October 25, 1902.]
of which lasted till after four o'clock, counsel addressed the jury.
His Lordship, in summing up, said that this case was important, because in the first place these murderous attacks by gangs of coalies upon persons who had incurred their displeas ure in some way or other must be checked in the Colony. They had been of frequent occur- rence about such places as Quarry Bay, where large numbers of coolies were employed; and these coolies must be taught that they could not take the law into their own hands.
It was very important that a brutal murder like this should not go unpunished if they could find out who did it. At the same time, the jury must not let their anxiety to put a stop to these brutal murders do an justice to the prisoners, and convict them without full evidence against them. In this case there was
no intermediate course; the per- sons who killed the deceased were murderers and not persons guilty of manslaughter. His Lordship, in conclusion, reminded the jury that in a murder case the verdict must be unanimous; if they did not agree the case must be tried again.
The jury retired at five minutes to six o'clock to consider their verdict,jand returned at 6.20. The foreman stated that the jury had unaui- mously found the prisoners guilty of murder.
The prisoners were asked if they had anything to say why the Court should not pass sentence
upon them.
|
|
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
engaged the boat. They got on the boat, which thereupon left to go across to Tokwowau, When near that place the coolies asked the owner of the cargo-boat to go below. He refused to do so and they attempted to force him. It appeared that he was a man of courage and re- sisted strenuously, with the result that he was violently set upon, wounded in the face with a chopper, and finally overpowerd. So also were his wife and his foki. The coolies, of whom the prisoners were three, then ransacked the boat and stole over $200 in money and some other property with which they made off on shore The prisoners were afterwards identified, and arrested by the police.
Evidence was afterwards taken.
The jury found the prisoners guilty as libelled, His Lordship sentenced Man Chau to seven years' hard labour and to receive a whipping of 20 strokes; and also to other three years hard labour for receiving stolen goods of which offence he had been a'ready convicted. The second prisoner, Chung Yun, was sentenced to seven years hard labour with 20 strokes, Yeung Shau, the third prisoner, got seven years hard labour with 20 strokes; also other three years hard labour for an armed robbery of which he had been convicted earlier in the ses- sions. Man Cheung, who on Monday had been found guilty of robbery with violence in cou- nection with the s me gang, was sentenced to five years hard labour and to receive 20 strokes, Thursday, 23rd October.
IN CRIMINAL JURISDICTION.
(CHIEF JUSTICE).
Li Ut protested that he had nothing what- ever to do with the matter and knew nothing at all about it. He engaged Wong Kin on 16th August as a foki and knew there had been a quarrel between him and Li Kisbont ap umbrella, BEFORE HIS HONOUR_W. MEIGH GOODMAN but was not aware of the nature of that quarrel.
Wong Kiu stated that he knew nothing about the assault. Certainly the deceased had been assaulted, but not by him; he remained afloat and was not on shore at all. Li Ki was a friend of his. The evidence given against them was false.
Yau Kiu also said that he knew nothing about this matter and tha
that the charge against
them was false.
His Lordship, having put on
the black cap, addressed the prisoners. He said Li Ut, Wong Kiu, Yau Kiu, the jury, after & very careful investigation. have found you by an unanimous verdict guilty of
- -
wilful murder. There can be no doubt that the
deceased man was most cruelly put to death, and that you were there and took part the jury have found by an unanimous verdict. It only remains to me to pass the sentence which the law imposes for wilful mur-lor, and that sentencs upon each of you is that you be taken hence to th place from whence you came and thence to the place of execution, and that you be there hanged by the neck until you be dead, and that your body be buried in such place as His Excellency the Governor shall order. And may the Lord have mercy upon your souls!
The condemned men, who evinced emotion at the sentence which had been passed upon them, were then removed from the Court to the prison, nuder escort,
Wednesday, 22nd October.
IN ORIGINAL JURISDICTION.
BEFORE HIS HONOUR W. MEIGH GOODMAN (Chief Justice),
ARMED ROBBERY.
no
Man Chuu, Chung Yau and Yeung Shan were brought up again.
The following jury was empanelled:-Messrs. H. A. Siebs, E. J. Figueiredo, C. M. H. Ahrendt, R. G. Heckford, A. G. I. Somerville, E. H. Summers and A. H. Abbass.
The Attorney-General (Hon, Sir Henry S. Berkeley, who appeared for the Crown, instructed by Mr. H. L. Deunys, Acting Crown Solicitor, said in his opening statement that on 5th September last, while cargo-boat No. 1,508 was lying off the Praya at Wanchai, a man came and engaged the boat to go to Tokwowan, near Kowloon City, for the purpose, as he said, of removing some furni- ture. Terms were agreed upon, and the man went away saying he would send his coolies. Shortly afterwards five coolies came and stated that they had been sent by the man who
ARMED ROBBERY.
Yuen Leung aud Lee On were charged with having on 16th September committed robbery with violence, and the second prisoner was further charged with having received certain articles which were stolen upon that occasion.
The pleaded not guilty.
The Attorney-General (Hon. Sir Heury S. Berkeley) appeared for the rown, instructed by Mr. H. L. Denuys, Acting Crown Solicitor; and the first accused was defended by Mr. EH. Sharp, K.C., barrister-at-law, instructed by Mr. G. K. H. Brutton, solicitor.
{
THE VOLUNTEER CAMP,
327
The annual instruction camp of the Hong- kong Volunteer Corps at Stonecutters' Island broke up on the 20th inst., after ten days' dura- tion. On the 18th inst. the Garrison Artillery and Engineer units were inspected respectively by Lieut.-Colonel Johnson, commanding Royal Artillery, and Major Baker Brown,commanding Engineers, with in each case very satisfactory results. After the inspectiou Lieat.-Colousl Johnson expressed his appreciation of the display made by the Volunteers, and said that, consider- ing the short time they had been on the guns, their work was in many respects wonderful for its excellence. It would afford him great pleasure indeed, be said, to report in these terms
to Colonel Brown.
Shortly after eleven o'clock on Saturday night an alarm bugle call brought the Volunteers at the double to the parad». ground, where they formed np in the clothes they were wearing when the call blared ont. Conjectures were of course rife as to the reason for the turn-out, and whilst some held that it was an outbreak of fire others. again were just as positive that a night attack was meditated. Neither guess Was correct, however, for Commandant Pritchard explained that he simply wished to tell them how pleased he too was with the result of the afternoon's inspection. He also commented favourably on the strength of the present parade, considering the circumstances under which it was held.
On Sunday morning, after church service, which was conducted by the Rev. E J. Hardy, | Chaplain to the Forces, the general in- spection was made by Colonal Brown, Senior Officer Commanding the Troops, who, at its terminatin, had the same optimistic expresions to make as had been passed on the previous day. Colonel Brown, who was accompanied by Major Depuy, D.A.A.G., commented on the favourable report concerning the Corps that had been made to him by Colonel Johnson, and trusted that the good start thus made would be followed up zealously and improved upon in time to the farthest possible limit." There was just one thing he wished to point out: half of the Corps, he had been informed by Commandant Pri chard, were absent, and their absence had been explained by the fact that they did not like the The following jury was empanelled-Messrs. remodelling of the Corps and the converting of R. Aitken, C. J. T. Lea, A. G. I. Somerville,it into a Garrison Artillery force. In that con- E. J. Feigueiredo, J. P. Cottam, C. M. H. nection, went on Colonel Brown, he desired to Ahrendt, and R. C. Hurley.
say that their greatest possibilities of u-efulness lay in their existence as Garrison Artillery (for reasous which he detailed), and that being so he desired very greatly to see descence of enthusiasm amongst those who were not favourably disposed towards the important step that had been taken. When the time came, if it ever should come, concluded Colonel Brown, he wished to see the Hongkong Volunteer Corps Ready, aye ready."
The Attorney-General, in his opening stato. ment, said that the prisoners were charged with having on the morning of the day in question entered the second floor of a house in the Kau Yu Fong aud committed armed robbery; the second prisoner was also charged with having received goods that were then stolen. At the time mentioned the first prisoner entered the house and asked if the tenant was at home, The wife of the calling him by his name. occupant replied that he was not at home, whereupon the man rushed upon her and placed his hand over her mouth. Two other men, including the second defendant, as she said, then entered, and between the three of them they did violence to the woman. threatened her with a chopper, and stole certain property, among which
were her three finger-rings. These rings were subsequently found by the police when making enquiry among the pawn- shops in the city. In respect of the first prisoner, the woman who was assaulted would identify him beyond all question. In respect of the second prisoner there was the additional evidence of the pawn-shop keeper, who would tell the jury that this prisoner was the man who pawned the rings. lodged with the police, the accused were after- wards arrested.
From information
a recru
This completed the inspection on the parade- ground, and immediately afterwar s the Officer Commanding made a tour of the tents, the condition of which he also commented upon favourably.
In the afternoon many visitors came over to the camp, where the baud of the 33rd Burma's played at intervals. There were no organised ports, contrary to precedent, but as couple of tugs-of-war provided a strong element of interest, the performance of the old Field Battery men against a team hopelessly overmatching them in size and weight evoking applause. Field Battery lost, but only from the cause indicated; in o her respects they were the
better team.
The
Previous to the breaking-up of the camp, the followingxtract from the Corps Orders of the day was read: The Commandant desires it to be known that he is very pleased with the work done during the camp both by the Artil- The jury found both accused not guilty, the|lery and the Engineer units. He hopes that second by a majority.
Evidence was then taken.
The Russian Acting Minister to Seoul having advised the Corean Government that Mr. Waeber, Russian Envoy to the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Corean Emperor, is shortly expected in Seoul, it is reported that the Coreau Government is at loss to know what to do with the Envoy, as the celebration has been postponed.
those who have proved themselves efficient during this period will continue to keep up their drills regularly until the end of the drill season, and that they will use their infinence to induce other members of the Corps to make themselves efficient. The Officer Commanding the Troops expressed his great satisfaction to-day (Sunday) at the smart appearance of the Corps, and more especially at the very neat and uniform manner in which the tents were kept.