390
A CHINAMAN CHARGED WITH WIFE MURDER.
At the Magistracy on 4th Nov. a Chinaman mained Lui Ng (aged 40), of 36, High Street, stone-breaker, was charged with the wilful murder of his wife, Wong Mui, aged 29.
Sit Po, a carrying coolie, said he lived at 36, High Street. Prisoner and his wife also lived there. The wife was now dead. He saw her dead body at the Government Civil Hospital mortuary on. Thursday noon. At 2 p.m. on Tuesday he was in the house when prisoner came in. Witness was in the kitchen, as was also deceased, who was washing her clothes. He was in and out until about four o'clook. Before that time he was in the kitchen, as were also prisoner and deceased. No one else was in the kitchen. Prisoner was quarrelling with de ceased for not having his rice ready. Deceased scolded prisoner back. They quarrelled for about half-an-hour, and then deceased went out into the street and made a noise there. Prisoner left the kitchen and went into his room, and then deceased returned to the kitchen. Prisoner's room was the second floor from the kitchen, the third from the door. Prisoner returned to the
Yeung Chan, a hawker living at 36, High Street, also said he heard the couple quarrelling and that he saw the woman rush into the street. The couple had no children. They quarrelled daily. Deceased was a lazy woman,
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
aries he, being a Christian, disbanded his force | before any damage was done, and himself took refuge in Hongkong.
Chung Kwok Chu. He is a man of superior The man's name is Chung Shui Yeung, alias education, and is possessed of considerable his taking part in a robbery is absurd. For wealth. Hence it is asserted that the idea of some years he resided in Honolulu, and among those in court yesterday was a Hawaiian woman, whom it transpired was defendant's wife. A take defendant away should the application for Chinese gunboat is waiting in the harbour to
his extradition prove successful.
Mr Robinson appeared on behalf of the Chinese Government and for the prosecution and Mr. Gedge for the defence.
Mr. Robinson said the application was for the extradition of defendant under Ordinance 26 of 1889, the preamble of which said, "Whereas by Artiole XXI. of the treaty between Her Majesty and the Emperor of China done at Tientsin on the 26th June, 1858, it was agreed and concluded that if oriminals, subjects of China, shall take refuge in Hongkong, or on board the British ships there, they shall, kitchen and renewed the quarrel with deceased. upon duo requisition by the Chinese authorities, Then witness saw prisoner take up the bamboo be searched for, and, on proof of their guilt, be carrying pole produced and threaten deceased delivered up; and whereas it is expedient to with it, but he did not strike ber. Witness amend the law for the more effective carrying went up and pushed prisoner out of the kitchen. out of the said treaty in relation to the surren Prisoner put the bamboo in a corner and wont der of criminals, subjects of China, who take into his room. Deceased followed and the quarrefuge in Hongkong, or on board the British rel was continued. The door was only half ships there, this Ordinance may be cited for all shut. Witness heard them quarrelling for purposes as the Chinese Extradition Ordinance about half-an-hour and then he heard a noise as 1889." By section 3 the Ordinance enacted, if caused by blows on the partition. He then The crimes mentioned in the first schedule to heard deceased call out" Save life," and saw her this Ordinance shall be construed according to rush into the street. Prisoner, who had been the law in force in the colony at the date of his fellow lodger for about three months, was the alleged crime." The crimes mentioned always quarrelling with his wife.
in the first schedule included that of bur- glary, and in the present instance défen- dant was accused of having committed the crime of burglary within the jurisdiction of China. The date was about the 16th or 18th October, 1898, and the place Cha Tau Kok, in the neighbourhood of Mirs Bay. The first point to be made on behalf of the prosecution was to prove that defendant was a Chinese
that he was one of a band of men who com mitted the outrage alleged. It was alleged that defendant was not a Chinese subject, but was a subject of Hawaii. That question turned partly on evidence and partly on law. It was possible that he might be a naturalised subject of Hawaii, and it might be that a man might belong by naturalisation to one state with out renouncing the nationality of his native state." With regard to the first point-that defendant was a Chinese subject he proposed to call the sergeant interpreter who took down what defendant said on the Dr. John Bell, of the Government Civil Hos-charge being read over to him and after he had pital, said at 6-10 p.m. on Tuesday deceased was been cautioned, and thereby to show that the brought to the Hospital in a state of bad col- man was born in China, and that he had bought lapse. She suffered from a bruise on the lower latterly a Chinese title, and that he had adopted part of the body on the right side. At 9-30 he the customs of China with regard to marriage sent for Dr. Atkinson, and the woman's de- with a concubine and the purchase of a son, and positions were taken. They operated on her, that he held lands in China. The crime with and she died half-an-hour afterwards. Deceased, which defendant was charged-for the moment who was enceinte, was bleeding internally from he would deal with the complaint of burglary a rupture. The hemmorhage was stopped, but was the crime of burglary. They alleged that she never rallied. The rupture might have in the month of October a band of men entered been caused by a blow or a fall.
the village of Cha Tau Kok, some in chairs
Young Lan, another inmate of 36, High Street gave similar evidence.
Wong Ling, sergeant interpreter at No. 7 Police Station, said that at 5.15 p.m. on Tues-subject. The second point would be to prove day a woman came running into the station and made a report. She lay down as soon as she came in. In consequence of the report witness sent P. C. 265 to arrest prisoner. At nine o'clock the same night witness attended at the Government Civil Hospital for the dying depositions of deceased, Prisoner was also present.
Evidence having been given as to the convey- ing of the woman to the Government Civil Hospital and also by Inspector Macdonald, who was in No.7 Police Station when the woman came in.
[November 12, 1898.
The Magistrate-The identification shồnld take place before, the man is placed in the dock, Mr. Robinson-I thoroughly endorse, that view.
to the court and may have seen the
Mr. Gedge-These men have had free nodess
already.
will be carried out in the usual way The man Mr. Robinson--I suppose the identification will be returned to goal and picked out from among a number of other people.
here at two o'clock, and the men have had
The Magistrate-Oh, yes; certainly. Mr. Gedge-1 am told that prisoner got
and peep into the dock, in which there is only plenty of opportunity to come round the corner
one prisoner.
Mr. Robinson-Your worship would hear from my statement that both witnesses are men of some little position in their country. One is the general manager of the shop and the other is the man next door.
Ho Ping Pui, sergeant interpreter at the Central Police Station, said he was on duty when defendant was brought in at half past four on the 29th October. After being charged and duly cautioned he voluntarily made a statement, which witness took down and of which the following is a translation:
"The charge against me of committing the erime of burglary is not true. I am wrongly ac cused. I am rich. To accuse me of the base crime is a false accusation. I went to Honolulu when I was seven years of age. I brought my family when I was thirty-five years of age to my native vil- lage. I was in my village for six years. After I had come back from Honolulu I purchased fields and land, lent money to people, married a concubine, and bought a son. Now I have ac count books and some deeds of land as evidence. Two or three months ago I heard that many burglaries were being committed. At that time I was grieved to hear that rice and grain were dear. I had over forty piculs of grain left. I told my fokis to carry it out for sale. The people sold it for $3,60 per picul, but I sold it only to the family for $2 80, as I learned that they were starving. Afterwards the rich men rebuked me and said that I wanted to compete and sell at a low price. Ten days ago I was told that some persons went to Sun Qn city and accused me of treason. I did not believe it. After that I heard that robberies were taking place in the neighbourhood. Ten days ago I was told that some soldiers were coming to arrest me. I was afraid when I heard that. There fore I came to Hongkong at once. I came here at night on the 18th inst. On the morning of the following day my wife was at home. Suddenly, over ten persons came to her house, and took away by force all clothing, trunks and everything. My wife only retained the account books and some jewellery, and ran away straightf to the church, where she asked the preacher tof take her to Hongkong. To-day I was arrested. I did not commit the crime of burglary. I was robbed of property to the value of over $7,000, I am a naturalized subject of Hawaii! I am thankful that people do not rob me. Is it likely that I should rob people ? I have plenty of evidence to prove what I have said. “I have the title of Chan Tung by purchase. I have not been half a mile from my house."
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Inspector Ford, who was in charge at the Central Police Station when defendant was brought in, said he asked defendant his
The case was adjourned until the 5th, when and others on foot, and went to a shop and address in English and he answamed
the accused was committed for trial.
AN EXTRADITION CASE,
At the Magistracy on the 7th November, before Commander Hastings, the case of a Chinaman whom the Chinese authorities wish to get hold of, on the ground that he was one of a band of robbers who ransacked a shop at Cha Tau Kok in the Sun.On district on the 16th of October, again came up. The case has excited a con- siderable amount of interest among the Chinese reform party, the accused himself belonging to the progressive section of the community. They allege that the charge is merely a trumped up one, and that it has been formulated because it is the only way in which the Chinese authori ties can secure the man's extradition. "It is stated that he got together a body of men in connection with a movement of rebellion, but acting on the advice of some German mission-
called the Tung Hing Tai shop and appro- priated the cash they found in the shop and also most of the stock in trade: The Tung Hing Tai shop included two branches. One was on the south side of the street and rice and samshu were sold there. The other was on the north side of the street and silk was sold in it. These two shops bad but one sign and name and constituted together the Tung Hing Tai shop. He should call the general manager to prove he was in the silk shop when the band of men entered the village, that they entered the shop pointing revolvers, and that they robbed the shop and went away. It might be that he would have to ask for an adjournment to admit of other witnesses being called. He had also there a doctor, who carried on business next door to the Tung Hing Tai shop, who would identify defendant as one of the band of rob- bers. These were the only two witnesses be proposed to call that day,
meget om.
English. The entry he made on the charge. sheet was," Chung • Shui Young, 41, alias Chung Kwok Chu, retired lawyer's clerk, pof independent means, native of Wong Tong vil- lage, near Tung Wa market place, Sun On district. Naturalised Hawaiian subject.
In answer to Mr. Gedge, witness admitted that before he questioned defendant he did not warn him.
Mr. Gedgge objected to the charge sheet being produced as evidence ag
against his client, inasmuch as he had not been warned. lisalp
Inspector Hanson produced a box containing the effects of defendant, among which was envelope containing six documents in Chinese and a Hawaiian certificate.
Prisoner was then taken out for identification. On his return, ne zna
Tang Man said he was manager of the Tung Hing Tai shop at Tung Wa market place at Cha Tan Kok. The proprietor was called Tai
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