October 7, 1897.]
ment, and perhaps the community may not feel keenly enough about it to object to the proposed sale, but it is well, we think, that attention should be drawn to it. In the Government notification issued at the time of the removal of the remains the reason assigned was that the cemetery having become surrounded by a dense population of Chinese of the poorer classes, "it is found difficult to keep it in a condition "of decency and cleanliness," and the sur- vivors, friends, or relatives of those buried there who desired to make any objection were invited to do so. There was nothing said at that time about any intention of ultimately selling the land.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT. and we doubt whether lawyers in general would accept it as correct. The body of Mr. ARCHIBALD CHARLES BOVILL, Barrister of the Western Cirenit, son of the late Sir WILLIAM BOYILL, Lord Chief Justice of Common Pleas, was found in the library of Rainthorpe Hall, Flordon, Norfolk, with a fowling piece between his legs, and under circumstances which could leave no doubt that he had committed suicide. The Coroner in his summing up at the inquest said there was no evidence whatever to show that deceased had been depressed or out of his mind previous to the time he committed the act, but self-preservation was the first law of nature and no one in his right senses would injure himself; therefore the fact of THE PUNISHMENT OF JUVENILE | his having fired off the gun for the purpose
HOMICIDES IN CHINA.
Public attention was recently excited at Shanghai by a report that a child eleven years of age who had accidentally caused the | death of his mother had been conveyed from his home at Kiukuei to Soochow, where he was to be put to death by the lingchi or slicing process. Inquiries were made by the Rev. Dr. MUIRHEAD to ascertain whether the report was accurate or not, with a view to action being taken to prevent the carrying out of such a barbarous sentence in the event
of its actually having been passed. The result of the inquiries was that "the au- "thorities declared they never heard of the case, and averred the story was altogether untrue, alike in reference to the supposed "murder and the punishment of the boy," As the N. C. Daily News remarks, all who are familiar with Chinese methods must be aware that the authorities would do their best to conceal the true facts of the case when they knew enquiries were being male by foreigners, and it is not surprising, therefore, that such enquiries should have failed to elicit the true state of affairs. A correspondent now communi- cates to our contemporary a letter from the Rev. D. L. ANDERSON, of Soochow, who confirms the fact that a boy about eleven years old was brought to Soochow from Kiukuei charged with having caused his mother's death and that he is now in the hands of the Prefect. As yet, Mr. ANDER-
A
SON says, the child has not been condemned to death by the slicing process or any other, but the Chinese think that he will be be- headed, probably in the ninth moon. correspondent whose letter appears in another column suggests that the boy will be detained until he is sixteen and will then be executed by the lingchi. Now that public attention has been called to the matter it is more probable that the child's life will be spared, but the fact that there should be any ground of uncertainty on that point proves the inherent barbarism of the Chi- nese criminal code.
PELO-DE-SE,
The increase in the number of suicides in Great Britain may possibly be due in some measure to the fact that the taking of one's own life is viewed now with much less odium than formerly and that the stigma is likely to rest more lightly on his family than would have been the case a generation or two
ago. It is seldom that a verdict of felo de se is now returned, the slightest excuse being seized upon by juries to fin temporary insanity. It has been argued, indeed, that the act of suicide is in itself evidence of insanity, even though unsup- ported by other evidence, and this view was formally adopted by a coroner the other day, for the first time we believe;
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30th September..
269
His Lordship decided that the document was not a promissory note and the suit must there- fore fail. Mr. Francis, who appeared for the plaintiff, asked for leave to amend the petition, would consider the amended potition in Cham. and his Lordship consented, remarking that be bers.
WRECK OF THE "
NAMOA.'
EIGHT CHINESE MISSING. Messrs. Douglas Lapraik and Co., General Managers of the Douglas Steamship Co., of the wreck of the steamer Namoa. The news Limited, have received telegraphic information
was first received late on Monday night, when the following telegram reached the firm :-
Foochow. 4th October, Namoa wrecked close to Cow's Horn ontside
North entrance to Haitan Straits. All hands landed except eight Chinese. Ship beached in exposed position. Cannot send protection from here. Wiring Amoy. Hall [the Captain] fears no chance of salvage.
received in answer to one despatched by Messrs, Yesterday morning a second telegram was Douglas Lapraik and Co. It was in the follow-
Foochow, 5th October, Struck at ten o'clock on Sunday morning on sunken rock. Survivors arrived last night, sing presumably particulars regarding the Viceroy sending protection. Particulars mis- missing Chinese] will telegraph later.
of taking his life was evidence itself that his mind must have been temporarily deranged. The jury found that deceased had committed suicide whilst in a state of ausound mind. A verdict of this kind, which leaves little stigma on the memory of the deceased and can give little pain to the family beyond that caused by the bereavement itself is not calculated to acting terms :- as a deterrent to others who may be con- templating suicide. Twenty five years ago the suicides in great Britain from all causes were placed at 66 in the million of popula- tion per year; five years ago they had risen to 88 in the milliou, and it is stated that the advance is being steadily maintained, as it is likely to be, in proportion as suicide secures public recognition as a semi-respectable method of relieving one self of the weariness of life. Leaving aside the theological aspect of the question, how- ever, it may well be doubted whether for the sake of any deterrent influence it may have it is worth while retaining for cases of suicide a form of verdict which imposes indignity on the dead and causes pain to the living. By the modern conscience the verdict of felo de se is regarded as barbarons.
SUPREME COURT
29th September.
IN ORIGINAL JURISDICTION.
BEFORE SIR JOHN CARRINGTON (CHIEF JUSTICE).
IP PINN KWAG V. CHOY TAI SHAL
Plaintiff sought to recover 82.000 on promissory note.
Mr. J. J. Francis, Q C. (instructed by Mr. V. H. Deacon), appeared for the plaintiff and Mr. E. Robinson (instructed by Messrs. John- son, Stokes, and Master) for the defendant.
pleadings. The petition stated that the plain- Mr. Francis in opening the case read the tiff
was an assistant compradore residing in Hongkong. On or about 5th September, 1996, Choy Chu, now deceased, but then carry. ing on business and residing at 243, 'Praya West, by his promissory
made on 5th September, 1896, promised to pay to the plaintiff the sum of $2,000 with interest thereon at the rate of 12 per cent. per aunum. The sum of $1,000 with the interest was due on the 1st February, 1897, and the remaining $1.000 would be dne on the 31st January, 1898. Chor Chu died on the 11th November. 1896, leaving Defendant was his widow and she took out letters assets more than sufficient to meet all liabilities. of administration in the probate division of the Conrt. Sho had refused to pay the plaintiff the money due on the promissory note or any part thereof. The defendant in her answer. said she had no personal knowledge of the oc cupation and residence of the plaintiff and she alleged to have been made by him. Counsel said denied that Choy Chu made the promissory note the issues were therefore very simple, the only defence raised being that the note was not made by Choy Chu.
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The Numoa was one of the best known of the
vessels engaged on the coast. She was built by Messrs. Hall, Russell & Co., of Aberdeen, in 1872, and since then had been almost entirely on the having been an occasional voyage to Australia. China coast, the only variation in these duties She was making her 584th trip when she was
Namoa was pirated in December, 1890, five hours after leaving Hongkong, Captain Pocock and three others being murdered and several wounded. In shipping circles the vessel was generally known as the favourite. It is not
wrecked. It will be remembered that the
known whether the sunken rock was marked on the chart or not, but the weather reports from South Peak indicate that a very heavy sea and wind were prevailing at the time of striking. The steamer was insured locally.
HONGKONG SANITARY BOARD.
A meeting of the Sanitary Boaril was held at the offices on 30th September. Dr. J. M. Atkinson (Principal Civil Medical Officer) pre- sided, and there were also present-Hon. F. H. May (Captain Superintendent of Police), Hon. W. Chatham (Acting Director of Public Works), Dr. Clark (Medical Officer of Health), Mr. N. J. Ede, and Mr. H. McCallum (Secretary).
MINUTES.
The Minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed.
THE INSANITARY PROPERTIES COMMISSION AND THE OBSTRUCTION OF PRIVATE STREETS, THE AMENDED BY-LAW,
sanitary Properties Commission was forwarded The following by-law as amended by the In-
to the Board for consideration. The by-law differs from that passed by the Sanitary Board in that the word "street" has been altered to back yard or back"lane," and the words in the second paragraph beginning and provided also that this by-law" have been added. The by-law is made milor Section 13 of Ordinance 15 of 1894, and is as follows:—
[
27-No backyard or back lane over land held under lease from the Crown, upon which any mission in writing of the Sanitary Board, be domestic buildings abut, shall, without the per- obstructed by the erection or fixture at any elevation of any structure or object of any kind whatsoever, whether temporary or permanent, which may, in the opinion of the Medical Officer of Health or such other officer as may be ap- pointed for purpose by the Sanitary Board, mates of any of such buildings, or if such back, prejudicially affect the health of any of the in- yard or back lane be already partially so ob structed it shall not be further so obstructed, without such permission in writing.