other person-I do not know who was responsible-that the best thing to do would be to let the prisoner see the dead body, as that would satisfy him that it was really the man he had injured.
His Lordship-I hope the police will not do it again, as I do not think it is a convenient course to adopt.
The Attorney-General- It is not done under English laws.
His Lordship--Unless there is statutory authority for it I do not think it should be done. I hope the police will take note of that.
ACQUITTED.
Lai Ng Mai was charged with administering a drug to Mai Leung Kok with intent to injure him and also with stealing a gold ring. of the value of $40, a box of medicine, 8150 in notes, and $4 in silver.
The jury in the first case were also sworn in this case and the prosecution was conducted by Hon. W. M. Goodman (Attorney-General.
In 1894 the prosecutor came from Peru with $1,000 which he had saved. He married the prisoner, who on 31st October, 1894, gave him as he alleged, a drug, robbed him of the pro- perty above mentioned, and then decamped. The defence was that the prosecutor got drunk on this particular night and as he repeatedly beat her she left him.
The jury found the prisoner not guilty and he was discharged.
LARCENY AND FORGERY BY A SERVANT.
Tong Check U was charged with stealing $14.77 belonging to Captain Welman.
The jury were as follows:--Fang Tang. C. M. Blake, H. Recres, J. P. Xavier, F. H. Hohnke, J. J. Newell, and C. H. Lammert.
Hon. W. M. Goodman (Attorney-General) prosecuted and the prisoner was undefended.
The defendant was prosecutor's No. I boy and he was given money in March. 1895, to pay the compradore's bill of $24.50, but instead of paying the whole of the money he paid $8.90 on account and pocketed the difference.
The jury return a verdict of guilty and the pri- soner was thereupon further indicted for stealing $14.30 belonging to Captain Welman and also with forging a receipt with intent to defrand. Prisoner was given money to pay the compra- dore's bill for January, 1895. He stole the monoy and forged a receipt. He told the police he thought that giving the compradore's name was the same as giving his own name.
The jury found the prisoner guilty on these two charges also, and sentence was postponed until Thursday, at ten o'clock.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
Hongkong Fire Insurance Company.
Mr. Reece appeared for the plaintiff and Mr. Hastings (of Mr. Deacon's office) represented! the defendants.
!
!
423
A jeu de joie and afterwards a royal salute will then be fired and His Excellency will thereupon unveil the statue. A signal will then be given to HMS. Fietor Einnuvel, from which a royal Mr. Reece said the claim was made under a salute will be fired. Three cheers for Her fire insurance policy entered into by the parties! Majesty the Queen will be given immediately and dated 27th December, 1894, the amount of after the royal salute and the troops will march the claim being loss sustained by a fire which past. the Royal Nary taking the lead. The broke out on the plaintiff's property at 309, troops will be constituted as follows:-Royal Queen's Road Central, on 26th February this | Navy and Marines, 135 inen, under Commander year, causing damage to the extent of $117,50.; Tanhard and Captain Trottman respectively; The premium on the policy, which was for Royal Artillery, 800 men, under Major Han- $500, had been paid on each occasion it was hom: Royal Engineers. 80 men, under Captain due, and after the fire the plaintiff set in her McQuae: Rifle Brigade, 720 men, under claim. A fire inquiry was held before the Major the Hon. E. Noel; Hongkong Regiment, Magistrate at the Police Court on the 8th and men, under Major Retallick; and Hongkong 29th February and the result was that the Magis Volunteers, men, under Captain Gordon, trate closed the inquiry and the premises were RA. The Voluuteers will have six seven- released. He (Mr. Reece) submitted that the pounders guns and four masims, the Rifle dopositions taken at the enquiry were not ad.. Brigade one maxim gun, and the Hongkong missible in this ease, except for the purpose. Regiment tre maxim cans. The troops turned of showing that there was an inquiry and also, out on Tuesday morning at seven o'clock, took for the purpose of showing the results. Imac up the positions assigned to them around the diately after the fire Messrs. Jardine. Matheson status, and red arsed the movements they will & Co. wrote to the plaintiff for a sworn statement, poil ough at the officiel ceremony. They will and she furnished it on the 3rd March. The arrain assemble at seven o'clock on Friday Chinese agent of the Company then discussed, morning. the matter with the plaintiff and made an offer of $200. Eventually, however, that offer was withdrawn and the matter was put into the: hands of Mr. Deacon, schbitor, whic, ên the 21st, March, wrote stating that his clients deelined to admit the claim or pay any part of it In consequence of that letter a writ was issued ou the 22nd April and his Lordship made an order for a special jury, and pleadings were also filed, the petition being filed on the 30th April and the answer on the 7th Bay. In the petition, plaintiff set forth that the property and clothing were insured for 84001 and furniture and fittings, for $100. She had paid for the renewal of the policy, and on the 26th February, while the policy was in full force, the premises were burnt and destroyed, the loss sustained being $447,50, Iu the answer the defendants stated that in one paragraph of the conditions printed on the polley it was set forth that if there was any false swearing, fraud, collusion, or wilful mis- statements on the part of the person in-uring! the policy would be void. The defendants admitted there was a fire but denied that th·· plaintiff had goods on the premises of the value of $417.50 and further denied that she had suf- fered any loss. They also stated that the statu- tory declaration of the plainallï we fale ani fraudulent and there foreklo paling became you Counsel submitted that on the phaliaes the issues to be tried were+Had the pleinist any insurable interest in the property: mnd. Was the property on the premises at the time of the fire? Of course, if the property was not cu th... premises the policy was fend red void,
Mr. Hastings enlift that Mar- r} w was. Did the plaintiff sal stunting iako u false and fraudulent claâu; and th was, If the goods rol on the p was the value of the
The Court adjoured rutil Wars
THE UNVEILING OF THE CCE
STATUH
ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE NAVAL AND
MILITARY DISPLAY. •
The arrangements for the uavad and military display at the unveiling of the ren's statne next week have now been
dy do. cided upon and residents can be assured of wit- nessing a most imposing corony. About 1.900 troops will be formed up in line at open order on the Praya at five p.m., the Royal Navy and Marine Light Infantry being on the right flank, followed in succo Fion by the Royal Artil- lery, Royal Engineers, Rifle Lrigade, the Hong. kong Regiment, ad the Hongkong Volunteers, and the whole brigade will be under the com mand of Colonel Anstey. On the arrival of His Excellency the Governor the troops will shoulder arms and Colonel Anrt will give the BEFORE MR. T. SERCOMBE SMITH (ACTING command for the general salute and the troops,
PUISNE JUDGE.)
May 19th.
IN SUMMARY JURISDICTION.-
TSAN YUEN SUI v. HONGKONG FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY,
The plaintiff, a single woman, of 9, Li Yuen Street, sought to recover $417.50 from the
will present arms. Then the Royal Standard, which will be over the Governor box on the, grand stand, will be unfurled, and to addresses, will be given, one of them by Hon. C. P. Chater. who will ask His Excellency the Governor to un- veil the statue, and the other by His Excellency.
The general arrangements for the public are being proceeded with under the supervision of Hon. J. H. Stewart Lockhart (Colonial Secre- ary; and the invitations will be issued in the (** of a day or two. The first to receive them with be the subscribers to the Jubilee State Fund and then other residents will be favoured with invitations. This work will of course involve a considerable amount of trouble, an it is feared that many people will be dis- appointed ut not receiving an invitation; but the mut shed which is being specially erected for the tension will accommodate only one thou- sand people, so it will be impossible for every. one to receive tickets. It is hoped this explana- tim will prevent any grumbling that might otherwise result from a suspicion of being left in the cold.
I · GKONG
GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
ANNUAL MELTING,
On the riterion of the 13th May the amaal general meeting of the Hongkong General i'l mber of Votamerce WILS held in the men of the Chamber, City Hall. Hea. A. Vạc chuchin preskled, and amongst wr-Hei 'I'. H. White- drekson, N., J. Ede, H. nattee), Mr.
(i......
J'. W
tary!. Hon. I. R. Belilios, Des-pa, G. W. PHAIR J. J. Francis, Q.C., 13. Podwodd, R. Auglis. D. Dakhane, H. Wicking,
i:
-
Work
den
ve.
th tiengonvening the 467 thus per vivas meet- And confirmed.
yuda, en. • if the year now lol before you bas evenami the a some its pre-
there lave betn several important
y westions which during its course hate claimed and n ceived onr attention. We cannot boast, phaps, of having actually secured any impor. fant commercial concessions in China; but at any rate to have manual to get some matters akened a stage. If we have not been in the preal position to command success, we have at least sought to deserve it. The past year has seen a considerabl? revival in trade and a very general improvene u! in local storks and under- takings, which gives promise of permanency. In 1995 we eser pr visitation by the bubonie plague in epidemic 10., and began to hope that Le disease had been in some measure brought under control, but its recrudescence this spring has reimposed upon Hongkong the evils insepar- able from bein; treated as an infected port. It is to be hoped, however, that the disease will soon pass away, and such measures of sanitation taken in the city of Victoria as will effectually It is of the utmost prevent its reappearance. importance to the progress and welfare of the colony that the ; + shall be kept free from epidemics which only act disastrously on the health of the population but tend to cripple its trade and impair its prosperity. the questions dealt with in Turning to
i
.0