J
it. I identified it as the remains of the late Captain Da Costa. I myself took a walk on Sunday evening. I went in a westerly direction from Stanley towards Wong-ma-kok.** My way lay along the beach. I must have been within 800 or 900 yards from the spot where the spear-heads were found above referred to. I did not then see anything to attract my attention, except that I observed two large boats with boarding-nettings up. They appeared to keep aloof from the other small boats about. The Stanley people had noticed these two boats, and were at a loss to account for their appearance there.
(6)
THOMAS MACDONNELL, Lieutenant Ceylon Rifle Regiment.
ERM-AYAK, Wong-I, was table-boy to the late Captain Da Costa. Unimportant—knows nothing.]
(7)
JUNG ACFORT, groom—I was horsekeeper to the late Captain Da Costa. I accompanied Dr Tweddell on Sunday night to look for my master. I visited the village of Wong-ma-kok. On returning from said village, when about as far as the Stanley barracks are from the village of Stanley, I picked up a three-pronged spear. I cannot say that it had marks of blood on it. I did not notice that the turf was stained with blood near where this spearhead was found. The night was dark. I do not think that cries of distress could have been heard from the spot by the villagers. I have lived with the late Captain Da Costa for three months. I have never been in the village of Wong-ma-kok before Sunday last.
(8)
3d March, 1849.
CHARLES MAY Sworn, a Superintendent of Police. Having received intelligence on Monday morning the 25th of February, that Captain Da Costa and Lieutenant Dwyer were missing from the quarters at Stanley, I proceeded thither with a party of Police and Soldiers accompanied by Mr Caldwell. A soldier of the Ceylon Rifles mentioned that he had seen some drops of blood on a footpath. I accompanied him and perceived the blood distinctly on a path which I subsequently found led from the village of Wong-ma-kok to a fishing hut on the west side of the peninsula. I requested Assistant Superintendent Caldwell to trace the path downward, and I proceeded upward, and early observed the track of blood in single drops at average intervals of a yard apart for above 400 yards—in three or four places three or four drops were close together. The track of blood ended where the path entered between two low stone walls, leading to, and about 100 yards from the village. I searched carefully right and left, and in the path, but saw no blood. I then proceeded through the village, and at the east corner perceived several drops of blood on a stone. A path continued by this stone to the place where two spear heads were stated to me to have been found; this was about 200 yards on the east side of the village. For about 100 yards along this path near to the village there is a thick jungle, and a fire was then burning from the jungle to about thirty yards of the spot where the spear heads were found, and extended backward for more than one mile. I searched on each side the path and round about where the spear heads were found, but discovered no traces of blood, or of a struggle. Before I had entered the village I saw a man on the hill above, to whom I beckoned, and he came to me. I took him into custody, and ascertained his name to be Lo-asee-zoong. I examined his person and found a wound on the right side of the head—such a wound as would be caused by a heavy blow from a stick; had been recently inflicted, as upon pressing it, blood oozed out. On the string or band fastening up his trousers [string produced] I saw several marks of blood; also several spots of blood on his ankles, near the heels. He represented, by words and action, that this wound was occasioned by his falling on a stone. I and Mr Caldwell searched the village, and in three houses we saw wearing apparel hanging up, as if recently washed; they were scarcely dry. A piece of cloth used as a towel was hanging up in the house at the east corner; I saw spots of blood upon it, and evident signs of blood having been nearly washed out.
The next morning I landed at the fishing-hut accompanied by the Chief Magistrate Mr Hillier. We saw the lowest drop of blood on the footpath before mentioned, and examined another path diverging to the left. On this path I saw three drops of blood at some distance apart: the path led to a cave formed by large rocks resting on each other, in which several bundles of bedding and clothing, and a box containing clothing and some silver ornaments were found by me. A bundle containing clothing was found by Mr Hillier on the top of the rocks; and upon Police Constable Crevy examining it, a jacket on which were visible several marks of blood was found. I then proceeded up the path leading to the village before mentioned, and on which, about 90 yards in length, the track of blood was clearly seen. A very minute examination was made, and in front of the houses in the village three spots of blood were seen by me; and in the path leading from the village to the place where the spears were found I saw several drops of blood. I received information that blood had been seen on some rocks near the water, and upon proceeding there, found the spot to be about 300 yards from the fishing-hut; the path diverging from the path leading to the village, led by the place. There were large marks of blood in four or five places, as if a body had lain there some time, and on one prominent point of rock, there were marks of a body being dragged over.
The party were about leaving the place, having previously had a search made by means of boat-hooks in the sea near, when a broken spear found at the village fell from the Police-boat into the water: the boatmen were endeavoring to recover this, when the body of Mr Da Costa came to the surface and was brought ashore. When I arrived at Stanley on the morning of Monday the 26th February, three persons had been apprehended, and upon being questioned through the interpretation of Mr Caldwell, the first examined, Lo-akow, stated, that he lived in the village of Wong-ma-kok with his father; that he was at home the previous day. He did not see any Europeans, or any strangers in the village. I showed him some spears and spear-heads which had been found, and some broken sticks or handles. He identified a spear with a single blade as belonging to Tay-apo, but that it was kept in his father's house, a three-pronged spear as belonging to Chea-asam, who resided in the village, and a knife or clipper as belonging to Chea-thing.
The second prisoner, Lo-yet-show, stated, he lived in the village, but was from home fishing until dark; he did not see any Europeans or strangers that day near the village. He said the two spears exhibited to him were the property of Chea-asam, the knife or copper the property of Chea-apo, and the spear-ends to belong to Chow-asam.
One we found a towel on which were marks of blood, but it had been washed; there were several pieces of wet clothing found in one or two houses. On arriving at the village I found Lo-asee in custody of Mr May. I observed a wound on the right side of his head, which, on being questioned by me at the request of Mr May, he stated he received in falling upon a stone on the hill. The following day, having been informed that blood had been seen on some rocks near the water, I went with the Chief Magistrate and Mr May, and saw four or five spots† of blood on some rocks a short distance from the water. We made strict search, both on shore and in the water by means of boat-hooks, but discovered nothing. As we were about embarking, a portion of a bamboo pike on being passed into the boat fell into the water, and the man in the bows with a boat-hook trying to recover it, hooked up something white. I desired him to lift it up higher, and on his doing so I found it was the body of Captain Da Costa; I immediately called out. The swell being rather high, I went a short way into the water to secure the body; a rope was passed at it, and it was taken out of the water. I was requested by Mr May to question two boys and an old man whom we found in custody at the barracks on the morning of the 26th; the two former gave different statements as to whom certain spears and spear-heads, which were shown them, belonged. They all three denied having seen any Europeans in their village on the 25th.
When the body of the late Captain Da Costa was taken out of the water, I felt for his watch, but it was not on his person, nor had he any rings on his fingers. On Monday, when I arrived at Wong-ma-kok, I observed that a fire was raging immediately behind the village. A spot was pointed out to me where some spear-heads were found a short distance from the village; the grass around was on fire. When I arrived at Wong-ma-kok, Mr May had an old man in custody, named Lo-Assee; he had a cut on his head, which he said he received in falling against a stone. I saw marks of blood on his waist-band, and also on his neck. The five men seized in the fishing-hut or boat might have seen the body of Captain Da Costa thrown into the water from their boat, but I think not. If it had been done in the day time, but I think not. If it had been done in the night time.
I acted as Interpreter to Mr May when he questioned several prisoners that had been seized on Sunday at the village. I have heard the statement made by Mr May, and fully corroborate it, as to the questions put, and answers given by the Chinese.
D. R. CALDWELL.
(11)
MR CALDWELL further states, that the following prisoners had been seized before his arrival at Stanley, and were landed eventually to the Police,—Lo-akow, Lo-yet-show, Chui-assey, Lo-assee alias Lo-yang-ghing. The following five men were seized in a fishing-hut near Wong-ma-kok,—Cauchi fook, Chuw-fook-tong, Cheng-keen-ee, Chan-we-tong, Chun-no-fat, Lo-lee-shi; the wife of Chai-apo, was brought into Victoria on Thursday night last by Police Constable Mars; Woog-sannie was brought into Victoria yesterday (Friday) by an Indian Constable.
(12)
LO-YANG-SHING alias Lo-asse, is arraigned as a prisoner.
(Mr Caldwell on the request of the Jurymen is sworn in as Interpreter.
The nature of the preceding depositions are explained to him. He is duly cautioned, being informed that whatever he may say, it may be taken down in writing, and used as evidence against him at any future time.] He now states,—I am a native of Namchong, in Kwang-sheen. I am a husbandman, and have resided for many years in the village of Wong-ma-kok, on the island of Hongkong. On the 3d day of this month (corresponding with our Sunday the 25th February,) two English Officers came to the village of Wong-ma-kok about dark. They went into my house; myself was there, my wife was cooking, and my daughter-in-law was keeping the door up. One of the officers, the shorter one of the two, embraced my daughter-in-law, made motions with my hand for him to desist. The girl cried out; my wife went up and pulled the officer away. I also begged them to go away, when the tall officer struck me with a walking-stick on the head—a common stick. [produces a cicatrix on the right side of the head, which seems to be the result of the blow inflicted.] The villagers hearing the cries of my daughter-in-law, came in, and tried to get the officers away. As the villagers came into my house, they were struck by the officers. My head at this time was bleeding; blood came into my eyes; I could not see. A villager standing next door to me, named Chui-apo, with six of his men, came in; they armed themselves with spears; a conflict ensued between these men and the English officers. When it was dark. I could not see the issue of the encounter. The disturbance arose principally because Chui-apo and his men would not submit to the treatment displayed towards my daughter-in-law.
I did not interfere. I think that was wrong. The names of Chui-apo's men are as follows,—Chow-ping, a native of Kwai-shien. Chui-abing, native of Nautow, Cheng-asam, from Kweishen, Chui-assey alias Chung-kek-sing of [illegible]. The names of the others I do not know. Chui-apo has lived in the village for 1 year; he was a sailor, and returned to his native place, San-chuen in Kwei-skeen. Hoy-yeen-ping has been in the village but one month; he has a license from the Government to make gunpowder there. Some of the others have been residents of the village for two or three years. They did not till the ground. They eat grass, and sometimes go out fishing. They are not regularly employed by Chui-apo. Seven or eight hundred took part in the scuffle with the English officers. It first began in my house; 5 or 6 men first entered. Their names I have given before. I do not know the others by name. The English officers did not fall in my house, but they were wounded there. I did not see any blood on the ground in my house. The officers rushed out of the house, but were pursued by the assailants. The name of my daughter-in-law is Lo-chow-sing; she is aged 18 years. She was taken from the village on Sunday night—at all events I have not seen her since. The officers used to visit the village usually. I never knew them to converse with my daughter-in-law during any of these visits. The two men on Sunday, before coming into my house, had entered Chui-apo's, where they had interfered with women, but they were driven out. In the house, during the struggle, the tall English officer wrested a spear from Chui-apo, knocked him down, and kicked him. In aiming a blow at Chui-apo, the spear broke. I do not know whether Chui-apo was wounded.
I can identify the spear that was seen, who had been away from the village fishing for the day. [Several spears are then shown to the prisoner, and he identifies the broken one.] He identified a broken stick which he said belonged to Chow-chong, who broke it in beating a cow shortly after it had calved; he accounted for several spots of blood upon the handle from the latter circumstance.
The third prisoner, Chuy-see, said he foretold good and bad weather; he had been at the village of Wong-ma-kok lying with the Lo family about one month; he was in the house all day, and saw no Europeans or strangers. The village of Wong-ma-kok is situated on a level space of about five acres, near the top of the peninsula between Stanley and Ty-tam bay. There are four families living there, the heads of which are named respectively, Chou-sheeng, Tau-agar, Tai-apo, and Lo-see. These latter particulars I ascertain from the Assessment Return for Police Rate. I have compared the head of a spear found on the east side of the village by Police Constable Marshall, with the handle of a spear found by Lieutenant Maxwell 95th Regiment, and find the broken parts to correspond; on the handle there are marks of blood.
When the body of the late Captain Da Costa was taken out of the water, there was not any watch on his person, nor had he any rings on his fingers.
CHARLES MAY.
WILLIAM ROWLAND MAXWELL being sworn, states.—I am a Lieutenant in H. M. 95th Regiment. On Tuesday last, the 27th February, I visited Wong-ma-kok. In the village I found the shaft of a spear, apparently had recently broken. I found it thrust into a bundle of hay. The shaft now produced is the one I found; it bore marks of blood.
WILLIAM ROWLAND MAXWELL, 95th Regiment.
(10)
was found by the party of Dr Tweddell, a 3-pronged spear.] it was after the spear was broke that the officers shed out. When I was wounded, my wife shouted out, "Help, help. save my life." The villagers then rushed in, but they did not come armed; they pulled the officers out, and in attempting to do so, they were struck with sticks. The villagers then got spears. The officers did not make any resistance before the conflict ensued and before the spear was broken to escape. In the house of Chui-apo there were two women, one aged 16, a married girl, daughter-in-law of Chui-apo; the other was an old woman his wife. I overheard the result of the conflict, nor do I know what has become of the officers. The Stanley officers set fire to the grass. Late on Sunday a party of officers and men came to the village and enquired what had become of the two officers. I replied that they had been interfering, and a disturbance had taken place, but that I did not know where they had gone to." I suspected that the two English officers had been killed, from the way they were fighting, but I was afraid to say so to those that came in search. My eldest son was outside my house during the conflict; he afterwards returned, but did not say anything. I have not had communication, nor yet seen any of the villagers who took part in the conflict.
(13)
Lo-yang-sing, after having been duly cautioned in a similar manner to the last deponent, states,—I am a son of the last deponent, and reside at the village of Wong-ma-kok. On Sunday last, I remember two English officers coming to the village; at the time I was not in my father's house, having out-door occupation. I saw them going into several houses looking after women, and into my father's house amongst the rest. On my entering my father's house, I saw one of the officers embracing my sister-in-law; my father interfered, and desired him to desist. He would not; my father tried to pull him away, but could not. The villagers then came in; they were not called, they came of their own accord. They were then armed with spears and knives. They fought with the officers in the house. A spear was wrested from Chui-apo by the tall officer. I did not see any wound inflicted by this officer. I saw him aim a blow at one of the villagers.
DANIEL RICHARD CALDWELL Sworn, states,—I am Assistant Superintendent of Police. On the morning of the 26th ultimo (Monday), in consequence of information received at the Station that two officers were missing from Stanley, I accompanied Mr May to that place for the purpose of making search. One of the men of the Rifles having stated that he had observed spots of blood on a footpath, he took us to it. I was requested by Mr May to trace westward, that is down the hill towards Stanley bay. I observed single spots of blood along the footpath, about the distance of three and four feet apart. In some places several spots were together. I traced the blood to within about 50 yards from a fishing-hut, and about 100 yards from the water. I went to the hut, which I examined. I found Chinese there, whom I took into custody and sent to the barracks in charge of some of the Rifles. I afterwards examined a sampan in the water close to the fishing-hut. I examined it, but found nothing suspicious about her. I then retraced the footpath, and observed the single spots of blood all the way to within a short distance of the village of Wong-ma-kok. I searched the houses with Mr May. In one house I had been frequently at the village.
Query—Swears—Ed.C.M.
11
away, saying it was improper for them as other relatives with the villagers. Samning his girl, crying out, came and winked them
the common people; but they struck them, still they began to fight."—Register's Report.
§§ly through Chui-apo and his men being vexed at what they had done, that the fray occurred. He it and man, and only wished to go away.
¶ "It was Chui-Apo."—Ibid.
$1 answers often came about shooting, but seldom came to the house. Frid.
****The villagers came and took hold of the officers with their hands to pull them out of the house. The officers resisted, and struck them with their sticks."
—List.
306