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STABBING AFFRAY IN THE HARBOUR.
FIVE EUROPEANS ARRESTED.
The signal lights hoisted from the steamer Indrapelli in the early hours of on Aug. 30th told the Water Police that their presence was wanted on board, The police pinnace promptly steamed to the vessel, where Inspector Kerr found two men in irons and learned that the third officer, named Thorne, had been stabbed by one of the ship's crew.
sampan
The circumstances of the affair are B.S follows. The Indravelli had arrived in port a few days ago from New York and on Thursday a number of the firemen were given leave to go ashore. They returned to the steamer about one or two o'clock yesterday morn. ing, but before stepping on the gangway
a dispute with the they had man as to the fare. As their remarks were spoken in rather a loud voice and as their language was not of the most refined nature, the third officer came down the gang- way and told the men to make less noise as there were passengers on board. They resented his interference and one of them strack the officer. On deck a scuffle ensued, med, who the allegation being that the were in a drunken condition, attacked the officer, one man using a knife. In a short time the captain came on deck and knocked down a man who was holding the officer. The men then retired and it was found that the third officer had been stabbed with a knife on the head, back and side. Two of the men were placed in irons. The doctor from the Siberia dressed the injuries of the wounded man, who was afterwards removed to the hospital. Five European firemen were arrested, and they will be brought up at the Magistraor on Aug. 3
The five men of the s.s. Indravelli in con- nection with the stabbing of the third officer were placed in dock at the Magistracy on Satur- day before Mr. F. A. Hazeland. The accused -Thomas Dean, William Clarke, Walter O' Brien (firemen), Charles Reilly and Thomas Knockton were charged with maliciously wounding G. G. Thorne on the 30th August. Inspector Kerr prosecuted. Defendants pleaded not guilty.
Captain Callington, of the Indravelli, atated that on Thursday evening, whilst he was lying down in his chair on deck, he heard a sampan come alongside and heard men cursing and swearing in loud tones. The third and fourth officers who were aroused by the noise, remonstrated with the men and then witness heard a disturbance on deck and saw the second officer (Mr. F. Bayliss) holding Reilly. Mr. Thorne (third officer) was holding Dean and called out that he was stabbed, upon hearing which aptain Cullington seized Dean, the latter struggling the while. Reilly got away from Mr. Bayliss and went forward. Then the captain being told that the third officer was bleeding freely, rele sed 1ean, who also ran forward. Bandages were prepared for the third officer, after which Dean was put in irons by the chief officer, assisted by the second. When shackled Desa used violent and filthy language, saying that be would like to “do for all the officers. He also said that if he had had a gun he would have shot the fourth officer (Mr F. J. Dunkler). After dressing the third officer's injuri F, which was difficult owing to the free flow of blood from the four stab wounds, the captain went forward, accompanied by the chief officer.
Prior to this be had been handed a sheath knife by the second officer, who took it from Dean's pocket. The blade was greasy, but there were no traces of blood - this was an hour after the affray. In going forward to arrest Reilly just as the fo'c'sle was reached the captain saw that Bailly had a razor which was open. Closing the razor Reilly placed it on the table and stepped towards his bank. The captain ordered him to dress and then the captain took him on deck and put him in irons. When passing No. 1 hatch, oa which a number of men were seated, including Knockton, Reilly addressed one of them, saying -“Pack my bag; I'm in trouble." Dean con- tinued to use filthy language while in irons. At 3.40 the police boat arrived and the police officer went ashore for medical assistance, but on
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
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(September 2, 1905.
failing to get it, the doctor of the P.M. s.s. ¡ to a ruptured spleen. The spleen was three Siberia went on the Indravelli and dressed the times its natural size. There were several marks third officer's wounds. Mr. Thorne was then of violence on the body. The queue was out off. removed to the hospital and the two men-Dean The hair was from six to nine inches long. and Reilly-were taken to the police station. There was a rope tied round the legs, several They were both under the influence of drink braires on the calf, two small cuts on the right when they came on board.
knee and a cut on the head. A spleen diseased Knockton-Do you know that We three as this one was might rapture naturally or as a (meaning himself, O'Brien and Clarke) were Jesult of slight violence. Tures oboppers and a not in the bother?
long knife about eighteen inches long which were found at accused's house having been pat in, Dr. Heanley aid one of the choppers might have caused the wounds on deceased. feat piece of
queue-about long-was produced but witness could not identify it as being cat from Fan Muk Fat.
To Hing Chan--It is his queue!
itness-You were not to my knowledge. (To Mr. Hazeland) 'wo of them came amid. ships on one or two occasions and I ordered
them forward.
sampan
O'Brien-As soon as I came up from the I was told to go forward and I went, We (Clarke and O'Brien) are strangers on the ship-only been on for a couple of hours. We've not signed on yet.
Witness-I had two deserters and these men have been engaged to take their places.
His Worship-Is there any evidence against these men ?
Inspector Kerr-Only that they were among the men in the sampan.
A
B
two
Fan Muk Yau, brother of the deceased,'said he was a farmer at Pak Ngan village, Dumb Bell Island. Whilst asleep in his house on the 25th ult. he heard a noise, and he went outside Ue saw the male accused to investigate. holding deceased by the quene and saw the woman strike Fan Muk Fat with a chopper-a wood chopper-on the bead and legs.
On going forward and asking what was the matter the woman threw the chopper away.
His Worship-If that is all, I suggest the police withdraw the obarge against them.
The three men-Clarke, O'Brien and Knock-Fan Muk Fat, who was then on the ground, ton-were thereupon discharged.
F. J. Dunkler, fourth officer, slated that he saw Mr. Thorne struck by Dean and a general mêlée ensued on deck. When witness reached the deck he saw the captain bolding Dean and the second officer holding Reilly. Witness did not see the third officer stabbed.
Dean-Did you say I struck you? Witness-Yes.
Dean-I never did; I fell because I was intoxicated. Did you say you saw me strike the third officer? You could not do so.
Witness-I saw you.
It was announced that the third officer would not be out of hospital in less than a week, and the hearing was adjourned.
MURDER ON DUMB BELL ISLAND.
Another murder has been reported to the police, the tragic occurrence on this occasion taking place on one of the islands in the archi. pelago which lies to the west of Hongkong. And, as is not unusual, there is a "woman in it,' There is some dubiety as to what events actually preceded the fatal act, but the fact that the murdered man had his queue cat is signifi. cant to those who understand Chinese customs.
The circumstances as known to the police are these. A man named To Hing Chuu, a fisher. man in the Miu Wo village, went to the Police Station at Lantau on the 26th inst. and reported to Sergeant Angus that a robbery had taken place at his house the night before. While be was still at the station the wife and brother of the deceased arrived upon the scene, accom.
panied by a lakong, and stated that To Hing Chun had murdered the deceased. The brother, Tan Muk Yau, farmer, declared that whil- asleep in his house on the night of the 25th inst, he was awakened about 10 o'clock by a noise outside. Getting up he discovered that the disturbance was at To Hing Chun's house, and on proceeding there he saw To Ring Chun holding his younger brother, Tam Mak Fat, by the queue To Hing Chun struck his brother over the head and legs with a chopper, and the wounded man fell to the ground. Tan Muk Yau went to the assistance of his brother, who, though seriously wounded, told him that he had gone to To Hing Chan's house to demand the retira of some $2 or $3 which he had lent to him, but that the latter had refused to pay him and assaulted him instead.
To Hing Chun's wife is said to have played a part in the tragedy, but she disappeared before the police learned of the occurrence.
Tan Muk Fat succumbed to his injuries about an hour after they were inflicted. The suspected man, To Hing Chan, was brought before Mr. C. D. Melbourne at the Magistracy on Aug.
27th and remanded.
To Hing Chan and his wife Ho Yung appeared before Mr. C. D. Melbourne at the Magistracy on August 31st charged with the Sergt. Angus
murder of Fan Mak Fat. conducted the prosecution.
said he had lent two or three dollars to To Hing Chan, and as To had returned from fishing, he wauted repayment. Witness went away and on his return saw his brother's dead body outside the prisoners' door.
fter evidence as to arrest, the accused were again remanded.
STILL ANOTHER MURDER.
On August 25th the body of a man who had apparently been done to death was found in French Street. It had knife wou ds over the head and body, and there could be little doubt that the aufortunate man had been murdered. Lan Tsoi, a carpenter formerly employed at the On Aug. 28 the body was identified as that of Kwong Woo lai shop, 258, Des Voeux Road. A knife was picked up in French Street and not far off the sheath was found.
Appearances point to the belief that deceased was set upon by some person or persons un. known who used the knife. and Lao Tsoi in fleeing from his assailant was struck down from behind. The police have succeeded in tracing the principal assailant, and have probably arrested him by this time.
SUBSIDIARY COINAGE
COMMISSION.
It is notified in the Gazette that
His
Excellency the Governor has been pleased to appoint the following gentlemen to serve on a Committee under the Chairmanship of the Colonial Treasurer to inquire into the causes of the depreciation of the Subsidiary Coinage of the Colony, and to advise as to what means can be taken, with due regard to the interests of trade, to rehabilitate such coinage:-The Hon. Mr. Wei Yuk; The Hon. Mr. E. Osborne; Messrs. J. Armstrong, D. R. Liw, A. J. Raymond, R. Shewan, J. R. M. Smith, and A. G. Wood.
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" DUMPING" DECREASING.
GOOD EFFECT OF CHINESE LECTURES
The lectures on the dumping evil, conducted by a number of leading Chinese citizens at the Ko Shing theatre sometime ago, have borne good fruit. Last month no fewer than thirty- three Chinese infants were handed over to the Tungwa Hospital for burial, while many coolies on the verge of death were taken there for treatment. So pleased are the gentlemen concerned with the result of their efforts that they have decided to pay a qualified man to tour the city with the object of continuing the lectures and making known the requirements of the law to the great mass of the Chinese
Dr. Heanley spoke to having examined the body of deceased and found that death was duel population.
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