June 3, 1897.1
The Attorney-General then dealt with the facts of the case in detail and pointed out that the evidence was quite conclusive that the shop had been set on fire wilfully. The only ques tion left was whether it was satisfactorily proved that the prisoner was the man who did it or was a party to the fire being communicated to the premises either as principal or accessory before the fact. He submitted the fact of the tins of kerosine being placed in such incrim inating positions in the room in which the prisoner slept pointed almost conclusively to the prisoner's guilt, and after discussing Mr. Robinson's theories of possible other origin to the fire he submitted the prisoner's participation in the arson was shown beyond all reasonable doubt.
His Lordship, in summing up, drew attention to the fact that not one of the men in the shop was hurt in any way. It was for the jury to say whether that fact had any bearing on the men's knowledge of the fire and their getting away before the fire burst out in great violence. There could be no doubt that the fire originated on the ground floor and that it was the result of the criminal action of someone. The ques- tion for the jury to decide was whether the prisoner set the place on fire, and they would have to consider whether the evidence pointed to the fact, not necessarily that he actually applied the light, but that he knew of the intention beforehand or gave any instructions in respect of the fire. After dealing with the preparations made for the fire his Lordship said the jury would have to say whether those preparations were made by any-. one else than the prisoner. One important point was that a tin of kerosine oil in a wooden box was put in the accountant's room, where the prisoner slept, while some workmen were engaged in the shop. After the fire a puncture was found in the tin, so that the puncture must have been made in the accountant's room. Was it probable that all these preparations were made by other men who set fire to the place and got clear away without anyone on the ground floor becoming aware of their presence? In regard to the motive, the evidence on that point was certainly not very strong. There was the fact that the business was apparently not very flourishing at the time and of the insurance having been effected for $4,000, $3,000 of it being renewed as recently as three weeks before the fire, but there was no evidence of conspiracy between the master, the accountant, and the prisoner, and was it likely that he would set fire to the premises with a view to getting the insurance money? It was not brought home to him that he actually knew of the insurance at all and it would not be right to assume that he knew anything about it; so there was practically ho evidence of any motive. But the jury had to bear in mind that it was not for the Crown to establish a motive. The jury had solely to con. sider whether the fire could have been started without the prisoner having any participation in it and without his having any knowledge of it. The jury were absent from court only four minutes. They unaminously returned a verdict of guilty.
His Lordship Wong Lin Kang, you have been found guilty of the offence with which you were charged, and I think nobody who has heard the evidence given in court can doubt that the jury have come to the right conclusion. You may have been used as a tool in this matters by your master or accountant; of that I know nothing. itickedness is not lessened by that even if
Your
You went and deliberately set fire to this place at night and caused the death of three men, and you might have caused a very great loss of property. Now, of course you have not been tried for the deaths of those men and therefore the sentence has no relation to them; but if you have any conscience I hope you will always remember how you sent those three men to their deaths. These offences must be stopped; when they are proved they must be severely punished. The sentence of the court upon you is that you be imprisoned for fifteen years with hard labour.
Mr. Willison, of Willison's Circus, has handed to the Diamond Jubilee Fund at Shangkai the sum of $200 as its share of the proceeds of a benefit performance at the Circus.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT. THE MOUNT AUSTIN HOTEL SOLD.
TO BE TURNED INTO BARRACKS.
Mount Austin Hotel for £30,000. The news will The military authorities have purchased create no surprise in the colony. months negotiations have been going on between For some the War Office and Messrs. J. D. Humphreys and Son, the owners, concerning the sale of the property, and we believe the difference in the views of the parties as to the price was only £2,000. The War Office offered £28,000 for the site and buildings, but the owners resolutely declined to make any reduction in their figure and eventually the War Office gave way. The price appears to be by no means excessive, as Mount Austin Hotel occupies the finest site at the Peak and will always be worth the money paid for it. The purpose for which the military authorities have bought the hotel is for garri commodation for four hundred men, so that by son barracks, the intention being to provide ac-
diers on the station will be able to recruit their a system of relays the whole of the British sol- health at the Peak for three or four months each year. That such a change is necessary for the benefit of the men cannot be questioned, for the barracks in Queen's Road, well appointed good-health of the soldiers, and it is of the first as they are, are not conducive to the permanent importance that a healthy garrison should be maintained at any cost. The exact date when the military authorities will take possession of the hotel has not yet been determined, but it will probably be in October, It would be rather at the hotel to ask them to clear out in Sep- hard on the fifty or sixty visitors in residence tember, the contract date of the transfer, and we believe that Major-General Black will kindly give his consent not to take over the build- ing until the end of October. first few months the hotel will be used For the
as the new military hospital to be erected a hospital and barracks, but soon above Bowen Road is completed the whole of the hotel will be devoted to the purposes of barracks. There is plenty of ground for the men to drill upon and the whole place is most admirably suited for the requirements. must congratulate the military authorities upon the acquisition of this fine building and Messrs. J. D. Humphreys and Son upon their latest good stroke of business. an excellent bargain.
as
as
We
Each side has made
It may be mentioned that some thirty-five years ago a military sanatorium existed on or near the site that has now been acquired by the War Office. Dr. Eitel in his History of Hongkong says:~~
"The long talked-of scheme of a medical sanatorium, to be established on Victoria Peak, was at last carried out, but did not receive a fair medical officer of the station, the Military trial. At the recommendation of the principal
Authorities opened, in spring 1862. a well-built sanatorium on the plateau below the flag-staff and filled it with patients (of an unsuitable class). But, before the close of the year, the military doctors condemned the scheme as a manifest failure, on the ground that nearly every case sent up had been attacked with medical cases had been aggravated rather than diarrhoea of an intractable nature and that all improved. The fate which had pursued the Island as a whole, and the Kowloon Peninsula in particular, asserted its power also as to the tion produced disease, and patience and dis- first settlements on the Peak:,the st occupa
cretion were required to overcome the difficulty. advocated by Mr. Granville Sharp, who took a It took years before Peak residence, strongly lease of the deserted sanatorium, rose into favour."
438
| half of it was no use to them without the other. I assume that when this half part reserved for the War Department was so reserved it was City of Victoria, the other half which had been because it commanded the Harbour and the
War Department could not secure, already alienated by the Civil Government the
private purchase. This other half commands except by the south side of the Island, which includes the oldest watershed of the Colony, the entire lot extending, as it does, from the Gap (with the exception of land still in the possession of the Civil Government upon which the Police Station stands) to Umbrella Seat, which is without exception the most commanding mili- tary position in the Island, being central and the point at which some of the most important Peak Roads converge. I do not suppose for a moment that the War Department would have parted with its rights if it could have this property may shortly, at the instance of foreseen what could have been made of it. As
public auction, they may perhaps think it an any one of our debenture holders, be put up to
opportune moment for securing the most mag. nificent site in the Island either for a Sanitarium or for Barracks, and as a basis of operations for the defence of both sides of the Island. I for if the Mount Austin Hotel is to pass away should be sorry for the residents of the colony, from them for any other purpose than it was originally intended for, namely, a health resort," etc., etc.
|
Arms Hotel and Building Co., Limited, on the The property stood in the books of the Austin
furniture, and it was mortgaged for $130,000. 31st December, 1892, at $246,851, exclusive of
property, exclusive of furniture, was purchased When the Company was liquidated in 1894 the by Mr. J. D. Humphreys for $130,050. That $100,000 in the erection of a new wing and ball gentleman has since spent upon it about
room,
it in contemplation to secure all the privately We hear that the military authorities have owned land on Victoria Peak and that some owners have already been approached with a view to arranging terms.
probably be abandoned, as unfortunately the The sanatorium at Magazine Gap will site has not proved healthy.
PARACHUTE ACCIDENT.
MR. SPENCER INJURED.
On the 30th May a very large crowd of spectators assembled at Bay View to witness a balloon ascent and a parachute descent by Mr. Stanley Spencer. Unfortunately the event was attended by a somewhat alarming accident to the parachutist, but luckily his injuries are of the bone just above the left ankle being the not so serious as was at first feared, a fracture extent of the injuries. The balloon was inflated in a very short time and about 6.15 everything was in readiness for the ascent. Mr. Spencer placed himself in the iron ring of the parachute and at the word "go" the balloon was released and it rapidly rose into the air. It had not gone very far, however; when it suddenly collapsed and ators, dropped at a tremendous rate through Mr. Spencer, to the horror of the numerous spect- space. his parachute being all the time fixed to the balloon. The parachute slightly opened, but unfortunately the distance to the ground was not sufficient to permit of thorough inflation, the consequence being that the aeronant dropped heavily on a hill to the east of the recently crowd were that Mr. Spencer was killed, and erected kerosene, tanks. The fears of the it is probable that he would have been As he not retained his presence of mind and and Building Co., Limited, at which the resolu- soon as the accident happened about a dozen At the meeting of the Austin Arms Hotel kept himself in a perpendicular position. As tion for voluntary liquidation was confirmed, spectators hastened to render assistance, but the Chairman, Mr. J. D. Humphreys, said :-
a matter of considerable difficulty from the Government in respect to extensions fallen.
"We obtained concession after concession to reach the spot where Mr. Spencer had of the lot, as we found that in cutting down the to be climbed, then a wall and afterwards s First of all a high gate had Mount Austin our filling made a valuable front-precipitous bill had to be negotiated. But very age which we obtained by improving the road few minutes elapsed before Mr. Spencer was way. The half of the Mount Austin itself was reserved for War Department purposes, and this we were fortunate enough to obtain from the Government under the sanction of the Military Authorities, I suppose because one
it was
*
reached and it was then found that the bore immediately above the left ankle was broken. A member of the Hongkong Volunteer Corps, who recently passed the ambulance examination held by Surgeon Colonel Evatt, at