October 21, 1899.]
MR. KRUGER'S ULTIMATUM.
(Daily Press, 14th October). Astounding as Mr. KRUGER'S ultimatumis in its insolence some such move was perhaps to be expected. Writing as long ago as the 23rd September the Times of Ceylon sug gested that the course resolved upon by the Ministry--to meet a week from that time to consider proposals for a settlement to be drawn up in the meantime by Mr. CHAM. BERLAIN and those assisting him, without further consultation with the Transvaal —would doubtless be regarded on all sides as mainly devised to gain valuable time; and it asked, would the South African Re- publics, which now stood publicly pledged to an offensive and defensive alliance, con. sent to play a waiting game to their evident disadvantage? The article continued:- "A very probable move on the part of "the Republics now, it seems to us, “will be to jointly call upon Great Britain "not to move any more troops towards the Cape Colony and Natal frontiers; and that, if she does not comply, to consider 'her action tantamount to a declaration of
837
The evidence for the prosecution was then given.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT. what was called simple larceny-that was to | juuk at Canton. It then appeared that these say, simply taking away complainant's property are crackers were shipped on behalf of the Wah against his will. Complainant, Ho Fuk, would Kee firm from Hongkong to Canton, and first tell the jury that he was a fisherman living prisoner went in charge of them. They were island in the north-west corner of Mirarities and brought down to Hongkong. These in his boat at Kat-0, which was a small handed over to the police by the Chinese autho Bay, and was therefore within the jurisidiction are-arackers were clearly the property of the of that court, being included in the convention person or persons who ordered them from the which was signed last year. Complainant maker in Fatshan. He should call evidence to would tell them that he lived in this boat of his prove that prisoners were engaged in the Wah at Kat 0, and besides him his wife and son and Kee Chinese shop. daughter lived in the boat, his son being seven years his daughter 11 years old. Complainant would tell them that he knew prisoner and No witnesses were called for the défence. and that on the 15th day of the 6th moon- indictment now stood that these men were had known him for between one and two years, Mr. Slade, in reply to His Lordship, said the that was to say July 22nd-prisoner went to charged with stealing 300 cases, or with re- complainant's boat about seven or eight o'clock ceiving 300 cases knowing them to have been in the evening, Prisoner told complainant stolen, or receiving 300 cases knowing them to he wanted $2 from him, and that if he did have been obtained by false pretences. He sub. not give it to him he would rob him. Com. mitted that the case was quite clear. The plainant replied that he only belonged to a Mahomedan firm ordered the goods, and the junk fishing boat, and how could be have 82. Pri- master delivered them to another Wah Kee soner repeated that he would rob him if he did firm-a Chinese Wah Kee firm-who had not not get $2. This threat seemed to have fright-ordered them and who did not own them, ened complainant, who said he would take some and the Chinese firm took advantage of the clothing and pawn it, and get $2, and hand it mistake which was made. They saw a chance over to prisoner. Complainant went into the of getting these goods for nothing and took cabin and got two women's jackets and two possession of them. The fire crackers ordered men's jackets and a pair of trousers, and went by the Mahomedan firm were found in possession We cannot imagine them sitting with the clothing to a man called Ho Young of prisoners, and it was for the latter to satisfac "still for a week or more, awaiting our
San, also a fisherman at Kat 0, and pawned torily explain how they came in possession of pleasure and the completion of our pre-handed to prisoner. Prisoner was arrested by
the clothing for 32, which he subsequently them before they could be acquitted. parations, unless they have special reasons, the police some considerable time afterwards-ers, said the jury had heard that there was a
Mr. Melbourne, who appeared for the prison. uot described to the Eastern world by on the 3rd Qctober.
shop called the Wah Kee shop at 17, Gage Street. "Reuter, for also wanting more time." This
There was also a Mahomedan firm which used the forecast has been fulfilled, though not so
name of the Wah Kee firm. These goods were soon as the Ceylon paper anticipated, for
sent down to Hongkong with a letter addressed the ultimatum did not come until nearly
to Wah Kee, there being nothing said about the firm being a Mahomedan firm. The goods were addressed to Wah Kee, nothing being said again about a Chinese firm. When the Wah Kes firm opened the letter they naturally concluded that the goods were meant to be sold en com. mission, and they sold them on commission.
41
war.
three weeks after the date of the article. Apparently Mr. KRUGER, seeing the Bri- tish forces being steadily strengthened, while he was unable to add to his own forces, has at last grown impatient and made the plunge. If he was resolved on fighting the longer he waited the worse his position would be. It is unlikely, however, that the Boer forces will actually assume the offensive, and equally unlikely is it that the British Government will be moved by the strong language of the ultimatum to commence options before the military plans are compe and all the troops in readiness, though that, no doubt, was what. Mr. KRUGER hoped would be the effect of the ultimatum. The intention of the British Government, we opine, is to place such an overwhelming force in the field as will at once bear down all opposition and save the useless sacrifice of life that would be eutailed by a long continued struggle.
SUPREME COURT.
18th October.
CRIMINAL SESSIONS.
BEFORE HIS HONOUR W. M. GOODMAN (ACTING CHIEF JUSTICE).
1
THE ARMED ROBBERY AT KAT O BAY.
The evidence give at the Magistracy was repeated.
The jury returned a unanimous verdiot of guilty on both counts.
His Lordship postponed sentence. Prisoner was then charged with rape, the same jury hearing this case as the last.
Mr. Pollock, in his statement to the jury, said the prosecution alleged that the offence was committed on August 21st on board a boat at Kat-O Bay.
The jury unanimously found prisoner guilty. in the morning. He presumed the third charge His Lordship said he would sentence prisoner against prisoner would not be proceeded with.
Mr. Pollock-No, my Lord.
BEFORE HIS HONOUR MR. JUSTICE WISE (PUISNE Judge).
THEFT OF FIRE CRACKERS.
Tsang Fat and Chau Ngan Kai were charg (2) larceny; (3) receiving certain goods by means ed with (1) obtaining money by false pretences; of false pretences; (4) receiving stolen goods; (5) conspiracy; (6) larceny; (7) receiving stolen goods obtained by false pretences (8) receiving stolen goods; (9) conspiracy. They pleaded not guilty.
The jurors were Messrs E. Mauricio, E. Jose da Silva Loureiro, Murray Stewart, M. Von Obrensky, H. E. Mackenzie, M. d'Espirito Santo Pereira, and A. F. de Jesus Soares.
Mr. W. M. Slade (instructed by Mr. C. Ewens), who appeared for the prosecution, said the indictment seemed a rather complicated one when it was read over, but as a matter of fact the case was not a complicated one. Five hun- dred cases of fire orackers were sent down from
Tang Lan, alias Tang Kwo Ki, alias Tang Fu Li Tsoi, was charged with (1) robbery and (2) larceny: he was also charged with rape; heplied between Fatshan and Hongkong. When was also charged with (1) robbery being armed and (2) larceny. The charge of robbery and larceny was taken first, prisoner pleading not guilty.
The jurors were Messrs. R. A. Collins, C. G. G. Stockhausen, T. P. Cochrane, J. D. Dauby, C. E. Thornert, W. T. Marlow, and G. A. Ĝ. Friesland.
Fatshan in Kwangtung province to Hongkong upon the order of a Mahomedan firm whose Chinese name was Wah Kee. These fire crackers came down in one of the regular junks which the junk arrived in Hongkong the junk-master sent his clerk with a letter which was given to him by the consignor of the fire- crackers addressed to the Wah Kee firm, Hong. kong The olork took this letter to Gage Street, and on walking down the street saw the name Wah Kee over a door. He went upstairs and asked of the person who came to him, " Is The Hon. H. E. Pollock (Acting Attorney this letter for you ?" The reply was yes, and the General), instructed by Mr. Bowley (Acting clerk was also informed that the fire-crackers Crown Solicitor), appeared for the prosecution. were for them. The following day a man He said prisoner in this case was charged upon came down to the junk and the fire-crackers different counts. In the first count he were delivered over to him. In the meantime was charged with robbery that was to say, with stealing some money from complainant, after putting complainant in bodily fear. In the second count prisoner was charged with
two
the Mahomedan firma began to make enquiries as to what had become of the fire-crackers. The police were communicated with, and they found the fire-crackers on board a small
The jury unanimously found prisoners guilty on counts six, seven, and eight.
years' imprisonment with hard labour.
His Lordship sentenced them each te two
19th October.
BEFORE HIS HONOUR W. MEIGH GOOD- MAN (ACTING CHIEF JUSTICE).
善感
THE TERROR OF KAT-O
#1
SENTENCED. Fo Li Tsoi, came up for sentence.
Tang Lan, alias Tang Kwo Ki, alias Tang
His Lordship said :-
Tang Sau, yesterday morning you were found guilty by the unanimous verdict of the jury of having, by terrorising a poor boatman at Kat- O-island at Mirs Bay in the waters of the Colony, robbed him of a sum of two dollars. The sum may seem small but it was not small to him, for he had to pawn his own and his wife's clothes to raise the money. That was on the 22nd of July of this year. Yesterday afternoon, you were, again, unanimously found guilty of committing a rape upon the young wife of another boatman, at the same place, in circumstances of peculiar atrocity. That was on the 21st August last. It seems you are a member of the Triad Society, ■ Society declared unlawful by Ordinance No. 3 of 1887, "as incompatible with the peace and good order of the Colony," and membership of which is, in this Colony, punishable by fine and imprison- ment. Boasting of belonging to that Society and with the aid of same companions and by the use of arms, you have succeeded in making yourself the terror of the island and of the boatmen frequenting it, till they were so intimidated by you and your threats that they had to pay you blackmail. When you took that in the shape of money it was bad enough, but hot content with that, you proveeded to demand that a young and respectable married woman, the wife of a poor fisherman, should be handed over to you to satisfy your brutal lust. When the husband and wife refused, you and your two companions, two of you being armed, by force put the husband on shore and then, there being no one on board the boat to protect the poor girl, you proceeded to commit a rape upon her, and even repeated your iniquity after the return of the husband to the boat, who was so
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