THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
wrong or disobeying any regulations. I had no reason to think I was committing any offence.. Lieutenant Stewart was about to reply on the whole case when Mr. Francis objected. The prisoner, had not called witnesses and therefore the prosecutor had no right of reply. The objection was upheld,
The Court was then cleared. After two or three minutes' deliberation the Court found the prisoner guilty..
Lieutenant Stewart was then sworn and said that the prisoner had been charged twice before. once with drunkenness and the second time- with neglect of duty. On each occasion he was reprimanded.
The sentence on the prisoner was promulgated on the 27th May, and was that he be reduced to the rank of Corporal.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE
DAILY PRESS.”
Dear Sir,-With regard to the late Court- martial on Sergeant Fretter, of the West York shire Regiment, reported at length in your valuable columns, I would ask you to kindly make the following corrections on behalf of Mesare. Holliday, Wise & Co., and Mr. Ross, which latter gentleman is at present absent from the colony.
Hongkong, 27th May, 1897;
THE DIAMOND JUBILEE CELEBRATION.
THE MUSICAL PROGRAMME.
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issued. I submit that, as a matter of military knowledge, a Sergeant of the Regiment outside the orderly room has, no means of knowing the issue of the War Office regulations unless they are made public. Only three or four copies as a rule arrive for the use of the Regiment,, They not put on the file in the sergeant's mess or in any place where a sergeant has access and where he can inspect them at his leisure, and that such orders, as these are addressed to com manding officers only to be by them promulgated. Bergeant Fretter denies positively that he had ever seen or read this circular until after his ar- rest, he did not know that it was contrary to regulations to take money. I submit that he had a much right to take this money as Major Mills had to take the discount. It is clear that a customary payment, has been made by the brewers and that he had never been told that it was forbidden to take it. I submit, lastly, that it is not such a payment as is contemplated in this fourth section. It is expressly stated by Mr. H, Grant Smith, and it appears from the letters, that have been put in, that this payment is for work done by the canteen manager for the Brewers agents which they would have to pay somebody else to do if the manager did not do it. It is not a personal interest in purchases,
Firstly-Major Mills was under a misappre- or sales, or profits. Sergeant Fretter does not purchase, and has nothing to do with the pur.hension in stating he saw Mr. Ross, as this chases, neither does he control the supply or gentleman was never interviewed in the matter. Secondly. Major Mills misunderstood the the quality or the times of purchases. All
nature of the documents he saw as he was orders are given, independently of him by a Committee of which he forms no part. These aerely shown-under exceptional circumstances the -the copies of the accounts made out for pay- payments were directed to be made by Brewers agents whether there were profits ment of remuneration of services, allowance to or losses on the sales. I admit it may be officers' fund, &c., and was told these allowances were customary-Thanking you in anticipation, very highly desirable that all and every
C. H. THOMPSON, payment of this description should be put I am yours truly, a stop to, but it is clear that they have been customary and that no one in receipt of them „knew it was wrong, and it was never brought to Sergeant Fretter's knowledge that these payments had been expressly forbidden. I submit there can be no culpability in the absence of knowledge. Here knowledge has not been shown by the prosecution and the de- fence has shown beyond reasonable doubt that the prisoner had no knowledge of the orders. In conclusion, I submit that no charge has been made out under section 23, as Sergeant Fretter was canteen manager and was not, in respect to the supply of liquors for the canteen, a person in command or authority. As to the second charge the only misconduct alleged is that of having, taken the $75. I submit that money so taken was money received for work done and did not give him a personal interest in purchases, sales, or profits and therefore does not come within the prohibition in paragraph 4 of the War Office circular. I submit that if this honourable Court should be of opinion that this payment did come within these words and - was of such a character as to give Sergeant Fretter a personal interest in the purchases, sales, or profits, he did not know it was prohibited and that therefore he was
The pieces proposed to be sung at Happy not culpable in taking money, I submit, finally, that if this honourable Court should Valley on the 22nd June, immediately after the on the whole case think it right to find Review, are (1st) Hymn, "Praise the Lord for --3'' verses, to the tune of the prisoner guilty, which I again respectfully he is Glorions
"Austria," to be sung in unison by the whole ̈ ̈ ́submit it ought not to do, all the attendant
circumstances are such that the prisoner's guilt assembly, accompanied by the Bands ; · (2nd) is very slight and that any sentence which the Handel's "Hallelujah Chorus," by fall Choir *** Court may think fit to pass should be of the and Band; (3rd) "God Save the Queen,"
very mildest description and might well be ac four verses, first verse in harmony by choir and companied by the strongest possible recom- band, second verse ladies' voices only, third mendation for a remission of that punishment.verse men's voices only, fourth verse in unison, The object for which these proceedings were by the whole assembly, with bands, drums, &c,
Short preliminary practices will be held by initiated will be fully accomplished by the trial of the prisoner and the publicity given to the the following gentlemen, at the places and dates !!• regulations. »The fault, if fault there is, rests named, commencing each day at 5.30 p.m :—Mr. C. Schwencke, at the German Club, on Mondays, with others than the prisoner.
The prisoner then put in the following writ- May 31st and June 7th; Signor Cattaneo, at *** ten statement-I desire to make a statement, the Lusitano Club, on Tuesdays, June 1st and Je I was appointed canteen manager on the arrival June 8th Mr. A. G. Ward, at the City Hall, ron Wednesdays, June 2nd and June 9th; Mr. of the battalion in Hongkong, A. pensioner was formerly canteen, manager, but he was not G. Grimble, at the Union Church, on Thurs there when I arrived and I did not take over days, June 3rd and the duties, from anybody.. I never had any practices of all the
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Mr. W. Danby, Chairman of the sub-commit- tee having charge of the musical part of the programme for the celebration of the Diamond Jubilee, has sent as a circular which has been addressed to the musical members of the community requesting their co-operation. The chorus is expected to number 300 voices, and the united Bands about 100 instruments. As it is more than probable that there are many ladies and gentlemen in the colony (it being impossible to know them all) who can sing and would be willing to take part in this perform- ance who have not received a circular, if such would kindly send in their names to any of the musical conductors, the Committee would be exceedingly obliged for their assistance on the occasion. So far everyone is working most harmoniously together, and with great entha- siasm, all the principal musicians having made up their minds that the function shall be a great success.
A
12
2.
:
if
thing to do with canteen duties before. I in the Theatre of th. Combined
never saw or heard of the War Office aironlar of July, 1896, until these proceedings com- menced. They have never been put in orders or referred to by anyone until after my arrest. When I received from Holliday, Wise and Co. the sum of $75.50 I did not know, I was doing
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will be held City Hall, at 5.30 p.m. on Saturday, June 12th; Thursday, June 17th; and Saturday, June 19th; and also a full Rehearsal with the Bands, &o., in the Race Stand (which will be enlarged for the occasion), on Monday, the 21st June, at 5.30 p.m. (sharp) under Mr. W. G. Bentley, A.R.CM
201
[May 29, 1807 THE JUBILEE GYMKHANA MEETING.
The following is the programme of the Jubi- lee Gymkhana meeting to be held “on 23rd June, the first event taking place at o'clock
1
'by the Hon. J. The DIAMOND CUP; presented by the Hona
J. Bell-Irving, five furlongs; second pony two-thirds of entries, third pony one-third en. tries. For Subscription Griming of 1896-97 and other ponies which have never won a race at a race meeting and have been in the colony over two months; weight for inches with 3 lbs. added. Subn. Griffins being nou winners at a race meeting allowed 7 lbs." Entrance BICYCLE RACE; (the Dragon Cup");~pre- sented by Messrs. Williams, Gibson & Co., open to all cyclists who have never won' race (except school races); 1 miles, secon prize two-thirds of entries third prize one- third entries. Entrance $3.
THE CHAIRMAN'S Cur; presented by the Hon. C. P. Caster; second pony two-thirds and third pony one-third of entries, once round course; handicap for all China ponies. Entrance $4. MENAGERIE RACE; entrance free; post entries;
1st prize, $15; 2nd,¡$10; 3rd, $5. The POLO PONY CUP; presented by R. M. Gray, Esq. to start at the winning post, round a post at entrance to straight, and home; for bona fide polo ponies, to be ridden by playing members of the Polo Club; catch weights over 11st 7lbs.: second pony two- thirds of entries; third pony one-third of entries. Entrance $3
BICYCLE RACE; cup presented by Chan Sow, Esq; open to all cyclists; second prize two- thirds of entries; third, one-third. Entrance $3. 2 miles.
OBSTACLE RACE FOR SAILORS AND SOLDIERS entrance free; post entries; 1st prize. $15; 2nd, $10; 3rd, $5.
JUBILEE CHAMPION CUP; second pony two- thirds of entries; third pony one-third en- tries; for all China ponies; weight for inches; from the 2 mile post once round and in. ́ ́En. trance $5.
N. B.-Entries close to the Hon. See, at the Hongkong Club on the 16th June, at 2 p.m.
THE DIAMOND JUBILEE SUBSCRIPTIONS,
The Hon. Treasurer begs to acknowledge with thanks the receipt of the following con- tributions, viz:—
Already acknowledged The Officers, Warrant Officers, Non- Commissioned Officers and Men of the 1st Battalion The Prince of Wales Own West Yorkshire Regiment... Yokohama Specie Bank... Green Island Cement Co.
boat Co. Ld.....
$35,495
510.92
500
250
6:250
Hongkong and Kowloon Wharf and gra
Godown Co. Lda.
Caldbeck, Macgregor & Co...
John Walter
J. J. dos Remedios & Co. N. Mody & Co...
Cawasjee Pallanjee & Co. E. Pabaney
Tata & Column
A. Ebrahim & Co...
Hongkong Ice Co., Limited..:
E, N. Mehta.
H. M. H. Nemazee..
250
200
200
#150
150
W. 9150
150
150
150
150
Major-General Wilsone Black. Hajee Adam Esmail
100
100
100
100
Framjee Hormusjee & Co.... P. F. Talati
100
100
A. & S. Hancock
100
N. J. Ede
100
H. E. Pollock
100
Hongkong, Canton& Macao Steam-
Geo. R. Stevens
100
100
Noronha & Co.. Herbert Price..
100
$100
100
100
lig 75
Hon. W. Meigh Goodman
J. Thorburn - ??
Hongkong Hotel Co., Limited · R. S. Woonwalls & Co. (additional)
Hired of
€