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THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, TUESDAY, MAY 10ra 1921.
LEAVING PORT WITHOUT A OLD BAILEY HOUSE COLLAPSE
CLEARANCE,
CORONER'S INQUIRY OPENED.
Messrs John
SNATCHING A WRIST
WATCH.
SHIP'S MASTER FINED..
The Coroner's inquiry into the recent A COURAGEOUS SCHOOLMISTRESS. house collapse in Old Bailey was opened' -Capt. H. C. Kiddle, master of the sa
Miss Margaret Sorby, a mistress of Fe Fing Wa appeared before Mr. Lindt the Magistracy yesterday afternoon. Yantuati School, had an unpleasant ex- sell at the Magistracy, yesterday, on the Mr. G. N. Orme acted as Coroner, and pertence with a thief on Sunday evening the following were empanelled as a jury:"She was proceding about 8.30 pm. from following charges; (1) attempting to leave the Colony before his ship had Haptista, and Carlos Maria Sequeira.
D. Kinnaird, Joaquim Queen's Gardens to the Helena May in
been examined by a police officer; (2)
Ístitute, when a Chinese coming up behind Adjoining owners were legally repre; tur seed inse. left wrist, and snatched failing to produce to the examination sented by Mr. Turner and Mr. M. K. Lo her wrist watch, pointing a brass ruwlock 'ficer, for inspection and interrogation, Mr. J. W. White represented the Build-}| at her as though it was a revolver.. When all the passengers on board the ship; and
ing Authority.
Ms Sorby atruggled with him, the (3) failing to furnish i complete list of
thief struck her on the left shoulder the passengera,
Conduit and Hobinson Roads and down with the implement and then ran through
Glenealy where he was stopped near the Homan Catholic Cathedral by two pri "ates of the Wiltshire Regiment. When the defendant saw himself cornered, he dropped the watch. This caused him to lose time, and two soldiers of the Wilts Regiment caught him and recovered the watch. The man was charged before Mr. Lindsel, at the Magistracy with robbery Inspector Pain related with violence.
Mr. D. H. Blake appeared for the
defendant.
la opening the enquiry, the Coroner anid that, the jury had been called to hear evidence into the circumstances attending the death of one of the victims Sergeant F. T. James, said that at 5 of the Old Bailey house collapse which pm, on March 30th he was in the police occurred on April 13th. In coming to a moter-boat, on passport service, when he conclusion as to the cause of the deceased's saw the s.. Yue Fing a going towards death, he said, he would take it that the the Green Island entrance of the Har-riding applied also to the other eight hour. She was in the fairway between victims. The jury would also have to say buoys 24 and 27, steaming west,
in their finding, whether or not the death of the deceased was accidental, and if there were such negligence on the part of anyone as would amount to such person. being responsible for the catastrophe.
The Magistrate (after examining a plan of the Harbour put in by the witness): She was not in the main fairway 1
Yung Hin Fat, of No. 94, Caine Road, the father of the decensed girl, gave evidence of identification.
the story.
chase
The Magistrate: Did Miss Sorby give
COMPANY REPORT. CANTON INSURANCE OFFICE, LTD. The report for pressatation to the shareholders at the fortieth ordinary meeting of the Company, is as follows:-- The General Agents and Consulting Committee have pleasure in submitting a statement of the affairs of the office made up to 31st December, 1020, în sterling and Hongkong currency.
1919. Accent.-After paying an interim dividend of is per share on 93th May, 1020, the amount standing to the crit of this account is 8843,127.43.1
following manner-
This it is resolved to deal with in the
To pay a final dividend of
$17 per share...... To add to Investment. and.
Exchange" Account
Fluctuation
To add to Underwriting Suspense Account to close the year 1913
$170,000.00
50,000.00
843,127.43
$663, 197.43
1920 Account. The amount standing at credit of this account is 82,795,372.05. Out of this the general agents and Con-- ulting Committee have declared an in- terim dividend of $18 per share absorbing *180,000.
The balance of $2,015,379.05 will be carried forward. The Inspector asked for a remand sug-
Consulting Committee.-Messra. G. W. gesting that the case would be one for comand F. Maitland resigned their seats on Barton, A. H. Compton, C. S. Gubbay anttal to the Sessione.
The Inspector: Yes, she was close be- hind him all the way.
The Magistrate remanded the defendant in police custody for a week.
Colony and Messrs. H. P. White, A. M. account of their departure from the Bowes-Smith, H. W. Sassoon and E. J. Chapman wero invited to fill the vacan cies
The Ros. Sir Paul Chater, C.M.G., Bir" Robert Ho
Mesars. Tung, White, Pearce, Chapman, Sassoon and Bowes-Smith retire but, being eligible, offer themselves for re-election.
Witness: No, your Worship'; she was
The first witness was Dr. H. H. Scott in the channel to the north of it. 1 medical officer in charge of the Victoria signalled to the ship to stop by blowing Mortuary, Fe said that on the morning four bits. The ship stopped and I of April 13th, he examined the dead body of a girl who was identified by her father board it. I asked the Captain, who was and a servant of the family in the presence on the bridge, whether he had a police of Inspector McDonald. There were cleare. He replied that he did not several bruises on the body, but the cause know he required to have one. I then of death was the fracture of the breast asked him for his passenger list and told boue and of aweral ribs on both sides. him I must examine the passports of all; his passengers. The Captain called the "Chinese compradore and told him to give me the list and to produce the
A contractor's foki who" prior to the THEFT OF "SHIP STORES. Passengers for examination. The com collapse had been engaged in some car- pradore could not produce a list, but a pentery at No. 11, Old Railey was the. OIL FROM THE KINSHAN." number of passengers were mustered and next witness. He said that eight work- I took their names down. They number first Hoor of the house,
Two Chinese were charged before Mr. njen altogether were employed on the el all these had passports, I gave and boarding had been removed with the tin of lamp oil which formed part of the timbers Lindball, yesterday, with the theft of a the Captain his clearance and allowed exception of two beams which had been the ship's stores of the &s Einshan. the ship fo proceed.
Jeft at each end of the building. Similar The first defendant, a coolie, was arrest-latter in place of Mr. H. Percy Smith, The Magistrate: Did you actually see, work had been done on the second floor. ed on the Leung Wing wharf on Sunday the ship lenye the buoy
Witness: She was at Kowloon Wharf. cement cobbling had been put in, and basket.
On the first floor level, brickwork, and afternoon with the tin concealed in a When questioned he gave in I did not actually see her leave it. between 10 and 20 now door joists were
formation which led to the arrest of the Continuing, the witness said that on in position. On the afternoon and even second defendant, the ship's lump trim- April oth the sst Fur Fing We returned ing of the 12th, the wall between Nos. 11 me." to Hongkong from Haiphong with eight and 13 was shored up to give support to Russian passenger on board. His con- the latter house. The shoring extended tention was that these passengers were on sa far as the second floor. There was no board when the ship left. Hongkong, but shoring on the wall between Nos, 9 and 11. They were not produced for inspection. At the time of the collapse, the witness
house and was buried underneath the Company. debris,
audited by Messrs. A. R. Lowe, F.C.A. Auditors. The accounts have been and J. Hennessey Seth, F.S.A.A., the F.C.A., on leave.
Messrs. H. Percy Smith, F.C.A. and A. R. Lowe, F.C.A., being eligible, offer themselves for re-election.
OPIUM CASES AT THE MAGISTRACY.
They were refused.permission to land at was asleep on the ground floor of the ; the ship received from the Vacuum Qarmed opium soker was charged Foster. ;
Haiphong by the French authorities, and their return led to this case being brought into Court.
By Mr. Blake: The passengers ex- were members of Bostock's amited Circus. The Captain said he was anxious to get away. He had been delayed get fing the elephants on board, and the ship was under contract to be in Haiphong on April 1st.
I
The
Mr. Gibson, the Chief Officer of the Kinahan, said that the second defendant was 'allowed two tins of oil a month for use in the ship's lamps. The tin of oil produced in court was similar to those The Chief Officer explained 31. W. L. Wenser, architect, said that accumulate. He could not say how much that by little economies a surplus would he was instructed on March 14th or 15th, the amp trimmer would actually hava up plans for new floors and repairs to a contractor named Mak Chau, to draw by
is stock as he did not check every tin aux
the by the front wall of house Xo, 11. The pinus!
defendant. were submitted on March 22nd, and asy to
Magistrato: That appears to make approved on March 20th. On the after-
The first defendant said that he wa
•squeeze" noon of April 12th, he went to inspect Nos. 11 and 13. He sounded the front, back and party walls, and agreed with a representative, of the Public Works
the Colony,
party wall should be shored. Witness gave Sergeant James interposed an explana instructions to the contractor's foreman tion of the procedure with regard to to do so. -clearances. He said the police and By the Coroner: At the time of the harbour clearances were given at the inspection, the witness did not see any Barbour Office, by the clerk, when ships thing to indicate danger of the house
Sergeant, K. W. Andrew said he told the Captain at 2 p.m. that the police!
A Chinese who said that he was a con
said he had bought the drug for his own day with unlawful possession of one titel of prepared non-Government opium, He consumption. Mr. Gre fined him $75 and ordered the confiscation of
the drug A Chinese was charged by Sub-Inspec or Willis of No. 7, Police Station with tie unlawful possession of 12 taels of raw non-Government opium which was found tied round his waist when searched in Des Vaux Rond West on Sunday alteruoon, Defendant said that he was
would come on board again before he left! Department whom he met there that the ovidence against the second defondant employed by another man to carry the
& wharf ecolie and was employed by the second defendant to take the oil dihore.
The first defendant denied this. Inspector Pain said that he had nu excepting, what the first defendant had withdraw the charge against the second ned $450, or, in default, three months' said about him. He asked for leave tog, not knowing what it was. defendant, and proceed ngainst frat de
hard labour. fendant for unlawful possession.
The Magistrate thought that the cARG
He was
Another Chinese who had 29 trals of non-Government opium on his person
had no passengers. When they had Euro-collapsing. No. 11 was a very old house, against the first defendant should be when searched on the Praya ou Sundag, pean passengers, the clerk at the Harbour and before preparing the plans he made withdrawn, and he be used as a witness said that he bought the drug in Salt Fish
ness
Office told them the police would bring below present requirements as to thick- a very careful inspection. The walls were the police clearance on board.
Mr. Blake: If the Captain had wished to get away he could have put on ateam 'and cleared off.
The Magistrate: And never have dared to show his face in the Colony again.
Mr. Blake said the Captain did not get a list of passengers as he had only carried coolie passengers before. He submitted that as regards the list of passengers, the offerice was a technical
one,
The Magistrate said there was no evidence on which he could convict us regards the Russian passengers. There was no evidence that they were on the ship when she left Hongkong for: Hni- phong
Sergeant James agreed that there was no evidence unly a deduction...
The Magistrate I quite see that the eircumstances of this case are exceptional (to Sergeant Janies): You are not sug gesting that there was a deliberate in tention to commit an offence'?
Sergeant James: As a matter of fact 1 un received information privately Mr. Blakes do not think that we can go into that.
The Magistrate: I what you tell me apart from the caso unless you produce evidence.
cannot consider
The consider that these houses derive mutual Coroner: Do you, as an architect, aupport 1...
"
against second defendant.
Lane for his own consumption. He was fined $400, or three months hard labour.
An Indian was charged with the unlaw- possession of 660 taels of raw non- Government opium:
The Inspector adopted this course. The first defendant then told his story, on the second defendants anggestion. saying that the tin was put in the basket:
The Magistrate said that I could notful convict on the evidence and must there fore discharge the second defendant. He would, however, take the unusual cour The witness replied that it was not dock on a charge of unlawfirl possession of putting the first defendant back in the dangerous, provided the work was done and fine him £60 or four weeks' imprison properly. He did not think that work ment bad anything to do with the house collapse.
Witness: They do, certainly, Mr. M. K. Lo suggested that it was dangerous to carry out "cobbling" of floors in long lengths,
At this stage the inquiry was adjourned until today,"
a hundred men could have bidden behind
CHINESE MARRIAGE
RELATIONSHIPS.
the defence entered a plea of not Mr. Leo Longinotto, who appeared for guilty, and applied for e remand.
said that the defendant was seen on Sun- Acting Chief Proventive Officer Watt day afternoon to leave the s.8. A rongging, which was lying alongside the wharf. He was carrying two wooden boxes, When he had seated himself in a ricaba bo was stopped by a revenue officer and the boxes searched, resulting in the dis covery of the drug, which was valued at over $1,300.
the case until Friday morning fixing bail The Magistrate (Mr. Orme remanded in the sum of $10,000.
CHINESE CONSTABLE FINED. Curious sidelights en marriage and the stuff. He had no list of the passen-giving in marriage, in China, were obtain gers as the contract was to take the ed in a case before Mr. R. E. Lindsall, had referred the police to the manager A Chinese constable, C19, was charged circus in its entirety. Accordingly, he at the Magistracy, yesterday afternoon. when they asked him for a list,
Questioned by the Magistrate as to the prosecution was undertaken by the Secre with harbouring & married woman The police warning that they would come on tariat for Chinese Affairs, which was Kiddle said that he thought they came on board again before he left, Captain represented by Mr. W. Schofield, chinese wa man-climb up the drain pipe-at"|
It appeared that the wife of a
CLIMBING UP A DRAIN PIPE.
A Chinese, watchman employed at the Sui Lur restaurant in Wellington Street
board about 3 o'clock. He could not Acaian, who was often away from home 4 a.m., on Sunday, vault over the railings be sure as he did not actually see them on account of his cocupation, went to of the verandah of the first floor and but he thought the compradore had secur. live in the same house a Chinese Con- open one of the windowa He was about ed police clearance..
The Magistrate found all three charges stable, the defendant, made her acquaint blew n police whistle. The man there stable No. U163 Here, the other conto enter the floor when the watchman proved and recorded a conviction in each ance. Last year, a few days after the upon jumped from the verandah into a Russians would show that they have out police clearance, the only charge that died at Beg. Her friend, the wife of the watchman identified him.
Sergeant James: The passports of the instance. For attempting to leave with sailor had gone on a voyage, his wife side lane and escaped. Later a man was never been allowed to land at Haiphong he regarded in a serious light, he would Constable C183, recommended her to the charged at the Magistracy, yesterday, affected to believe that her husband had caught by a European constable and and could never have left this steamer. impose a fine of 82, and for having no defendant wife. The go between told defendant said that he was naleep on the When 1 have the officer here who inspected the list of passengers 9. On the matter of the constable he could have her on pay-pavement outside the restaurant when passports,
The Hagistrite: I think I will hear penalty as the circumstances were such. The defendant said he questioned the it was a fire, he got up and ran. The the passengers he would impose no ment of 120, owing for rico and lodging he heard a police whistle. Thinking that that evidence.
Sergeant Griffin said that when the looked the presence of the men
that the captain could easily have over woman closely as to whether she had a constable said that he chased the defen- ship returned to Hongkong he inspected Sergeant James remarked that no ship added I am looking for a husbar : caught up with him. Mr. Orme sentenced husband, She said the had not, and dant through several streets before he the passports. They were vised at had lelt Hongkong without a police I want you." Manija for Hongkong but not from Heng clearance since the beginning of the A curious feature of the case was that
defendant to one month's hard labour. kong to Haiphong and there was no visa Travellers Restriction Ordinance, so it the young woman had a child eight days from Haiphong to Hongkong because the was extraordinary for the Captain to agoshe had the infant with her in the French authorities had refused it
pleads ignorancesa "
witness box and seemed quite prepared to The Magistrate"It" would the "absurd stand and give evidence until Mr. Scho- light. When the ship came back a modated with a seat. Mr. Schofield mid
ship to ship away in broad day tind suggested that she should be accom charge would be brought. H
the sailor
claimed to be the father of the Sergeant James sold it was almost child toga, impossible for the police to do this work The Magistrate: Why should not the properly unless the ships captains constablo be the father. worked with them...
Mr. Schofold: The sailor claims it. The Magistrado: He would, wouldn't
The Magistrate: is there no- visa put on passports here t
Witness:No, not here; neither British nor French:
The Magistrate: This puts rather Va different complexion on the matter the Captain had these men on board without proper passporta and never produced them to the police officer..
for
The Magistrate But it would be an het
ALLEGED "KIDNAPPING.
Magistracy, yesterday, with having kid A Chinese man was charged at the rapped a 5-year old male child, and a The man denied kidnapping the child. woman was charged with barbouring it. The woman admitted harbouring the child but denied that she knew that it Mr. Blake then called Captain Kiddle absurd offence to commit. You cannot Mr. Scholad. He might, anyhow. representing it to be his son, asked hor had been kidnapped. She said that the who said that he gave the sun! three get away with it Are you anggesting The Magistrate fined the defendant $100 to take care of it for a couple of days.
man took the child to her house and long blasta on the team whistle befofe Sergeant James, that the penalty impos- and told Pe C183 that his wife was on applying for a remand, the police he left port and when he saw the policed is too low launch he stopped at once, He did not
disgrace, and far more to blame than any said that the child was missing from know of the eight passengers being your Worship. The Ordinance provides lucky, not to be in the dock as well, on & in the woman's house at Kowloon City Sergeant James: 1 do maggest that, one else in the matter. She was very Yaumati on Friday and was discovered Recreted. The place was lumbered up for a maximum of $2,000 with the paraphernalia of the circus and
charge of aiding and abetting There on Bunday (Continued at foot of next column.)
The Magistrate: And I think a $26 was no earthly reason for thinking that Mr. Orme remanded the defendants in fine meets this case.
the sailor-husband was dead.
custody until this morning.
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