408
INTERESTING FORTUNE
TELLING CASE.
A WOMAN IN NEED OF AN NUCLE.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
At the Magistracy on the 10th instant before Mr. F. A. Hazeland. the hearing of the charge against a native named Fung Chun, of obtaining by a false pretence, jewellery to the value of $3,045, was continued.
r. Leo d' Almado e Castro (of Messrs. Gold- ring, Barlow and Morrell) prosecuted, and Mr. W. E. L. Shenton (of Messrs. Deacon. Looker and Deacon) represented the defendant.
The hearing was continued before Mr. F. A. Hazeland at the Magistracy on the 11th inst., of the case in which a man named Fung Chun was charged with obtaining by a false pretence jewellery to the value of $3,045.
Mr. Leo d'Almada
' Castro (of Messrs. Goldring. Barlow and Morrell) prosecuted, and Deacon, Mr. W. E. L. Shenton (of Messrs. Looker and Deacon) appeared for the defendant. The case for the prosecution having closed, Mr. Shenton called the defendant, who said he was a Chinese letter writer. On February 6th the complainant and her amah visited him. The latter called on him a week after his; arrival in Hongkong. and asked him to write a letter for her. It was she who Chan Man Hing, recalled, was cross-examined introduced him to complainant, who carried by Mr. Shenton. She said she went to see the with her on her first visit a bundle of defendant on February 6th to get her fortune joss sticks. The amah told him she had ac- told. She went to see him because her amahcompanied her mistress to a place of worship told her he was an expert. The amah did not with the object of obtaining blessings. The say she had seen him many times before.
mistress said she had obtained a quantity of Did you go
because you wished to know what | divining papers, and asked him to explain the your future was?—Yes.
contents. One of the papers (Joss messages) You hoped, I suppose, that it would be a little was for herself; one prayed for wealth; and one better than your past?
was for her son. On March 22nd complainant again visited him, being accompanied by her amah. She asked him to again explain the divin- ing papers, as she could not recollect the previous explanations. He agreed, and meantime complain. ant whispered in her amah's ear, and the amah went down into the street. Then complainant asked him of what part he was a native, re- marking that he looked very much like her third uncle, who was well educated and walked in
He walked very very peculiar way. 21 awkwardly, and when she was a child she liked to see him walk. She also said his feet had three holes in them." and he asked how it was She said she was she knew it, and who she was. Ah Sang. He asked why she came to Hong- kong, and she told him that when she was ten years old she was kidnapped and sold into a brothel. Subsequently she was taken into a family house by a mau who bought her several thousand dollars' worth of jewellery. Further she told defendant that she had a son from heaven." He remarked, That is well. You have a husband, you have a son and
have wealth." you
Did she tell you anything about her husband ? -She said that since her child was born the first wife learned of her position as second wife.
Mr. Almada objected, and his Worship asked Mr. Shenton to put the question clearly.
Are you not a concubine?—Yes.
And were you not on bad terms with the "kit fat"?-No.
In your first interview with the fortune teller, didn't you take some joss divining papers to be translated?No.
Did he tell your fortune?--Yes.
What did he tell you?-He said I was very poor formerly, and had to be sold to several families. Further he stated that I would have to remove a mole from my face; if not it would grow larger. Also that I must worship, and if I did not know the way he offered to worship for me. If I did not remove the mole he said I would lack wealth and children. The defendant told
me he worshipped for me on his verandah beneath the heavens I did not see the defend- ant worshipping. but he asked for $5 for so doing and I handed it over.
It was rather a curious thing, wasn't it, that the fortune he told your was correct ?--Yes.
Were you kidnapped when you were a small child?--Yes.
You went again to the defendant, didn't you?-Yes, between the 1th and 19th Feb. ruary,
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Why did you go again? - To ask him to tell my life story.
What. again—Yes.
And when he told your life story he gave you the usual written paper, didn't he? My amah brought it round to me.
Where is the paper?--I returned it to him because he said he had to pray for 49 days.
Mr. Almada suggested that a number of the questions put to the witness were not relevant, but his Worship remarked that he did not think Mr. Shenton was wasting the time of the Court. You have considerable savings haven't you? Yes.
When was vour third visit to defen dant-On March 24th.
Did he then tell you to take all your jewellery to him? - Yes.
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Did she say anything about her husband's character?--She said he had several wives, and
that his wealth would soon diminish.
Did she say that would affect her in any particular way?-She said she was afraid that when her husband lost his wealth he would beg her jewellery.
Did she say anything about going back to the country? She said she had no relations in Hongkong until she made his acquaintance, as uncle No. 3, and asked if he really was uncle No. 3. If so, she asked him to favour her by tracing her parents. If he could, not, but if he was really unclo No. 3, she would ask him to take back some jewellery to the country. Then she would have something for the support of her mother and herself if misfortune overtook her husband.
Did she say anything else I told her she Why? He said. "If you bring all your had nothing to be afraid of. If she accompanied jewellery to me I'll seal it up with a charm. me to the country I would be accused of kid- After that it will never be snatched from you."uapping her with the object of securing her
Did you take all your jewellery ?-All except two pieces I was wearing.
You kept the tin in which the jewellery was sealed closed until about the 8th of April, didn't you?-Yes.
Why did you want fourteen days before open- ing the tin-Defendent told me I was to ask permission before opening it.
Why did you open the tin on April 8th-My amah told me she heard the defendant was a knave, and suggested that I should open the tin and see.
Was your amah present?--Yes,
Why did the defendant go to Macao with your amah ?-To go to the Shing Wing temple to worship, and to obtain blessings.
Did you pay the passagers of both No. I paid my amah's.
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wealth.
Did she suggest anything about the amah bo- coming your god daughter?-She asked me if I had any objection.
Did the amal visit you on the following day? Yes, she arrived with four boxes of sweetmeats and a parcel of fruit.
Why did she bring this--She said with a smiling face. My mistress said we were both to become your god daughters, and instructed me to call you uncle No. 3. Is that right?" He replied that it did not matter whether she called him ancle No. 3 or not.
After further evidence was taken the case was again adjourned.
Before Mr. F. A. Hazeland at the Magistracy on the 12th inst., the hearing was continu- Did you at any time become the god daughtered of the case in which a fortune teller was of the defendant?- No.
Have you ever tiffined with him? - No. After further cross-examination the hearing was adjourned.
charged with obtaining by a false pretence jewellery to the value of $3,045.
Mr. Leo d'Almada e Castro (of Messrs. Goldring, Barlow and Morrell) prosecuted, and
Hay đồ, 1909.
Mr. W. E. L. Shenton (of Messrs. Deacon, Looker and Deacon) represented the defendant. Defendant recalled, was cross-examined by He said that besides being Mr. Almada.
He
ä letter writer he was also a fortune teller. came to Hongkong because of He Was the State mourning in China. not allowed to wear a red button or silk there, consequently he found it very incon venient and came to this British possession until the period of State mourning had expired. When he first started here he made from $3 to 28 a day. He did not persuade a good customer to call again so that he could make more money. When the complainant first visited him she asked him to explain certain divining papers. Defendant did not mention what his fee was. He did not notice that complainant wore a lot of jewellery, because he concentrated all his attention on the divining papers.
In the first interview with her did you notice that she had any particular liking for you ?— No.
And in the second interview can you suggest any reason why she said you looked like uncle No. 3-She said so, but I did not recognise her.
Didn't she ask you to tell her fortune ?--Yes, only with regard to the mole on her face. She asked whether it was good or bad.
Did you not tell her that she would lose all she possessed in the world ?—I did not..
Wasn't it at your suggestion that she took the jewellery to you?—No.
Can you suggest any reason why she should have taken the jewellery to you of her own free will:Her husband had already expended :10,000 on girls, and she was afraid he would go bankrupt, and that she would get nothing to
eat.
And you considered she had an extraordinary affection for you?-No. Why should she like me?
Why should she ask you to take charge of her jewellery? Because she was alone in the world.
When she brought the jewellery together with other things, you thought she was going to give it to you, didn't you?—I dare not accept it, because I could not keep unaccountable things in my house. When I found she had left jewellery with me I sent it back at once.
If you did not think it was a present why did you open the parcel-I was told it con- tained eatables. There seemed to be opium inside.
Why did you tell the police the jewellery was a present -Because when it was given me. I was told it was a present. On the same night I was arrested as a thief.
You said the complainant asked you to take her to Macao and live there ?--Yes.
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Why? For three reasons. Firstly, she wished me to find her parents; secondly, if I was really her uncle No. 3 she would accom- pany me back to the country to buy property; and thirdly, since the kit fat knew she had given birth to a son she (the complainant) had not spent a comfortable day.
You knew perfectly well you were not her third uncle?--I have got such a niece.
When she first suggested that you were uncle No. 3 why didn't you act in an honest way and say you were not?-I persuaded her. I said it was hard to say whether I was or not.
Were you going to Macao to live as man and wife-No, as uncle and niece.
You agreed to?—No, I did not wish to go.. During your absence in Macao you said your wife took the jewellery and ran away?—I said the complainant gave the jewellery to my wife to run away with.
Why did you say that?-Because the amah told me in the hotel at Macao.
I put it to you that you asked the complainant to bring this jewellery, and told her you would charm the case so that she would not be robbed of it?—I did not say that.
Leung San, defendant's second wife, said the complainaut had called frequently at her house, and had sent presents of edibles. These were sent when defendant was recognised as com- plainant's godfather. On the defendant's birth- day the complainant and her amah called to Witness present their compliments to him. went out to purchase macaroni, and then they all dined together.