THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1916.
ALLEGED TRIAD SOCIETY. THE WEST RIVER COLLISION MYSTERIOUS EXHIBITS AT THE HONGKONG POLICE COURT.
Mr. Hazeland's Court at the Hongkong Magistracy yesterday presented a some what novel spectacle, for it was littered with the supposed mysterious insigra and paraphernalia of an alleged Triad Society. Fourteen Chinese stood in the
CASE.
THE QUESTION OF FAIRWAY,
In tite Supreme Court (Admiralty Jurisdiction) yesterday the debate was resumed on the question of fairway in the action at the instance of the Shui On Steamship Company, Ltd., against
CORRESPONDENCE.
PEAK TRAMWAY COMPANY.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS."1"
THE M.C.L BAZAAR
PROCEEDS.
The nett proceeds of the Ministering. Children's League Bazaar, held on Satur day, November 11th, amount to $9,200 a sum exceeding that of last year by $2,620 They will be divided amongst the following
51,-In view of the statements made by the Captain. Superintendent of Police in his recent prosecution of this Com- any in regard to the question of the safety of the tramway, we wrote to the sailors
blind and disabled soldiers, and Children of the Empire League for
dock charged with being members of the the Standard Oil Company. The plain Colania! Secretary requesting the Gov- National Committee for Relief in
Society, and they looked a most aggres wise group. The raid which resulted in their arrest was made by Detective Sergeant Wills, at a house in Portland. Street, Yaumati. Information had been Inid of the gathering of Chinese at this house, that certain mysterious rites, were performed, and that the men: who assembled were known to be possessed of characters not of the best. The ring
leader is a discharged seaman, and he is the most wild locking of the fourteen. However, along with the doctor," a tall and spure Chinese with an evil cast' of countenance, he is looked upon as a most dangerous individual, why should not be at large.
In addition to effecting the arrest of the fourton members, the Detective also made a generous collection of signs and symbols; a “sacred” tub, a few swear- ing-in rattans-used for inflicting the punishment considered neeeggary for those who have not joined before--some thing closely resembling a policeman's batun (also a form of punishment) soveral small flags of deep significance, ugly looking daggers, a large chopper, tc. All these things were distributed about the Court-room, which assumed w chamber of horrors aspect.
tiffs claim paynient of $100,000 in name
of damages alleged to have been sustain ed by them as the result of a collision in the West River in January, 1915, be tween their steamer Shui On and the defendant's lighter Ruth.
Accompanying his lordship on the Bench was Commander C. W. Beckwith, RN, sitting at Naval Assessor.
The Consul engaged are Mr. E. H. Sharp, K.D., and Mr. C. G. Alabaster (instructed by Mr. Russ, of Mr. J. H Gardiner's office) for plaintiffs and Mr. Eldon Potter and Mr. F. C, Jenkin (instructed by Mr. C. D. Wilkinson, of Messrs. Wilkinson & Grist) for the defendants.
At the outset of the proceedings yes- terday Mr. Potter produced and put in a chart which had been obtained at the Harbour Office, followed by the Shut On on the occasions she was convoyed.
The Chief Justice said the Naval Assessor informed him that the chart produced was on a small scale and very old.
ernment forthwith fully to inspect the tramway, its working, and machinery in order that the Government and the general public might be satisfied as to the safety of the tramway, and that the Government might suggest such farthor prutions as they should think de sirabbu,
In reply, the Colonial Secretary has written to us as follows:-"The Govern- ment lins no reason to doubt the absoluto safety of the line, and there is no neces- eity to appoint anyone to inspect it.”-
We shall be obliged it you will publish this letter in view of its interest to the general public.
Yours faithfully, JOHN D. HUMPHREYS & SON
(General Managers). Hongkong, November 23rd, 1916.
H.K.O.C.
SPORT.
CRICKET.
tre
A. MILITARY TEAM.
This match will be played on Club ground tomorrow (Saturday) at 2.15 p.m. The following will represent H.K.C.C.-T. E Pearce (Capt.), G. E. Aubrey, R. M. Austin, F. D. Bisseker, R. A. Brand, P. Jacks, E. Kennedy L. D. McNicoll, Lt. Col. Morgan, H. H.
Me. Potter-With all deference, it does not matter how old it is. The point is, that Captain Scamore's course is show on it and is north of the land between the two lights; that was the course the Shui On took when she was being con voyed, and that is supported by witTayler and R. P. Thursfeld, nessen,
The Chief Justice--These witnesses soy they convoyed the Shui On on more tha one occasion, and that the course they observed was not the course she took on the night of the collision,
Mr. Potter-Exactly. That chart, I submit, is the strongest corroboration of the evidence that could be had. No Quartermaster in His Majesty's Navy would dare to come into Court and pro duco a chart and say it was plotted out
HOCKEY.
VOLUNTEER A TEAM. B. TEAM.
$2,250
Belgium (especially the orphans). 1,000 Hongkong. Cots In the M.C.L comes at Ottershaw (soidiors'
saburen) Little Folks Home
at Bexhill- on-Sea (specially for children of. soldiers at the Front) Jackanapes Work Society (child-
ren's branch) ....
Victoria Home and C. M. S
Orphanage, Kowloon City Diocesan Girls School Baxter Mission Schools LM.S. Training Home for Girls... French Convent Italian Convent....... M.C.L. cot in Netherole Hospital. Girl Guides Camping Fuud.
INTIMATIONS
LANE
CRAWFORD & Co.
CORRECT EVENING WEAR.
FRONTED
DRESS SHIRTS.
FITTED WITH TWO STUD HOLES AND FOURFOLD LINEN
500
SOFT
300
900
800
750
500
500 300 500 300 100
88,500
Lady May (President of the M.C. League) wishes especially to thank the Dairy Farm for giving milk and butter; Messrs. Jardine, Matheson for tea and sugar: Mr. Taggart, of the Hongkong Hotel, for the loan of crockery and tea cloths, and for sandwiches, etc; Hong kong Electric Light Co. for lighting: Standard Oil Co., for boilers; Hong- kong and Shanghai Bank Mcas, Hong- kong Club, Messrs. Wiseman, Alexandra Café, and Chartered Bank Mess, for ice cream; Ah Long and Ah Lak, of the Tramway Co., for collecting tickets and money at Entertainment; Mr. Thornhill, of the Boldiers' Club, for crockery; the A.S.C. (Captain Milnor Jones) for so kindly providing tables, chairs, benches, etc. Mr. Tutcher, of the Botanical Gardens, and Mr. Kynoch, of the P.D.D, for valuable help rendered; Kwong Tai Loy, Nikko Cheong Lee Greenfield, Wang Hing, Ullmann: Wing Tack, On, Daibutsu, Sincere, Sang Mow, A. Komor & Komor, Kelly & Walsh, Aling, Hung On, Kwong Bang, Alex. Ross, Nestle Milk Co., D. K. Mosa, French Store, Edward Dispensary, J. P. Braga, Madame Flint, Hutchison & Co., Ah Fong, B. A. Tolacco Alexandra Café, Mehta, Fairall, Queen's Dispensary, Watson, Caldbeck, McGregor, Wiseman, Powell, Jardine, Matheson, Butterfield & Swire, Lane Crawford, British American Candy Store, and Mr. A. L. Wee for contributions to the Belilios School, Hoop-la and Toy Stalls; Mr. Ho Kom Tong, Hon. Mr. Lau Chu Pak and Mr. Chan Kai Ming Weihaiwei; for contributions from Variety Stall and for kindly taking Mr. Edwards, Victoria Gaul, for the money at the gate: the China Mail: for advertising free; the Hongkong, Daily Tres, S.C. Morning Post, and Hongkong rates; the French and Italian Convents for valuable contributions the Com-. The R.E. Sergeants Mess held a tennis medore and also the Water Police for kindly leading faga; Mr. Wells and. At Home" yesterday in Wellington
Pelty Officer Edmonds, of H.M.S. Barracks, and a large number of guests Tamir, for personal service: Chief Yeo- spent a very enjoyable afternoon and man of Signals Joseph Hehir for mak- evening. the tennis results were asing all the "fisga of the allies the follow:-S.M. Anderson and Cpl. Scott, Hongkong Cadett and Boy Scouts and 2; Cpl. White and Cpl Heath, 6. Mrs. Girl Guides for help in fin grounds: Phillips and Q.S.M. Wyatt, 3 Mr Mr. and Mrs. Hay and the Swanky " Anderson and Cpl. Grimes, 4. Bergt. for their valuable help at the entertain- Coxon and Cpl. Bevan, 1; Q.M.E. Coyment; and all the kind friends who gave and 8.8. Keemer, 6. Mrs. Jenkins and donations. Q.M.S. Evans, 4; Miss Jennings and Mrs. Stedman and Mrs Chat Nam Sergt. Clarke, 3. Cpl. Scott and Q.M.8. Evans, 2; S.M. Jenkins and 8. M. Ander wish, also, to thank all those ladies who
waitresses in the tea enclosure.
on
A keen, fast game between these tears
the U.S.R.C. ground, Kowloon, yesterday afternoon, resulted in a win for the A Team by 5 gonds to 1. The half-time score was 1 all. B Team showed excellent combination, but the defence of the A Team was extremely
sound.
AT HOME.".
Expert evidence on the symbols and insignia of a Triad Society was given by Mr. Mok Li Chee. All the articles in Court, he stated, were such as were used in Triad Society ritual. Mr. Mok then went on to describe a Trind Society When it was first founded 300 or 400 years ago, he said, it had as its object the overthrow of the Ching Dynasty. It had now lost that object, but still went on. It had a great many branches, or lodges, all over China, and each club or lodge had its own particular sign, known only to its members. The sign produced-a | by his superior officer if it was a "fake" R. E. SERGEANTS MESS TENNIS Telegraph for advertising at reduced board bearing several characters-was If it is true, as the plaintiffs say, that possibly a sign of a club. The society had general rules which applied to all the lodges, but lodges themselves had byc daws for idol worship and so on. Each branch supported itself on the entrance fees paid by members, and extra expenses were met by subscriptions. The tub (produced) was one of the chief articles used in initiation ceremonies, and was known as the Mub Yeung Sing, or "city." Grass sandals (produced) were worn by one of the lowest officers, and this man had to carry messages to mem- bers when a fight was about to take place. Two such men would kneel down and hold a long piece of paper at initia tion meetings, this paper containing the rules. A piece of red cloth, like that produced, was usually tied to the queue. There was an officer called "Red Club," and the club (produced) was used by him for punishment purposes. The bundle of many-coloured papers (produced) also had a meaning. There were five colours in the Bags used, representing the five nations of the empire, the colours being rod, green, crimson, black and white. Members wero pushed for breach of
they always took the course they were on that night, then they were never con- voyed at all, and that is contrary to unquestioned and unassailable evidence Mr. Potter then proceeded to deal with the incuning of the latter part of Article 11 of the Regulations for Preventing Collisions, That Article, ho contended, was brought into being with the express object of affording protection to ships navigating fairways. If it was intend-son, 5. Mrs. Anderson and S.M. Darident cakes, etc., and who acted as
rules, they were supposed to be all the best of friends, and no one was to have a grudge against another. If a mea wanted to join, and somebody in the circle had a grudge against him, revenge had to be taken before membership was scoured. Revenge was taken by making the man go into a circle, and there he was whipped with rattans, like those pro- duced. If the man's proposer was influen- tial he did not get such a beating.
ed to give protection to ships whether they were navigating a imirway or not then there would be no object whatever in limiting it to "vessels aground in or Bear the fairway." The Article would simply read that wherever she was ground she would require to put up red or other lights. Why should the framers of the Article have fined it to ships aground in near the fairway if the intention was to give protection to ships wherever they were? It was unreasonable to think they would so word the Article if that was their intention
con-
or
The Chief Justice Near" might mean where there is a risk of meeting other ships..
Mr. Potter-Near the fairway, in my definition of it is, in such close proxi- mity to the channel ordinarily used by ships as to be dangerous to such ships as are being navigated in that ordinary channel or fairway. I could cite à num ber of instances in which that rale would
extremely useful.
The Chief Justice That definition is not taken from a text-book-it is your own definition
Replying to Mr. Gardiner, who is defending all the men, Mr. Mok said the tub in Court was not a naval Chinese rice tub; it had two bottoms, and was of a form peculiar to the Triad Society. The. sandals were just ordinary Chinese san-. dals, but they were found in the tub, and that made all the difference between sanctity and commonplace. He admitted that there were many rituals and sign, in a Triad Society which were not among the ] to find one." : collection in Court; there was the square piece of white cloth, a white lan, a pair of scissors, a pair of scales, a foot rule, and many other symbols,
Asked if women were admitted to the Society, Mr. Mok repled in the affirma tive, and added that women were made members without ceremony.
Mr. Potter--Yes. If a case can be found giving a wider definition I would like to hear of it. I have not been able
BOR, 3; Mrs. Allison and Cpl. White 4
Tea was followed by indoor games in the Mess, after which a Whist Drive was beld. The following were the prize-win ners:-Ladies-Ist, Mrs. Duffield; Booby, Mrs. Evans, Men-1st, Mr. Scott; Booby, Mr. Jenkins.
The evening was brought to a close with music, some excellent songs by the ladies, especially--being much appre- ciated.
bear
11
13
SOME BIG CHEQUES.
cor-
The cheque for £2,088,000 which, it is now understood, was paid by the Com- monwealth Government for the 15 steamers bought by Mr. Hughes, the Federal Prime Minister during his recent visit to London, represents more than three times the pre-war value of the vessels, remarks the London respondent of the Manchester Guardian. But the deal, though a big one, is not by any means the biggest in British shipping. Apart from the agreement covering the Morgan Combine companies, Sir Owen Philipps on April 18th, 1912, drew a cheque on the Bank of England for £3,173,572 in payment the bulk of the ordinary shares in the Union- Castle Line and the goodwill of Meanes. Donald Currie & Co.
JAPAN'S GOLD HOLDINGS.
or fairway At night, if these ships did not show lights, they might be a very imminent danger to a ship proceeding They were actually up the fairway. lying on place which at high water might be described as the fairway itself. The same thing might be found in many rivers. Ships so lying might, when the water rises, swing into the fairway, and that is one reason why ships lying so
Fourteen years before that date, how- close to the fairway shoúld put up lights.
ever, a cheque representing the largest If his lordship did not accept his defini: amount that until two years ago had tion, where was he! What meaning was ever, I believe, changed hands in Lon- Was he going to say it meant a mile, and by the Chinese Minister here, to he going to put on the word "near "
don was drawn upon the Bank of Eng half-a-mile or a hundred yards? In the order of the Japanese Minister, for. much as a fairway was capable of £11,008,857 18s. 93.
This was in pay- of definition, and the only reasonable demnity of £23,000,000 due to Japan by deânition the word
was capable
ment of the last instalment of the in- definition was the one he had given, China. All previous records of the kind otherwise the word may mean anything have, however, been broken during the He reminded his lordship that navig- war, as will be seen when-if ever- able water" and "fairway
were not
publicity is allowed. Bynonymous terms.
The Chief Justice Suppose the Shua On was on the proper course and owing to wind or tide or both she deviated from the usual track into the position in which The Morning Post says that, financial she was found, do you say that wouldly, the war. has placed Japan in not be covered by the scope of the position beyond her dreams of avarice. Article?
Her specie holdings, which before the war stood at £35,300,000, have to-day reached more than £60,000,000, with fair prospects of seeing £70,000,000 before the close of the year. Indeed, her financiers seen to be somewhat inconvenienced by this sudden and abnormal increase in gold and are evidently at a loss how to utilise it. So far Japan has devoted most of her immense increase in gold to the purchase of 4 per cent bonds of Mr. Potter--Yes, and in the Bluebell her own issue on the London and Paris case it was laid down that a fairway is markets, and £10,000,000 in the purchase the absolutely usual course of other vee of British Exchequer Bonda in America, sels. If they deviate from that they to accommodate the Bank of England. cannot get protection under Article 11,Her ability thue to redeem large quo although they may get it under other ties of the bonds which she floated in London and Paris during the war with Russia with money now paid by Russia, for munitions affords her, as the cor- respondent remarks, some of the in- demnity she failed to get at the Ports mouth Peace Conference."
Mr. Potter-Certainly not, because she was then in fact ont of the fairway She might be covered by other Articles, but not that one. As soon as she is out The Chief Justice-It appears to the of the fairway she is not under the pro assessor and myself to be a fair defini-tection of that rule. tion.
Mr Potter instanced the approch to the port of Bristol as an example of what he meant Going to Bristol a Mr. Gardiner intimated that he would be calling upon the prisoners to give evid-ship went through very narrow water ence. All of them were masons he did which was a very deep channel, and at not mean freemeacons and many of the low or half-tide there was a bank of articles which had been put forward as
***** Triad Society aymbols were, he would mud in that channel all the way up on contend nothing more nor less than which ships lay. These ships were lying mason's tools.
The hearing was adjourned until on that bank in the navigable channel to-day.
(Continued at foot of next Column.):
The Chief Justice That is, that these ships have to stick to the ordinary and well-known track or take the conse ques
Articles.
At the after-tip sitting Mr. Alabas ter proceeded to reply to the defendants counsel's contentione and cited numerous authorities in support of the plaintiff's position.
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