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Jänmry 27, 4900;]-
· CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
ANOTHER PIRACY ON THE WEST manager of the godown. The defendant took
RIVER.
[FROM A COERESPONDENT.]
Samshui, 18th January.
The steam launch Hunglee, with passenger bost in tow, was pirated on the 15th instant at Kongmoon. The pirates, 43 in number, took Launch to Chau-hoi (a large island in the river opposite Kongmoon) and then decamped with ten thousand fuels. H.M.S. Sandpiper fell in with the Hunglee just after the pirates had
left.
Chau-hoi, mentioned above, is notorious as a pirate haunt, and recently a Chinese force who had captured some, pirates on the island were obliged to abandon their prisoners, and were driven off the island by the villagers.
Is this piracy or rebellion ?
-THERAGENT FIRE AT THE CHOP
YIK GODOWN.
· PROCEEDINGS AT THE MAGISTRACY YESTERDAY.
At the Magistracy on the 23rd inst-,before Mr Gomperts, Chan Ss and Yu Shan Tin, the former being the keeper and the latter the manager of the Chop Tik Godown at West Point, were charged on remand with storing explosives in the Godown in question.
Captain Superintendent May conducted the case on behalf of the prosecution. Mr. Ewens appeared for Yu Shau Tin and Mr. Sharp for Chan S1. Mr. Ewens asked for the cases to be dealt with separately, and accordingly the sharge against his client was gone into first. Defendant pleaded not guilty,
U Fak, building contractor, said he knew the Kwan Wo Tung, he being a partner in
that firm. He knew the Chop Yik Godown, which was recently burned down. He had a share in the Godown, which was managed by the defendant Ya Shau Tin. The rents for the goods in the godown were collected by the accountant, who paid them to Yu Shau lin. The latter divided them amongst the partners in the godown.
In reply to Mr. Ewens, witness said the de- fendant did not reside ou the godown premises. The accountant resided there. He did not know whether the defendant would bute any knowledge of the goods stored in the godown. He had a share in the godown but know nothing He knew no- about the goods stored there. thing about any rules in connection with the godown.
Inspector Baker said that after the fire at the Chop Yik Godown he went to the Kwan Mo Fung firm and asked for the manager. The defendant was sent for and stated that he was the manager of the Chop Yik Godowa. When asked his name the defendant said it was Yu Fuk. After the fire he got the books per- taining by the godown from the possession of the godown-keeper, who was the acccountant Chan Sze.
P. Mackay said that after the fire at the Chap Tik Godown he made a search and found the box of ammunition produced in No 2 Go- down. There was about two feel of rubbish ou the top. He continued his search the next day and found some exploded cartridges in the same godown. The cartridges produced were part of them. He also found exploded cartridges in No. 3 godown on the 28th December. Ou the 21st instant he found the lead and cartridges produced in No. 7 Godown, and he found so ne more exploded cartridges in the same Godown on Mouday. He had been in the army, and the box produced was a proper ammunition box.
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charge of the money in connection with the godown and engaged the accountant, from whom he received the money.
He did not know with whom people made arrangements when they wished to store goods in the godown. Chan Sze had been connected with the godown seven or eight years.
Mr. Ewens, in addressing the Court for the defence, submitted that there was no case against the defendant. Because this man hap. pened to take rents he could not be said to keep explosives. The evidence of the prosecution was to the effect that the defendant did not know the notice of the goods stored in the godown.
Chan Sze, accomtant at the Chop Tik Go. down, said he entered into the books all the goods received for storing into the godown. He was not aware that any cartridges were stored in the godown. He produced a copy of the rules for the regulation of the godown. Rule 9 said that goods which would injure other goods in the godown were prohibited. Had anyone brought him ammunition to store he would have refused it. Yu Shan Tin did not know the nature of the goods stered in the godown. Tam Hoi, the godown keeper, did. He asked the customers and the godown keeper what goods he should enter into his books. Had ammunition been brought he would have refused to take it in The books produced | contained correct entries, so far as he knew, of the goods stored in the g down.
keplying to the Captain Superintendent, witness admitted that it was his duty to see that the rules of the godown were observed and that the prohibited articles mentioned in Rule 9 were not stored.
Tam Hoi said he was the keeper of the Chop Yik Godown, and if anyone wanted to store cargo in the godown he asked him, telling him what cargo he wanted to store. If a man had told him he was bringing gunpowder he would not have taken it in. He had never seen boxes like the cartridge box produced brought in.
In reply to the Captain Superintendent.
witness said that when the goods were placed in the godown he went with the customer to see the accountant. He could not store goods without the accountant's authority, nor could any goods be taken ont without the account- ant's authority. The accountant was the bead man at the godown. Witness only looked after the coolies.
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His Worship said he would consider his deci- sion, and would hear the other case.
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Mok Yi, a coolie employed by Mr. Cooper, of Pottinger Street, said he had taken goods to the Chop Yik godown and stored them there on behalf of his employer. He knew the defen- dant, who was the accountant at the godown. When he went to store goods he used to ask the godown keeper if he had any room and the godown keeper would refer him to the defen. dant, and the defendant would ask him what the goods were. When be wished to take away the goods he had to see the defendant and pay for the storage. The defendant would then give him an order for the godown keeper. He had never stored goods or taken goods out without the defendant's authority.
Replying to Mr. Sharp, witness said it was the godown keeper, and not the defendant, who actually saw the goods as they came in.
The evidence given in the previous case was read over.
The Sergeant Interpreter said that when charged the defendant replied, I have only been in charge of these godowns this year. When I took charge there were some goods there; I do not know the nature of these goods
Mr. Sharp, for the defence, contended that it was clear that the person contemplated by the P. C. Brown deposed to finding the pieces of Legislature was the owner of the explosive or lead produced among the ruins of the Chop Yik | the person who was seeking to store the ex- Godown. They consisted of lead and cartridge | plosive. He argued that the box containing melted together.
the cartridges were sent in disguised, and therefore his client was not responsible. If this charge were upheld the result would be that every employee connected with the godown
A Sergeant Interpretor said he was on duty when the defendant was charged. In reply the defendant said, 'I do not know the nature of the goods stored in the godown."
His Worship recalled Ü Fuk, who now said the defendant was not the manager of the go- down but of the Kwon Mo Lung. He had mever said the defendant was the manager of the eduwazicke - wooountant, Chan Sao, was the
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would be liable.
The Captain Superintendent pointed out that there was no evidence at all that the ammuni tion box produced had any outside covering.
His Worship so reserved his decision in this 'onse also until-mext Tuenday,
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PIRACY NEAR MIES BAY.
A TOUGH STRUGGLE.
The Hongkong Police are busily engaged investigating reports made to them by a couple of junk owners as to piratricial attacks made upon them a couple of days ago.
In the one case the junk-owner said that while in the neighbourhood of the Nine Pins & Chin Chu boat containing six men came alongside his junk and asked to buy some fish, but that as be did not like their looks he refused to have any. thing to do with them and sailed away. Tho men in the boat fired after them and hit two of the crew. These have since been sent to the hospital.
Subsequently another junk owner made his appearance at the Police Station and told a somewhat different story. He said that he wAS in company with the other junk off Ngo Hung, on the eastern coast of Mirs. Bay. He said that a desperate struggle took place between the other junk and the pirates and that thres of the latter were thrown overboard, one of them being drowned. Subsequently they st tacked his boat, and were not content with stealing money and jewellery from him but beat bis son, who was knocked overboard and drowned.
ARKIVAL OF PRINCE WALDEMAR OF DENMARK.
The Danish cruiser Valkyrien arrived on the morning of the 23rd inst., and anchored near the Centurion, exchanging salutes. The Danish man- of-war flag is rarely seen in eastern waters, but Valkyrien onaccount of Prince Waldemar of more interest was attached to the arrival of the
Far Eastern ports. The Prince has arrived from Denmark beingon board, who is on a cruise to Saigon where many festivities have been held in bis honour, including races, balls, dinners, reviews, form of entertainment that could be devised by torchlight and Chinese processions in fact every
our hospitable French neighbours.
entertain the Prince in Hongkong, as he will No special arrangements have been made to only be bere eight days and will remain on board the ship he commands.
His Royal Highness called upon the Gover- nor during the afternoon, and later on Viscount Suirdale. His Excellency's A.D.C., returned the visit, His Excellency having been advised to remain in doors by his medical attendant on account of his indisposition.
The Valkyrien, is a cruiser of 2,990 tons. 5,300 horse power, built at Copenhagen in 1887, with armoured deck, carries 2 8.2 in. (Krupp), 6 6.9in., 4 q.f., 10 macbins gans, with 5 torpedo tubes. Speed 17 knots.
THE FORTHCOMING RACES.
SALE OF BOOTH BITEB-GREAT DECREASE IN
THE PRICES.
Yesterday Messrs. Hughes and Hough of- fered for sale by auction the lots numbered i to 19 for the erection of booths and mat-sheds on the Government ground adjoining the Racecourse, north of the grand stand enolo-
sure.
There was a good attendance, but the prices were o ́nsiderably below those of previous years, Heretofore quit a number of the lots have blers and the booths erected thereon have been been taken up by Chinese professional ›gam- used solely for the playing of fantan and other Chinese games of chance. This year booths used solely for this purpose will not be allowed; hence the reduction in the takings. The whole of the lots only fetched $945, against $10,390 last year and $1,985 in 1898.
HIG.M. cruiser Irene arrived at Foochow on the 8th instant.
No case of plague has been reported in Kobé for a considerable time, says the Kobe Herald of the 12th inst, but dead rats are still being discovered at several quarters. Those found at the Minatogawa Common school and the Ken gaol a short while ago were discovered to be infected by plague, and the former was closed for fire days while the latter was thoroughly
disinfected.
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