Page
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Soo or to her parents, the plaintiffs, on her account.
Evidence was then called. Dr. Eitel ex plained the meaning of certain Chinese words and was closely cross-examined by Mr. Francis. At the conclusion Dr. Eitel said the learned Counsel (Mr. Francis) had treated him as if he was a party to the suit. When he was ap- proached to give evidence he said he would rather not; at any rate he refused to accept any remuneration as he did not wish to be a party to either side. He had not been influenced by anybody; he had simply made his statement.
Mr. Francis No one would suppose, Dr. Eitel, that you had been influenced.
THE HONKGONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
so much hatred on the part of the murderers that they resolved to kill her as a witch. We do not know what relation the injured man, whose age is 34, bore to the old womau, but he was in the quarrel of a month ago, so perhaps he participated in the joss jugglery. Yesterday morning his depositions were taken at the Government Civil Hospital, where he was removed to, and he gave an account of the tragedy. Immediately the police heard of the crime the detective staff, under Inspector Stanton, and a number of policeman under Inspector Butlin, turned out and commenced a search for the murderers, while the Chinese authorities on the mainland have also been in formed of the affair. There is reason to believe that the assailants will be shortly arrested. Their names are known to the police, and the various districts are being so thoroughly patrolled by special men that their capture is looked upon as pretty certain. Up to the present the police had not obtained any clue to their whereabouts.
Dr. Eitel-I got the impression by the way you sharply bustled me.
His Lordship-We quite understand your position, Dr. Eitel.
The further hearing of the case was adjourned until to-morrow.
HONGKONG SANITARY BOARD.
A meeting of the Sanitary Board was held Thursday afternoon at the offices. Hon. F. A. Cooper (Director of Public Works) presided, and there were also present-Dr. Ayres (Colo- nial Surgeon), Dr. Clark (Medical Officer of Health), Mr. H. B. Lethbridge (Acting Captain Superintendent of Police), Mr. N. J. Ede, and Mr. H. McCallum (Secretary.)
MINUTES.
The minutes of the last meeting wore read and confirmed.
THE VICE-PRESIDENCY.
AN EXTRAORDINARY PLOT..
The inquiries which have been made
[September 2, 1896,
the tables perienced hard the man, whose was conspiring "future and thus annih
they had cherished business. There was onl While the man lived he to them; therefore he had. only killed but cut up info not a single part of his bod of its mystic potency. this diabolical plot was solemnly five men. They persuaded to sea with them in a boat. The Shankiwan and after going a for details of the proposed murder were the man and preparations were carrying out their design. He fell knees, implored them to let him live, and piteously. The men were deaf to exhortations, and seeing that he of escape by this means it sudden him to take advant again demonstrate me live," he said, "" and
600 piculs of fish. Kill me catch any.
in such a position as he was and the remark worked such an influence on the men that they then brought him safely back to Hongkong resolved to give him another chance. They Strange to relate, on the following day men caught 400 piculs of fishin proof of the man's sincerity traordinary power he had
This was a brilliant idea for a man
over
A letter from the Colonial Secretary was laid | ridiculous yarns concerning their prospects in This stroke of fortune completely 1 on the table stating that the Colonial Surgeon had been appointed Vice-President of the
Board.
A PLAGUE REPORT.
The SECRETARY laid on the table a report
by the Medical Officer of Health of Macao having reference to the outbreak of bubonie plague in that colony in 1895.
It was resolved to thank the Colonial Secre- tary for sending the report.
.CHOLERA AT SINGAPORE.
The Colonial Secretary at Singapore wrote stating that as the outbreak of cholera in Penang had practically ceased, no further re- ports would be sent regarding that Settlement, A slight ontbreak having occurred in Singapore, he enclosed for the information of the Board a
respecting the shocking murder of an old woman at Hongham early on Thursday morning have led to the discovery of a startling plot which was made about four months ago to kidnap and murder the man who now lies in the Govern- ment Civil Hospital suffering from numerous sword wounds about various parts of the body. The facts as related to us not only disclose a highly sensational story, but show how very ready certain classes the Chinese are to greedily swallow and believe the most this life and the final arrangements made for their reception in ultramundane regions. Both the injured man and the murdered woman were wonder workers; their necromantic powers were supposed to be of an exceptionally high order, particularly in the case of the man, who appears to have been a specially favoured individual He, it was thought, inherited his extraordinary powers from his father, who was one of the leading lights in this mysterious profession, and when the old man died, as he truly prophesied he would one day, the son, seeing a good opening for himself, stepped into his father's shoes and with the old afterwards entered into a sort of partnership woman, AS a consequence, perhaps, of his increasing business, which de manded a new stock of original ideas. The
him in the good graces of the control their fortunes. The parti even increased their belief in
month ago when something, again en on terms of intimate friendship until which threw the wonder working onto gear and caused renewal of the became much more bitter than befor The feeling against the man increase
towards her partner. The men resolved the woman also shared the them both to death. The murder and the execution of the deed was only
enmi
inned
question of time. We know how it all ended. In the dead of night the five fishermen pounced upon their two victims and hacked them with swords. The woman died in a very
return showing the number of cases that had shore people are not yet far enough, advanced short time and the man still lives. There were
occurred since the 8th August and would con- tinue to do so until the abatement of the disease. These statistics showed that 19 cases, 16 of which had proved fatal, had occurred between the 8th and 15th inst.
MORTALITY STATISTICS.
The mortality statistics showed a death rate of 18.6 per 1,000 for the week ended 22nd Au- gust and 17.8 for the previous week.
ADJOURNMENT.
The Board then adjourned until Thursday week.
*
DETERMINED MURDER AT
HONGHAM,
Between two and three o'clock on the morning of the 27th August a shocking murder was com- mitted in a fishing boat at Hongham, the victim being an old woman, while a man who was in the same boat received such injuries that he is not expected to live. The crime was of a most deter- mined character and was committed by five mien, all of whom are said to be brothers, They armed themselves with swords and proceeded with their fishing junk to a part of the beach where the boat containing the man and woman was stationed. Creeping stealthily into the boat the men attacked the two occupants in such a fierce fashion that the woman died almost im- mediately and the man was hacked in a most ter- rible manner about the head. The murderers then escaped. The motive for this ghastly deed is said to be revenge; it was certainly not rob- bery, as not a single thing was stolen from the boat. In support of the theory of revenge it is stated that about a month ago the parties quarrelled, and the pre- sent crime is the outcome of that quarrel. The woman, who was 66 years of age; earned her livelihood principally as a "joss woman," --and it is most likely that her prophecies begat
|
an
odies!
deep outs in several parts of their which goes to show that the murderer tended, as in the first plot
180t
pieces. It is a terrible story altogether? Would that good came of it in dispelling the wretched superstitions many tenaciously cling to.
the Chinese so
ORGAN RECITAL AT THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CATHEDRAL
al opinion ess.the
and W887
om
in civilization to be able to intelligently ap preciate the delicate subtleties embodied in the glorious profession of a necromancer and so they did not bestow a very extensive patronage upon this pair of worthies, but the fishing world than their less fortunate brethren, and people, knowing more of the ways of this wishing to know more of the next world, had the good taste to consult Monsieur and | Madame. Among the numerous customers were the five fishermen who are wanted by the Police. At one time they had On Thursday evening an organ recital
extensive fleet of boats, but misfor-given at the Roman Catholios Cathed tane overtook them and they were forced celebrate the opening of the new to sell their craft and buy less costly vessels. cathedral was crowded and the gen Again the fates dealt them a severe blow and was that the recital was a great again they reduced the size of their boats.organ is a low priced singlo, ma Rain was surely pursuing them, and with this made in Italy. It has, considering thought came a gleam of light which explained paratively small sum of money spent upon it, an the cause of their adversity. They had not exceedingly good tone, and a bargain was consulted the joss; no wonder the fish refused certainly struck when the purchase was, made. to leap into their nets. The Western Inoits, The instrument was sent to the colony over on catching the first whale of the season, two years ago and with it came complete plans worship the aminal, overwhelm it with thanks of each stage of organ building, which were for its kind consideration, and then cut sent to Messrs. Lane Crawford & Co. Mr. it open and devour the whole of the flesh.was deputed to erect the organ, That ceremony finds such favour with the other: nately he was unable to finish t whales that they fight each other in their many of the pipes were bro eagerness to be caught. The poor Chinese transport. It was therefore fishermen, however, know nothing about this Italy for a special mar happy dodge, and they believe their chance of Facchetti, of Bresc success in their calling lies only in their devoted the erection of the attachment to No. 1 joss. Thus it happened that difficulties to overcome the five simple brothers decided some months says much for ability ago to consult the old woman and the young now possesses such man, who of course were paid some trifling his ork has been 8D recompense for their trouble and more speedily propitiating the various spirits in the far-away world. It is said that the man was the more favoured of the two. He seemed to possess greater power and bro good luck to the fishermen. In time, however
for he
his
can
unfortuĚ