។
December 17, 1904.]
Kwok Sui: The last witness is my father He had a sampan.
Six of us lived on the | sampan. Five of us were on board on the night of the 27th November last. We were near Pottinger Street Wharf. My father was ashore, He was with three " Englishmen" and hailed the boat. The men said they wanted to go to the China. They told my father they did not want him to go. When we got a good distance out one of the men pushed my sister. Another hit me and slashed me with an open knife. [Witness showed his leg, which Was cut above the ankle.] I was then pushed overboard.. I called out Save life and swa.m another sampan.
I found my father at the wharf and went with him to the Central Station and made a report. I identified the third defendant Nason. He was the man who pressed
me
to
down in the boat. When I was thrown overboard my mother and sister were still on board.
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
identified there by Kwok Tai Chan as that of his child.
P. C. No. 88 said: I was on duty in the harbour on the 2nd instant at 11 a.m. I found the body of a Chinese woman about 10 yards west of Kellet's Island. She was naked. I took the body to Tsim Sha Tsui Police Station.
In reply to Nason: Kellet's Island is off Wanchai near Jardine's Sugar Works.
Inspector Withers: On the 2nd instant 1 received a message on the telephone that a naked Chinese female had been found in the harbour. I took the first and second witnesses to the Police Station at Tsim Sha Tsui and
they identified her as Chan Yee, wife of Kwok Tai Chan.
By Mr. Badeley: I was on duty in the charge room on the 27th ultimo when Kwok Sui made a report to me. His hair was wet and he carried in his hand wet clothes.
In reply to Nason: My legs were tied up, but I freed myself. I am sure that one of the
Englishmen pulled up the sail.
I
was
I
I
By His Worship: I call the three defendauts all Englishmen.
Kwok Chi said: I am the daughter of Kwok Tai Chan I live on my father's sampan. Three Englishmen got on board in the daytime. One of them went forward and put up the sail. When we were a long way from the shore I was looked in the cabin. One of the defen- dants hit me. I was then knocked down the hold and became insensible. I got up again next morning and found the sampan was on a rock. I lifted the hatch off and found that only my little brother Sai Lo and myself were in the boat. While I was in the hold I heard
my
brother cry out "Save life." After being taken care of by some people who took me from the sampan, I was brought back to Hongkong.
The hearing continues.
STATEMENTS BY THE PRISONERS.
Charles Smith, Erik Hogman and William Nason again appeared before Mr. H. H. J. Gompertz at the Police Court on the 14th inst. to answer the charge of murdering the Chinese boatwoman, Chan Yee, and th girl, Kwok Tit, and with atte upting to murder the boy Kwok Sui, in the waters of this Colony on the 27th November last, Mr. F. J. Badeley, Captain Superintendent of Police, prosecuted.
The next witness called was Wong Luk, who said: I am a fisherman at Sham Sui Kok in the New Territory. On the afternoon of the 1st instant I was in my boat. Three "English- came and asked for tobacco for a smoke, one of them holding cigarette paper. I gave them some tobacco. One of them then made
men
邮警
"
1
I
a motion showing that they wanted food. supplied them, but they did not eat. One of them produced a 20 cent piece, and by signs they asked me to carry them. I refused, and the three went off with my boat. I then went to see Chow Fat, the owner of the boat, and we got into another boat with a third man and chased them. I asked the Englishmen to exchange boats. They did, and I returned alone, the other two men who came with me going with the Englishmen." I went into the gaol here on the 4th inst. and identified the first and second defendants (Smith and Hog man). They were two of the three men who came and took my boat.
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P. S. No. 8 said: On the 4th instant
on the
foreshore at Chow Kwong. 88W the three defendants pass
along. got assistance from a passing police launch and arrested them. After searching them I handed them over to Inspector Kerr at Ping Shan station.
John William Hanson, Chief Detective In- spector, gave evidence as to the identification of the defendants by witnesses, from amongst other men arranged in a line on the Police compound. The men were three times rearcangel, and several of the witnesses picked the defendants out. Others picked the wrong men. On the 5th December three charges were preferred against each of the three defendants at the. Central Station. He cautioned the first and third defendants, Smith and Nason, in the usual form, before they made any statement. He did likewise with the second defendant, Hogman, through a Swedish interpreter. He then typed the following statements which they made, and read each man's statement over to him, before allowing him to sign it:
Charles Smith, on the charge of murdering Chan Yee said: I deny that I went on any boat in the harbour on the night of the 27th November, 1904. I left Kowloon on the afternoon of Friday, the 25th November, to walk to Canton, accompanied by two men, Hogman and Nason. I had met them that Friday afternoon at Kow- loon. I had seen them in the streets in this
We
town before, but had not spoken to them. walked along the beach past several houses, and on the following day crossed in a boat to an island where there are some Sugar Works. I wish to make the same statement in answer to the charge of having killed Kwok Tit, also in answer to the charge of the attempted murder of Kwok Sui.
William Nason, in answer to the first charge, said: On Sunday, the 25th November last, Smith and myself went for a bathe in a stream Smith proposed that he and I should get hold of a boat, even going so far as hiring a sampan, and putting the crew ashore on the mainland, and then going to Singapore. We walked together as far as the Hongkong Hotel, then parted. I walked round till about 5 p.m., when I met Smith at the Sailors' and Soldiers' Home. Coming back along Queen's Road we met Hog- man near the Stag Hotel. We told him of our proposal, and Hogman said he would join us. Smith and I then left Hogman and went to supper. Later on we all met and walked down to the Standard Oil Company's Works, and a ittle beyond. We there looked round for a
In reply to Nason: I do not know the difference between an. Englishman, a French-boat, but seeing that all had people aboard, gave man, or a German.
Chow Fat said: I am a fisherman at Lantao Island. On the afternoon of the 1st December, Wong Luk came and told me to chase the three "Englishmen." I got into a boat with Wong Luk and another and chase. We caught them up. They got into my boat and I took them to Castle Peak. They landed there.
gave
451
He resisted, and putting his foot under my chin, pushed me back. I took out a knife and attack- ed him, but could not manage him, although be seemed a little afraid. My struggle with him lasted about ten minutes, and about two minutes after I had drawn my knife. In our struggle we got to the side of the sampan, and as I let go he fell overboard. I then went off to see what Hogman and Smith were doing. I found Hogman holding the woman with his two hands over her mouth to prevent her calling out. I put my handkerchief in the woman's mouth, and then went forward to put out the light, which I did by smashing the glass. Just as I put out the light I heard a splash, and heard Hogman say, "The woman has gone overboard" "Just then we got close to some steamer and put the boat to port. As an indication that we did not intend to kill anybody Smith put the girl down the middle hatch. The boat was making water and we bailed her out. When about five miles to leeward of an island the mast carried away. We rigged it up and then sailed to the island. We thought it was the main- land. We walked along for about an hour when we came to the top of a hill. Here we lay down. and went to sleep. We walked for several days on that island, and then getting into a boat and pulling away landed at a place where there is a Sugar Refinery, We walked round the beach, and put in another night in the open in s haystack. On the following day we were arrested.
In answer to the second charge of murdering Kwok Tit, Nason said: Smith told me soon after passing the island where the signal s'ation is that he had thrown one child over.
board and put one down the hatch. I never saw that child. I only go by what Smith told me. With regard to what happened on the boat. I refer to the statement I made on being accused of the murder of Chan Yee.
On the third charge of attempting to murder- the boy, Kwok Sui, Nason referred to his former statements.
to
over.
Erik Hogman, in answer to the charge of murdering Chan Yee,
said: It was our intention.
throw the men board that they might swim ashore. We then decided to put the woman ashore at the first place at which we called. Smith, Nason and my- self wanted to take charge, but as the boat people would not let us, there was nothing for us to do but to throw them overboard. I met Smith and Nas n on the 27th November last. They said Come, let us take a sampan and go to Singapore.” said "Yes." They then
{
went away to get something to eat, and I did likewise. They met me again at the Sailors' Home, and we went and tried to engage a sam- pan. We went to the Canton Steamers Wharf, but could not get one good enough. On going further along a Chinaman asked us if we wanted a bail We said we wanted to go to the American mail steamer China and agreed to give him 70 cents. To this he agreed. We startel off and the sail was hoisted. When leaving we sat in the aft part of the boat. We made it up between us that I was to tackle any male persons op board, and Smith was to tackle females. After getting out Smith said “You tackle the woman." I did not like to do it, but Smith told me a second time and said I was stronger. I agreed. Nason went forward and tackled the boy! I get hold of the woman and put my hands over her mouth to keep her quiet. Smith got hold of a child. He tried to keep her quiet, but could not succeed, so threw her overboard. Before throwing her overboard, Smith let her go to assist in keeping the woman quiet He hit the woman over the head with the tiller, which he pulled out of the rudder head. He struck the woman a second blow, and as the child began to cry out, he throw it overboard. At the same time I saw the boy jump overboard Nason then came up and he and I threw the woman overboard. Nason then took the helm and steered in the direction of Green Island, and then out to ses.
it up. We walked back to town and got into a sampan Dear the Yaumati Ferry Launch Wharf. After getting into it I saw five people in the boat, and as I reasoned then that we would have to kill somebody if we went off with that number, I told the boatman I wanted to go ashore again. The others followed. We walked along a little further and saw a sampan coming into the wharf. A man bargained with Dr. Hunter, medical officer in charge
us to take us off to the American mail boat of post-mortem examinations, deposed: ~I | China for 70 cents. I had offered him 60 cents examined the bodies of the two deceased which | bat he wanted 10 cents " Cumshaw." The man were identified in my presence. There were stayed ashore. A boy was pulling forward. no external marks of violence. The bodies When half way between Hongkong and the appeared to have been in the water about mainland, I crawled forward, leaving Smith and ȧ week. The cause of death was drowning.
Hogman aft. I said, "Ship over there, John!" P. C. No. 38 deposed: At 5.30 p.m. on the 3rd In doing so I was only putting in time for Smith instant I found the body of a child floating on and Hogman to bind those aft, who were to be the water near Kellet's Island. I conveyed the tied
The I heard the ory of the woman aft, and up. body to Tsim Sha Tsui Police Station. It was tried to catch the boy by the neck or the throat.
Hogman made the same statement in answer to the charge of murdering the girl Kwok Tit, and attempting to murder the boy, Kwok Sui,
Hearing continues.
ACCUSED COMMITTED.
three Europeans, Charles Smit, Erik Hogmann, and William Nason, again ap-