356
29th October.
BEFORE MR. F. A. HAZELAND.
ONLY TWO DOLLARS AND A HALF.
George Smith, a seaman, was charged with having on the 27th ult., in the Sailors Home, conducted himself in a drunken and disorderly manner. He pleaded guilty, and explained that on the 27th ult. he got some money and leave to go ashore. This being his first time off the ship in four months, he started to celebrate the occasion, with the result that he got drunk. Not wishing to go aboard in this condition, he decided to put up for the night in the Sailors" Home On going there, however, he was re- fused admissal. Smith wanted an explanation of this refusal, but he went the wrong way about it, and was finally accommodated with lodgings by the polica.
Magistrate -I must punish you, and fine you three dollars.
Defendant-I have only two dollars and sixty cents your honour, and if—
Magistrate-Well, look here, I'll fine you two
dollars and a half.
Defendant Thank you. sir.
EUROPEANS IN TROUBLE, Another seaman named John Robertson was charged with assaulting Indian constable 546 on the 28th ult. whilst in the execution of his duty, The assault was committed on the wharf at Kowloon.
D
Robertson pleaded guilty. He had had a drop of beer, and knew nothing of what had taken place.
Five dollars or 14 days.
A nervous little man name Kelly, who stood twisting his hat while the charge was being read, said "Yes, sir," when asked if he was a vagrant. He was sent to the house of detention.
UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF FIREARMS.
Fong Shing Yan, on the information of P.C. J. Hodgson, was called to answer a charge of unlawfully having in his possession, on board his junk on the 28th ult., one revolver and one sword, without holding a license for same.
From the evidence it appeared that the police boarded the junk in Victoria Harbour and asked He defendant what he had on his clearance replied that he had fifteen swords and fifteen breech-loaders. On an examination being made, this was found to be correct, but a further search revealed the sword and revolver already men- tioned, of which nothing was said in the clear- ance papers. Both of the articles were hidden. The defence was that some of the sailors must have secreted the articles unknown to defendant; who professed to have no knowledge whatever regarding them.
His Honour passad sentence of $100 fine or one month's hard labour, the articles to be for- feited to the Crown.
DISORDERLY FRENCH SAILORS.
Three blue-jackets from the French cruiser Chasseloup Laubat were charged with creating a disturbance in Queen's Road East on the 27th últ. They had been turned out of the Globe Hotel in consequence of their being dis. orderly and on getting into the public street they beau to wrangle with one. another and then to chase the Chinese. While thus engaged, two European constables appeared on the scene and they promptly took the men into custody. They were each fined $5 or 14 days. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF PERCUSSION CAPS. Chung Li, a lamp maker, was charged with having been found in unlawful possession of thirty boxs of percussion caps, he having no permit for same. The percussion caps were found in a bandolier carried over his shoulder, aud also hidden amongst his clothing.
P.C. Tarrett stated in evidence that he found prisoner at seven o'clock on the 29th ult. on board the launch Yan Hung, bound for Sam
Chun,
Defendant, who pleaded not guilty, said he was asked to take the percussion caps by & friend. The magistrate, however, did not ac- cept this defence, and fined prisoner $250 or three months' imprisonment.
30th October.
BEFORE MR. F. A. HAZELAND.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
[November 3, 1900.
charged with stealing a watch valued at $16 | opium without a valid certificate, on the 11th from Ho Yat, ship's engineer.
October, 1900, at Victoria in this Colony,
Complainant stated that he came down to Hongkong from Canton on Monday afternoon by the Hankow, and had only walked about eighty yards from the wharf when defendant jostled him and snatched his watch. Complainant caught him, and gave him in charge. He was quite
sure defendant was the man.
Prisoner, who pleaded not guilty, was sen- tenced to six weeks hard labour, his Worship re- marking that he was evidently one of a gang who waylaid people in the streets.
AN UNBUSINESSLIKE TRADESMAN.
|
The evidence against the first defendant was to the effect that the opium, the subject matter of the charge, was found on the 11th instant at 6.30 p.m. in a basket under a bed on the first floor of Nos. 46 and 48, Queen's Road West, the place of business of the defendants. At the time of the seizure the first defendant was actually in the room.
44
The evidence against the second defendant was that of a free and voluntary confession of his guilt, and which was made on the 15th instant, four days after the seizure. The said Ho Yee is a lamp-maker, and works at 79, confession was proved to my satisfaction by Hollywood Road. Ho Yee's business ideas are 'heung Sing Tsai, the accountant of the two On peculiar, so peculiar. in fact, that they landed defendants. His evidence is as follows:-
the 15th inst. first defendant said second defend- him in the police court. The facts of the case are as follows. On 17th August last. Chengant had got him into trouble. Wing Kai, second Mung Fong, one of the interpreters at the defendant, said- We are partners, and if we are fined or if there are any expenses incurred Magistracy, sent his servant to the defendant
I (Wing Kai) will pay for it and will not g.t to have a lamp repaired. The article was worth
Wing Kai suid-'Consult five dollars and a half. When a reasonable you into trouble.'
the Company (Opium Farmer and make it period had elapsed, complainant seut for the lamp. but was informed that the repairs had lighter. Chuk U, first defendant, said—The not been made. Further applications always opium is Wing Kai's. Wing Kai said· I pay the fine.' met with the same reply, and, finally becoming won't get you into trouble. I will suspicious. complainant taxed defendant with having disposed of the lamp. This the latter admitted, both to the complainant and to the constable who was called to arrest him. brought to the charge-room, however, he appear od to have thought better or worse-of it, and denied having sold the lamp.
When
He was sentenced to three week's hard la-
bour.
DISORDERLY CONDUCT.
Sidney Culverhouse, one of the crew on the British transport steamer St. Andrew, suffered He Festerday from a lapse of good mauners. was charged with disorderly on Pedder's Wharf at 7 p.m, and admitted the fact.
His Worship fined the accused $3.
AN UNLIKELY STORY.
Chan Choi Fin accused a coolie of stealing his box - an accusation that the latter success- fully denied.
Chan Choi Fin said he was tally-man on the steamer Loyal. The other day he came ashore, and on returning found his box gone. Enquiry elicited the information that a stranger had come aboard during his absence and taken the box away. Now comes the peculiar part of Chan Choi Fin's story. He stated that he immediately went ashore and inspected every house in the westeru district in the quest for the missing box, which he ultimately found nuderneath the bed in defen 'ant's room. Com- plainant at once gave information to the police and had defendant and the box conveyed to No. 7 Police Station.
In answer to a question from the bench, wit- ness stated that he did not know defendant. and had never been shipmate with him.
|
Defendant's story was to the effect that com- plainant owed him some money-nearly $30 – which he had borrowed when they were ship- mates together. Being out of employment and reading the money, he went to complainant and asked him for it. Complainant said he had no money, but that defendant could take his box as surely for payment of the debt on condi- tion that he returned it when the account was squared. Defendant accordingly took away the box, but was followed by complainant, who watch- ed where he put it, and then reported the matter to the police and had defendant arrested.
The box, when opened at the Police Station, was found to contain clothing and about $18 in money.
His Worship, addressing complainant, said he did not believe a word of his story. It was preposterous to say that he had searche ? ull the houses in the western district for his property, and just by accident found it underneath the The story was al- bed in defendant's room. together too absurd, and ho accordingly dis- charged the defendant, whose story he believed
to be true.
UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF PREPARED OPIUM. Mr. Hazeland gave his decision in the case against Chuk U and Wong Kai, the licensed dross farmers, as follows:-
The defendants who are the licensed dross farmers are charged under "The Prepared Opium Ordinance, 1891" for that they unlawfully Fong Hong, an unemployed coolie, was did have in their possession 210 taels of prepared
WATCH-SNATCHING.
|
Apart from the above confession, which find as a fact, I am of opinion that although the defendant was not in manual possession at the time of the seizure, he was in constructive possession of the opium. It has been held that the doctrine of constructive possession applies in criminal as well as in civil cases (Reg. v. Rogers 37. L.J.M.C. 83.)
I therefore convict the defendants. The case is to my mind a very serious one, owing to the relation which exists between the defendants and the opium farmer, who is the prosecutor in this case.
I fine each of the defendants the sum of $500, in default of which they will be imprisoned and kept to hard labour for three mouths.
Mr. Gedge appeared for the prosecution, Mr. Almada for the first defendaut, and Mr. Thomson for the second defendant.
Wednesday, 31st October.
BEFORE MR. F. A. HAZELAND,
SETTING FIRE TO A RAT.
For refined cruelty, two Chinamen placed in the dook yesterday morning would be hard to beat. They were charged with having in Gage street late on Tuesday night wantonly and cruelly ill-treated a caged rat by saturating it with keroseno oil and setting it alight.
Lance-Sergeant Kent stated that his atten- tion was attracted by a crowd in Gage Street on Tuesday night at about ten o'clock, and on going to investigato, he saw the two prisoners poking the animal, which was all ablaze, with sticks. The rat was burned to a cinder.
The accused pleaded not guilty, alleging that it was their cook who set the rat alight.
His Worship, in finding the charge proved, described the culprits as being worse than fiends. It was a glaring case of heartless cruelty to animals, and the sentence would be $25 fine each,
or one month's hard labour.
The Chinamen, it may be added, reside at the Wesleyan Mission School in Gago Street.
with
RUSHING PASSENGERS.
were charged Ten chair coolies
· rushing" passengers at the Hongkong Hotel This is a form of on Tuesday afternoon. offence that is becoming altogether too com- mon, and it is gratifying to note the vigorous steps the police are taking to suppress the
nuisance.
All of the accused pleaded not guilty. They were waiting for their masters, they said.
Indian Constable 509 submitted evidence that convicted them, and they were fined $3 cach.
ASSAULTING A MAN WITH A PORK HOOK.
Kwan Sing, who keeps a pork stall at the market, had a dispute regarding the genuine- ness of a twenty cent piece with Wong A Hye on Tuesday morning, and settled the argument —to his own satisfaction at least-by sticking a pork hook in Wong's eye.
Lance-Sergeant Garrod said he was on duty outside the market, when complainant ran up to him and declared that he had been assaulted.
Magistrate-What state was he in ? Witness-He was bleeding right down the face and hands, your worship.