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and every warder had struck him. Defendant had struck him two or three times. He had complained to Mr. Craig about it. The work in gaol was very hard, but he could not complain at being kept at it because he was in prison.
Mr. Grist You've told us this is a frequent occurrence, this striking of prisoners by warders, What makes you remember this particular instance ?
Witness-Because in that quarter of an hour deceased was the only man struck.
Mr. Grist-How many men did you actually see struck that afternoon,
Witness-Several.
Lau Wai, another prisoner, remembered seeing deceased faint. On the previous day he was struck by the defendant while lifting shot. When he became unconscious the defendant called four men to carry him away.
Cross-examined-Witness was facing deceased
when he was struck, Others were struck on that
day, but they had since been released. Many prisoners were struck in gaol by all the warders. Witness had not been in a cell with the last witness, neither had he been in communication with him.
The gaol interpreter stated that he interpreted n the gaol hospital when the assistant Super intendent of Prisons took the statement of deceased.
Warder George Savage said he remembered deceased falling down in the lower yard on the morning of September 25th. At that time witness was in charge of the gang
in which decessed was working. He was carrying stone. Witness had him removed to the gaol hospital. When the prisoner fainted defendant had just appeared to relieve witness.
Cross-examined-Witness went on duty on the afternoon of Monday 21th at 1 p.m. and went off at 6 o'clock. He was in charge of prisoner from one o'clock until 4.30 p.m. During that time prisoner went on with his work and made no complaint. On the following morning witness again took charge of him at 7.55 a.m., and there then appeared to be nothing the matter with him. During the time he was on duty witness did not see deceased struck.
Re-examined-If deceased had fallen down, or had been struck during the time he was in the lower yard, witness must have known it.
Case adjourned.
The bearing of the charge of manslaughter preferred against George Street, a warder in Victoria Jail, was concluded before Mr. H. H. J. Gompertz at the Police Court on October 11th. Mr. F. B. L. Bowley, Crown Solicitor, pro- secuted, and Mr. E. J. Grist (of Messrs. Wilkinson and Gris!) appeared for defendant.
Warder W. J. Wilkinson was called for the defence. He said on the evening of Monday, 24th September, he was in immediate charge of all the prisoners. During the night he patrolled the prison, and if a prisoner had a complaint to make he had every opportunity of making it to witness. There was no complaint made on the night in question.
Cross-examined-Witness went on duty at 5.45 p.m. and came off at 5.30 a.m. During that period the prisoners were looked up in their cells. He did not go into each cell during the night, but if he heard a Loise he looked into the cell from which it came. He did not look into deceased's cell that night.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
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24th. Defendant also was there, and deceased was doing hard labour. Witness did not see anybody strike him.
Cross-examined--If a prisoner went wrong❘ while doing shot drill, the warder who saw his mistake would correct him. Deceased learned the drill very well. Wardere had no authority to strike a prisoner with their balons, and witness had never seen it done.
His Worship committed defendant for trial at the Criminal Sessions.
HONGKONG CORINTHIAN YACHT CLUB.
The annual meeting of the Hongkong Corinthian Yacht Club was held at the Club House on Oct. 8th. Dr. F. Clark (commodore)
was in the chair, and there were also present Messrs. E. M. Hazeland (vice commodore), W. Howell (treasurer), M. Melver, L. Guy, E. G. Jordan, F. P. Lenfesty, J. Logan, T. Blair, J. D. Melvin, F. Lammert, F. W. White, A. Mc irdy, 8. M. Thorne, M. A. Souza, E. Henderson, J. McCorquodale and Captain Casey.
The COMMODORE stated that the Club had reason to congratulate itself on a very successful season. The Championship was won by Hibernia, with Gael second. The commodore's Cup was won by Asthore, also the China Mail Cup, the Hibernia Cap and the Cup in the V.R.C. regatta, while the Nina won the Vice- Commodore's Cup. Asthore thus won four prizes during the season, and showed herself to be the best of the fleet. The gratitude of the Club was due to the several members who presented books and photographs for the a89 of members and the adornmen of the building. Mr. Reedie presented a lot of books, Mr. Howell a number of photographs, Mr. Gibson presented wood for the building and the landing stage, while Mr. Hazeland very generously did not inflict any architectural fees (applause). The membership now numbered 175, and for a young club this was a very fair record. The balance sheet showed the total receipts for the year to be $4,671.20 and the total expenditure $1,677.87. Be ore moving the adoption of the accounts, he gave members an opportunity to ask questions,
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None were asked, and he moved that the balance sheet as presented be adopted.
Mr. HAZELAND seconded, and the motion was carried.
The COMMODORE stated that now, un- fortunately, members had to consider a question which was not so cheerful In conjunction with many others they had suffered damage in the recent typhoon, and that damage could not be covered by a less sum than $600. The committee suggested
yearly subscription should be increased from $5 to $10. They thought it better to alter the rules straight away rather than tinker with other methods of raising money. They wanted to hear the opinion of members on the subject, and then hold another meeting in ten days' time.
that the
Mr. HOWELL thought members would agree that $5 per annum was a nominal sum. The senior yacht club paid 824 per sanum and an entrance fee. There was no entrance fee so far to the Corinthian club, and he trusted there never would be. He thought $10 a year a reason.
Warder Charles Wilks stated that he went on duty at 5.30 am, on the morning of September 24th and remained on until 6 p.m.able sum, and that from the increased subscrip that evening. He gave deceased his meals. At 4.30 that afternoon he supplied prisoner with food, which he ate. No complaint was made by him
Cross-examined-He issued supper to 45 prisoners on that evening, being accompanied by two prisoners who carried food. It was the custom for one of the carrying prisoners to hand each of the men in the cells his food. Witness then went round and inspected the tins, which were passed out by the prisoners.
Re-examined-In every cell there was a bell, so that every prisoner had an opportunity of ringing up if he was ill.
Varder A. William said he fed deceased on the morning of September 25th, when he ate all his breakfast. He made no complaint, and appeared to be in the best of health and spirits. An Indian warder said he was on duty where hard labour was done in the gaol, ptember
tion it would be possible to recuperate their losses, and place the Club in a good financial position.
The COMMODORE proposed that steps be taken to call a further general meeting to alter rule 6 so that it should read that members pay an annual subscription of $10 in lieu of $5 as at present.
Mr. HOWELL seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
At that general meeting it was decided that other necessary alterations should be made in the Club rules.
The election of officers for the ensuing year was proceeded with, and resulted as follows:- Dr. Clark, ommodore: Mr. Hazeland, vice commodore; Mr. Guy, secretary; Mr. G.
treasurer; Mr. Craik, Williams,
official measurer; and Messrs. McIver, Gibson, Hands and McKirdy, committee.
[October 15, 1906.
A vote of thanks was proposed by the Com modors to those members who had worked so bard in the interests of the Club during the past year, especially Mr. Howell, who had devoted many hours to the accounts.
The vote was carried by acclamation and the meeting terminated.
DOCK CARPENTERS STRIKE.
HIGHER WAGES DEMANDUP.
The Dock Company is now sharing in the labour troubles which have beast other in- stitutions since the recent typhoon. Since that calamity the pressure of work at the Dock has been very great, and employees are now kept going, probably as fast as has ever been known in the history of the Company, to ful lorders. Just for them-the carpenters have demanded hi her at this inopportune moment-very opportune pay, and in default of compliance with their wish, a general strike is threatened. Notice to this effect was given on Wednesday, but yester- day no work was done as the men's demand had
not been met.
at the Kowloon Dicks is stated to be upwards At present the number of carpenters employed of 200. They receive a wage of 60 cents daily. and now refuse to continue work unless this is increased by 15 cents, making the daily wage 75 cents. It is anticipated that a compromise will shortly be effected, as loss of time at present must mean loss of money to the Dook Company. not yet resumed work, and there appears to be The carpenters at the Kowloon Docks have
very little prospect of their doing so unless
their wishes are met. The demand for this class of artasan is at present great, and it is said that many of the Dock carpenters who struck, are now receiving a higher wage elsewhere.
The number of carpenters employed at the Docks is nearer 500 than 200, as previously
stated, and of this number, only about 30 of the foremen did not join the strikers.
SWIM ACROSS THE HARBOUR.
A GUSNER WINS THE BACE. Considerable interest was taken
on the 5th October in the swimming race across the harbour for prizes presented by the China Mail. The race was from the police pier on the mainland to Blake pier, and the starters were J. Witchell, N.H. Alves, A. V. Barros, Gunner Brotherton and Trumpeter Grant, both of the 87th Company,
The starters got a good send off and Alves immediately worked his passage eastward. Barros went towards the west while the other three kept together in the centre. When about 200 yards had been covered Witchell swam towards Barros and shortly afterwards Brotherton followed him. For the next couple of hundred yards Alves led, Grant being in second place and the other three some distance in the wake of the foremost. Increasing his pace, Brotherton passed Witchell and gained a lead of about tan yards on him. Then he overhauled Alves, and when half way across had a lead of about 20 lengths. Grant was then swimming in second place, with Witchell and Alves close behind, while Barros was about 100 yards in the rear. Brotherton continued to increase his lead, swimming the Trudgeon stroke all the way, while the others, with the exception of Grant, used mostly the over sem
stroke. When two thirds of the distance had been covered it was apparent to all that the race was Brotherton's, his lead on the ther competitors being too great for them to overbaul him. In the final stages Barros overtook and passed Witchell and Grant, ta ing second place, the latter being third. The following is the order of finish, together with the times of the placed men :-
Brotherton, 27 min. 424 secs... Barros, 29 miu, 30 secs Grant, 29 min, 41 secs Witchell
Alves...
the
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Ca Blake pier after the race Mrs. W. H. Donald presented the prizes to the first and second men. To Gunner Brotherton, the winner, she handed a handsome cup, and to A. V. Barros, the runner-up, a gold medal.
After the presentation cheers were raised to the lady and to the donors of the prizes.
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