February 6, 1903.]
ат
of from 80 to 100 feet. I
not blind in one eye.
On the night of the robbery I went to bed at nine o'clock. When disturbed, I sat up in bed inside a mosquito curtain. The street door was first banged, and immediately afterwards I heard shots. The door was banged in and a lot of people entered. I was afraid, and hid myself at the end of the bed. My wife was also frightened and covered her head with the quilt. Two of the robbers came up to me and bore me to the ground. There were eight or ten men altogether, but I could not clearly see who had revolvers. There was a great noise and confusion. I told them I had no money, and one of them struck me on the leg because I refused to say where it was. (Witness showed the Court a big scar on his shin.) The wound took about four months to heal While the firing continued, none of the neighbours came into my place. They were all afraid. There is one military official in the village. I do not know whether he has come to Hongkong. I went and reported the matter to the village elders first thing on the day after the occurrence. I then took a petition, drawn up by the elders, to the Sun Tak Magistrate. He came to my house. While he was there a constable found two bullets. I did not search for them before because I was not at leisure.
The hearing of this case, in which Leung Tak, alias Ta Fa Min, was charged with murder and armed robbery within the jurisdiction of China, was continued before Mr. H. H. J. Gompertz at the Police Court on the 1st inst Mr. H. E. Pollock, K.C., instructed by Mr. R. A. Harding, applied on behalf of the Chinese Government for the extradition of the prisoner. Mr. John Hastings appeared for the
defence.
Su Chak Man was further cross-examined by Mr. Hastings-The body of the maidservant who was killed on the 2nd October was buried on the 4th October on a hill near Pak Kong. I went to the grave when she was buried.
9 p.m.
room.
man
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
robbery a Chinese official called at my house to investigate. This was on the 4th October. The other maidservant died a month after the robbery.
Cross-examined by Mr. Hastings-My brother does not sell lottery tickets, neither does he collect money for lotteries. He does not run a gambling establishment. When the official came to my house he found two bullets. He did not take them away. I did not think it was important that I should bring the bullets here with me. I did not go to the maidservant's funeral. I am frightened of dead bodies. My wife was in bed with me when the robbers came. When I hid underneath the bed she got under the blanket. I never saw the prisoner before the night of the robbery.
John William Hanson, Chief Detective-In. spector, deposed:-I was in the charge-room at the Central Station when the prisoner was brought in.
"
The warrant gave his name as Leung Chan, alias Ta Fa Min. When asked his name the prisoner said, "I am Leung Tak." I said "Your surname is Leung; you say your name is Tak and not 'Chan.""" I then said "You are Ta Fa Min." He replied." They call me so." I was present when Soo Tak Man picked out the prisoner from sixteen others on the gaol com- pound. This was in the presence of the Captain Superintendent, who inade the arrangements. It Was on 14th January. The identification by each of the witnesse; was separate. There could be no communication between the two witnesses prior to the identification by each of the witnesses.
Cross-examined by Mr. Hastings:-Defend-
row picked out from a of sixteen remand prisoners. I do not think any of the Chinese detectives were present at the identifica- tion. I do not know that some of them have a considerable interest in this case.
ant
WAS
ST. JOHN'S CATHEDRAL.
The annual general meeting of seatholders and subscribers of the Cathedral was held in St. Paul's College on the 31st January. There were present:His Lordship the Rt. Rev. Bishop Hoare (Chairman), Hon. Capt. Barnes- Lawrence, R.N., Revs. F. Johnson and W. J. Southam, Major Pritchard, Drs. Atkinson and Clark, Messrs. J: Whittall, J. Bryer, G. Piercey, H. W. Slade, J. M. Beck, J. H. Edwards, W. Armstrong, W. J. Pottenden, A. G. Ward, and Mesdames Hoare and Barnes-Lawrence,
MINUTES.
The minutes of the last annual meeting were read and confirmed.
ACCOUNTS.
The accounts of the Hon. Treasurer, Mr. J. Whittall, were submitted to the meeting for approval.
The TREASURER stated that while donations and subscriptions had fallen off a little, the amount of offertories had increased. The whole account showed a slight decrease in general expenditure. He had to emphasise the fact that far the greater part of the credit balance had been absorbed in paying the re- mainder of the charge on the organ.
Su Yee Man declared :-I am a brother of the last witness, and live at the same house with him. On the night of the robbery, my brother two of his children, his wife, my wife, and two maidservants were sleeping in the house. The maidservants were sleeping in a room near the street. Anybody entering the house from the front would first come into their room. On the evening of the robbery I went to bed at About 11 p.m. I heard a lot of people coming in by the street door. A hammering noise woke me up. I then heard two shots after which I heard a hammering at the parlour door. This door is between the parlour and the yard. When I heard this hammering I The got up and hid myself under the bed. parlour door was bolted. It was broken in.
One Some people entered my holding a light dragged me from under the bed. I then saw seven or eight men in the room. They were armed with knives and revolvers. One came up and searched me. Others broke open three boxes in the room. The man who searched me took a bangle off my wrist. Alto- gether the robbers took property of mine worth about $380. I afterwards heard a noise like the firing of crackers in the street, and HIS LORDSHIP THE BISHOP thought they one of the robbers said "Sung." They had every reason to be thankful for the condition then made off dragging me with them. of the accounts. The total amount received I would not walk, so the prisoner pointed from pew rents was $3,693, a little less than a revolver at me. He said 'You'd better last year. The amount received by donations walk; if not, I will shoot you
Three was about $400 less. He accounted for this men then dragged me out of the gate into the by the senior people being away, They street by force. They did not take me very were the largest subscribers, and when they far. There were about thirty men at the place retired, as seniors do, they took their larger to which they dragged me. The two men who donations with them. All ought to remember dragged me out then said they would let me go. that when seniors retire the juniors in their turn become senior, and might be increasing their donations as they rise in seniority, position and pay. The chief cause for congratulation was with regard to the collection, which had increased this year by $550. This is a very marked increase if we consider that the increase since a few years ago is over $2,000 in the ordinary collections made at the services. His Lordship concluded by expressing his thanks to the choir and organist who had given a great deal of time and trouble to the musical" part of the Church services.
C
This remark was addressed to the other rob- bers. One of them said, No. Take him back.'
ET
Pris ner then came up and asked what was the matter. He said to me :-* I will let you go; con-ider yourself lucky." The robbers then decamped and I went home. When I entered the door, I saw the maidservant lying on the floor. She was then dead. I did not see a wound on her at the time. On entering the pa: lour I saw my brother. He had a mark on his leg. I am quite sure I saw prisoner at the house that evening. He is the man who let me go and pointed at me with a revolver, I picked him out from a number of others inside the gaol here. Nobody described him to me beforehand. After the
-
Mr. H. W. SLADE moved that the accounts be adopted.
Mr. W. ARMSTRONG seconded the motion, which was agreed to.
83
BONUS TO MR. A. G. WARD. HIS LORDSHIP stated that Mr. Ward, was about to leave them, having had another offer, which he thought would suit him better, in Shanghai.. He felt sure that all present would wish Mr. Ward God-speed and prosperity in his new sphere, while expressing their regret at losing him. Mr. Chapman, of Messrs Linstead and Davis, had promised to do the organist's work for six months. The Church body proposed that a bonus of $500 be given Mr. Ward on his retirement in recogni- tion of his services, during the years he has acted as organist.
Mr. J. WHITTALL proposed that a bonus as aforesaid be given to the retiring organist.
Mr. W. ARMSTRONG seconded the proposi tion, which was agreed to.
1
NEW ORGANist's ageɛɛMENT. Mr. J. M. B¤ck moved that this matter be left in the hands of the Church Body.
Mr. G. PIERCEY seconded the motion, which was carried.
TEMPORARY ORGANIST.
Rev. F. T. JOHNSON moved, and Mr. H. SLADE seconded, that Mr. Chapman be appointed temporary organist.
The motion was carried.
APPOINTMENT OF NEW VERGER.
Rev. F. T. JOHNSON, in proposing that the appointment of Mr. Vanstone as verger be rati- fied, stated that Mr. White, who has been the verger for the last ten years, has had to retire because of promotion in the Govern- ment service. The matter was left in his hands by the Church Body and he appointed temporarily Mr. Vanstone, who is also caretaker of the Masonic Hall, Zetland Street. He told Mr. Vanstone that his appointment was entirely subject to the approval of this meeting.
Dr CLARK seconded the motion, which was agreed to.
RESOLUTION RE ASSISTANT CHAPLAIN, HIS LORDSHIP stated that the Colonial
the Church Council suggested
engage. ment of an assistant chaplain to assist in the Cathedral and take charge of the Kowloon Church. This was considered the best way of starting the work in Kowloon.
Church The Kowloon
scheme originated in no small degree from Naval services now held in the Torpedo depôt at Kow. loon. The present Naval Chaplain said he would certainly be willing to carry on the evening services in the new church. The newly appointed Naval chaplain also expressed his willingness to do so, subject to the approval of the Naval authorities. The new chaplain would thus be free to help in the Cathedral every Sunday
and evening, for he would also be free early celebra- the morning. The tions in
Kowloon district should ba considered க special parochial charge of the new chaplain, and thus the charge would be taken off the shoulders of the present Cathedral chaplain. The Cathedral
man
Church Body would contribute $2,000 per month in consideration of the Chaplain's services, the remainder to be paid by the Kowloon Church. The post ought to be held by a married man, and in order to
married enable a
to hold it, he suggested $4,000 as a suitable income. This arrangement to last three years unless the Kow- loon Church Committee undertake before that time to pay the cost of their own chaplain. The passage from England to Hongkong wil be paid by the Cathedral Church Body, and the passage home by the Kowloon Church Committee, The questi n as to how far the Cathedral was called upon to help in this way was a very im portant one. He thought they were called upon was the mother to do so as the Cathedral church of the Colony, and it was the duty of a Besides, they mother to help her children. would have the services of Kowloon's Chap. lain. The Church
discussed Body had and agreed to this resolution, and now they wanted it put before the meeting in order that it might be fully, fairly and freely discussed.
Mr. SLADE moved that the "resolution be
adopted.
Major PRITCHARD seconded the motion. Rev. W. J. SOUTHAM: I wish to ask if the chaplain coming out will be altogether in charge of the Kowloon Church? Will there be any danger of a conflict between the coming out and a Naval Chaplain P
!