Page
RANDOM REFLECTIONS.
Ima i
Last Thursday's meeting of the Legisla Live Council was the longest that has -bean indicted upon us for some, years, In addition to discussions on three motions there were explanatory state mentä on, the introduction of ten new bills. The report occupied, in all, nearly pineteen columns of this newspaper an amount of space which is never given in these days even to the proceedings of emperial Parliament itself. Il "a verbatim report had to be transcribed and printed by a Government Depart thent in time for H.E. The Governor to peruse with his early tea at Mountain Lodge next morning we should probably see more frequent-and therefore shorter
meetings
What is the object of allowing six weskk to intervene between meetings, a on this occasion, and then to produce ten new measures for consideration! The bill cannot all be produced simultaneously ke Ford cars. I am sure, and our lagislators are not so fearfully busy that they cannot afford the time to walk or ride up to the Counell Chamber a little oftener. I would not, of course, anggest for worlds that the present system of sending down an avalanche of business for the Council to deal with prevents our zealous Councillors from giving it that careful attention to which It is entitled, but of this I am sure it prevents the public from taking an intelligent, interest in the proceedings. “No normal”man is going to sit down and attempt to nasimilate nineteen columns of solid type if he is a free agent. Perhaps the Government realise this.
There is no doubt that if you want to void too much scrutiny of official expenditure it is a good plan to hold an important meeting of the Finance Com- mittee immediately after a long Council]
THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER STs, 1931.
4 little
In the circumstances it would be sur prising if we did not pay raton at a lower percentage than they do at Home. as was pointed out in this paper the other
Bu
day, when your some to compare the cash equivalent of 13 per cent. dn rentals here with 30 per cent. on the assessments in England there is not much cause for crowing,
It may help H.E. the Governor and the Colonial Secretary to modify their transports in Iature If they work out Mum these lines, and then ask themselves what the resultant figure bring in each case. In English towns the rates furnish the inhabitants with free (and compulsory) education, modern methods of sanitation, indoor and out-door relief for the poor, clean and comfortable free libraries, cheap transport, and public bands (as at Shanghai), as well as such elementary requirements as water, scavenging, roads and police protection. There is, however, one thing they do not provide, and that is subsidised resid ences for the Mayor, Aldermen, Council- lors and Corporation officers." We beat them "there.
1
WOPING THEATRE TRA
TRAGEDY. FRESH DEVELOPMENTS AT THE TRIAL
WHAT WAS FOUND ON A SECOND SEARCH
·UNUSUAL SCENER: IN COURT.
リ
There were surprising developments when the Court re-assembled. yester day, for the third day of the trial of Yeung Ko, who is indicted for the urder of the actor, shot on the stage August 16th. of the Waping Theatre, on the night of
evidence-not put in daring the proceed On the previous afternoon, a piece of ings before the Police Magistrate had witness from the theatre had said that a been somewhat sketchily indicated. A pink ticket was complete ticket of admission-not merely the part retained entitling the bearer to s seat in the front by the purchaser; an unused ticket row of the stalls on the 18th night of the to the 16th of the month, European moon, (Chinese reckoning), sorresponding reckoning..
The witness searched the post, found pothing, and was required to2 turn his back while Mr. Jenkin put the theatre sicket in the breast pocket. The witness faced his frost, again, and, on a second search, found the ticket immediately..
Mr. Jenkin: No careful police officer could have searched that cost and hate Witness: You cannot assume that, one missed that ticket, could hel might miss it.
You did not miss it, just now If I pay full attention, surely I shall and it
This was next a rapid fusilade of short, sharp questioning as to where when, and under what circumstances the witness heard of the discovery of the
who carried it to and from the police Jenkin called it. Who found the basket, theatre tickat lucky find Mr. court, the witness was naked, but he could not throw any light on the matter.
WAR IT A "BLANT "'! "Now that ticket was planted in that found there last Monday morning, by pocket," said Mr. Jenkin, and it was somebody-do you know anything about it 1
"I don't know whether it was 'planted' there, replied the witness.
Aftor questions, as to what he could or could not see, in the theatre, the con- without dropping it, to take his coat off. stable was given-the-platol and required,
at the exit
in a tangle,
A THEATRE TICKET FOUND The bearing of this oṛidence was, then, was definitely related with the rest of the only known to a few. In the morning, it
case for the Crown by the evidence of
It will be remembered that the man Chinese Constable 161 who said that, only in the white long coat was said to have Central Police Station, Inspector Murphy the pistol, as he ran out of the theatre en Monday last, September, 3th. at the removed the coat, and wrapped it round turned out the contents of the rattan and a short flight of steps, and then basket, removed from the prisoner's zoom
to have dumped directed him to search the clothing which at the Kwong Fat Boarding House, and door.
Constable 100 gat himself was the principal contents of the baskets he interpreted it to mean that he was not in. carrying out this instruction, because In the breast pocket of one of the jackets he found the pink theatre ticket.
to, let
go of the pistol: So he did. not. The Court was left to suppose, until change hands when he had got his arm the very end of the day, that this was out of one sleeve, but tried to draw the the first time it had occurred to the police pistol through the cont sleeve, which, he However, just before the Court rose, at ed as the cummy of the to search the clothes in the rattan basket. could not do.
The policeman who had previously act- be 4 o'clock, the evidence of Sgt. Rozesky was white long cont" was then again brought
reached. He stated that he forced open the basket when, it was found, on the forward and required to get out of the night of the tragedy, and searched the six long coat without dropping the revolver. jackets and two pairs of trousers that He got into the same difficulty as C100 it contained. "
had done. "I cannot remove the sleeve," said the artlese fellow. Change hands!" shrieked the interpreter.
When the new Deportation Bill comes up for second reading I hope it will be more carefully scrutinised than its pre decessor was before being allowed to become law. The Ordinance under which the Li Hon Mi case fell went through without a single word of inquiry or protest, though it extended the power of deportation by "Star Chamber methods to British subjects and was declared by counsel in Court, subsequently, to contrary to natural justice, in confict with the provisions of Magna Charta, and I don't know what else besides. So long as we allow Chinese, to pour into our midst without let or hindrance there can be no great wrong in adopting an expeditious method of sending them back whence they came if we have any reason for preferring their room to their
Է-
HOW SEARCHES, ARE MADE. Mr. Jenkin, on behalf of the prisoner. elicited that Chief Detective Inspector, Murisin and the No. 2 Inspector Watt, were present at this search.
I want said Mr. Jenkin, search this
house."
man in the
'A'QUESTIÓN OP TÍME ·
C100, and drew from him the statement Mr. Jenkin returned to the witness,
[ to that, in traversing the distance from "man in the white long coat to do all this, which the witnesses had found so
"Shall
meeting. The members are then so eager company. But when it comes to British it at the EU BOST, as you searched stalls to the door, there was time for thei
-J
to get away to their homes that they subjects who have a natural right to be I put three fingers in each pocket. difficult 1 tell you why there was time
will agree to anything, and you can pass here we ought to be very chary about
The witness complied,
lied, and remarked may have missed a pocket, entirely, at the bouse, or, if the ticket was crumpled, I s
have missed it." The view that
votes for a trifle over $300,000, as was casting them out unless and until it can boarding I may the defence took of this you were at the back of the theatre:"
done last Thursday, like shelling peas be shown that they are a danger to the In the breathless rush one or two of the community. For that purpose, in normal unofficial members, it is "true, managed times, our Law Courts ought to be to gasp out a few hurried words of half- | suficients' As I understand it, "trial hearted protest. Mr. Pollock seemed to by Executive Council is designed to think that $30,000 was a bit steep," for dodge the wholesome marimot Eng. his right hand, and had him in view until
temporary lower-grade school building lish law that man must be assumed near Morrison'Gap Road to accommodate
«
dicated by Mr. Jenkin's cross-examination matter of the theatre ticket was soon in- of Constable Sin Chuen, No. 100, the prin- "cipal witness for the Crown, who had the theatre, with something smoking in sworn that he identified the prisoner in
he captured him short distance from the theatre. The cross-examination of this witness occupied from the time the Court opened until mid-day.
A NOVEL CROSS-EXAMINATION.
Mr. Jenkin began with this witness in a novel way.
courts-a photograph of jargon of the put to him," in the the scene at the recent presentation of medals to the police by H.E. the Governor on the parade ground at the Central Police Station,
Some of those Chinese detectives got medals for securing convictions? queried Mr. Jenkin
The witness concurred...
$1
"And you have not got a medal !!!
No, have not got one yet, said Constable 100. It does not follow that
constable who makes arrests is
ro-
F
to do all that?" asked Mr. Jenkin. It was because you were not close to him;
the witness.
"No, I was close up to him,"
reiterated
Then, as to the bamboo fence that the an scaled and the constable pushed over, at the corner of the dock, asked the con- Mr. Jenkin, having had the scene staged stable how he kept the mag in view, con- obstacle, the man went to the left. sidering that, after surmounting the
the replied
The straight for a few yards before he turned. that the man went That's & brain wave,'
commented Mr. Jenkin. So you could still keep him in view!"
AN UNUSUAL SCENE. .
The witness had left the witness-box for this demonstration, Mr. Jenkin had left. the counsels' table, and the interpreter had joined them. The bamboo fence was rigged up, temporarily, and the fore- going colloquy took place beside it, the constable giring a vigorous demonstra- tion, also, of the way he broke down the obstruction to his pursuit of the fugitive. it all occurred just to the left of the place where the prisoner was standing, impassive and motionless, as he had stood for three days past. He never even turn- ed his head to see the demonstration You know how to search, don't you?-well of the Court, below him
bnt continued to gaze fixedly, into the Constable C100 returned to the witness- Mr. Jenkin: Now, I want you to search box and continued to answer all questions this coat-producing a abort, blue, cotton clearly and inperturbably. Nor did he jacket of this texture, in which, the next by a verbatim shorthand note of his vary his story in any respect, as checked wiiness said, the ticket was found)tu evidence in chief. search it on these lines; that a man has. elues-you, want a clue as to who is at been arrested for murder and you want the back of the murder, because you can. not find any motive,
"YOU WANT CLUES."
it necessary to re-examine the witness.
The Attorney-General (who is conduct. ing the case for the Crown) did not find
All the other constables who took part in the arrest were called, and all of them were required by counsel for the defence to search the jacket, first with nothing in the pocket and then with the ticket there. restive under this, and the Judge said, After the adjournment, a constable grew to Mr. Jenkin, I think he knows you had people searching empty pockets, this
about 190 scholars for a period of air to be innocent until he is proved guilty." years, after which it will not be of much so, apparently, to anybody. One dreads
Apropos of the Rev. J. Kirk Macona to ask what the permanent structure is chie's jeremiad against modern journalism expected "to cost. Another $30,000-a 1 otice that, in conformity with the more bagatello-is to be spent-or, view, expressed by more than rather has been spent-upon titivating His Majesty's judges, the House of the Chinese "police-force, whose appear Commons have passed the second reading anco now recalls the Special Police Re of the clause, in the Criminal Law that repeala the serve of sainted memory. The men have Amendment Bill been provided with an outfit on a semi-section in the Punishment of Incest Act, regal scale, and, as the police authori- 1906, requiring all proceedings under that ties," who used to consist of one member Act to be held in camera.
In the dis- of the Legislative Council fancied the cussion, Mr.. Wignall Labour member change, it was considered superduous to
for the Forest of Dean, who seconded the consult the Council-by which, of course, measure, complained that there was too I mean the unoffeial members of it.
mich secrecy in dealing with the "Borrible offences" specified in the Billa "Thera should be mere publicity." Mr. warded." When he gave his views in opposition Wignall spoke as a magistrate of fifteen But you live in hopes 7-Yes. to the proposal for encouraging the con-years' experience and as a representative stry tion of houses by exempting new of that class whose minds, Mr. Macona Yes. buildings from rutes for three years, the chia considers, are most likely to be Colonial Secretary was, I imagine, demoralised and debilitated by reading "speaking oficially" or, in more vulgar reports of Police Court cases. You see parlance, with his tongue in his cheek. how hopeless it is to try to please every Judges, you know," do it sometimes when body. they ask from the Bench in tones of bland simplicity: Who is Lottie Collins?" or
What has become of the War Memorial! some equally fatious question.
The Nearly three years have passed since the suggestion that any incentive could be cessation of hostilition, and we
appear needed to build houses in Hongkong struck to be as far off action in this matter as Mr. Severn as extraordinary almost, ever we were. Isn't this apathy, typical? Indeed, as ridiculous-in view of the We try to run everything under the It was a patchwork quilt sort of eager rush of anxious applicants there has direction of a few people who count," arrangement, and its pattern was deter been for some years past trying to make and people who. count" won't work. mined by expediency. Somebody wanted aure of a shelter "almost before a brick We had a tremendous Committee a Club for the Services nad, as he could has been laid. This little picture of appointed by the Government to receive not hope to raise the funds for this local conditions, though not overdrawn, and report upon the suggestions made for while the War Memorial subscription morning, and he fansics you are making is rather in conflict with the Governor's celebrating azd commemorating the list was in circulation, he bit upon the a fool of him." suggestion 870 time back that the restoration of Peace, and something idea of combining the two to attain his housing, shortage was rather exaggerated. like sixty schemes were sent in by the object. A further amalgamation with But that by the way. Mr. Bevern's general public for consideration. After the Y.M.C.A., imagination is surely equal to the strain great cerebral agitation on the part of $140,000 set aside for the erection of new witnesses, the Attorney-General was able which already had In the case of one of the Chinese police "of picturing people in modest circum-
stances anxious to own their own homes and humbly submitted to the august con- Premises offered the prospect of a very with reference to Mr. Jenkin's cross- to whom the suggested concession would sideration of the more, massive "intel. acceptable contribution to the half-million examination about constables hopes of prove an inducement in these days of lects of the Executive Committee, who authorities were attracted, no doubt, by neas with the remark, I see you have dollars required, while the Y.M.C.A. receiving medals, to introduce the wit- inflated prices 10
wrestled with the task in sceret, I believe, the very magnitude of the enterprise.
medal already." and after many moons promised us A
One constable was cross-examined as to As everything in this Colony is concen The building activity in the Colony at shape of a granite obelisk or cenotaph people, it was a comparatively simple whereas he now said "two people running." simple and dignified memorial in the trated in the hands of about a score of a statement on the police court deposi
tions that he saw the present time is, Mr. Severa declares, on
the finest site. That is the story matter to scrap all previous decisions The witness. said it was a mistake in the
people running, quite unprecedented."
Let us hope so far as I am able to recall it, but I and plump for the new project. At the depositions; he had always said what ho that he will not rashly jump to the com- will not pledge myself to details because meeting held in the City Hall to give now said. He had not altered his story fortable conclusion that it is necessarily it was so long ago.
quite adequate." There are a lot of
the appearances of public endorsement to fit in with the evidence of C100. The arrears to overtake-as this paper warned
to the scheme those who attended were the Government, five or six years ago, intelligence, conceived the idea of the gold lace and brass hats on the
After another long interval some bright hypnotised by the dazzling display of constables all denied using any violence would be the case when the war ended omnibus club that should shelter within platform, and all weet as merrily as the to take him out of their hands.
in the arrest, and denied that their pri and the Colony is growing all the time, its hospitable walls soldiers and sailors proverbial marriage bell. That was last
soner appealed to an Indian policemar Unfortunately this sudden development and junior members of the civilian.com-December: Since then nothing more as Jenkin elicited that the prisoner's basket With regard to the theatre ticket, Mr. has played into the hands of the builders munity. The fear that these elements been heard of the matter, and nobody had remained since the tragedy on a ring and helped them to force up. prices, might nix well was dismissed By I will wager that there is precious little Mr John Johnstone with the statement seems to be worrying
shelf in a police, office, accessible to the money being invested in the speculative that they damned well ought to "--a
police, generally, and that the basket had building of European dwellings The etatement which carried with it bore to save their face," the War Memorial
In ordor, as the Chinese would say, to locks, having been forced open. houses which are going up, are for the truth than conviction, anyone will
The Court adjourned. at 4pm., until odclipation, of owners who can afford to concede Who Enows his Church Service Committee, who fell into line almost at this morning. dtudy their domestic comfort at any cost, The promoters of the scheme were practisemblance of the scheme to which they moment's notice, stipulated that some ind for wealthy, corporations who naredil dilough to realise that the institution had previously committed themselves forced to go to Chrescue of their would ter enjoy the fullest toasible should be carried out, and the little
P&OLLINER ON FIRE. erplayts. Oller poople iness affluent measure of popularity if it provided only salve was conceded. Of course having The P & O. laer Kalgan put back circumstances are hesitating to put all soft drinks, but the ameulty was waited so long there is no need for any to Colombo on August 22nd, with é some their eggs in one nest for fear this reconcile this with YMCA", direction,hibition of impetuosity now, but an what serious fire in her bunkers The quite unprecedented" building activity which was considered a sine qua no attempt might be made to have every fire was discovered some 28 miles from which so impressea Mr. Severn, will be Away out of this dilemma was bought thing in readiness for the Prince of Wales Colombo and finding it Inpossible, to followed by a slump in values. Unless in the provision of an agheze in which to lay the foundation stone of--I dare control the fre until the general cargo it is, it will no longer be possible for the cup that cheers and anyone without the salary of an Ambas inebriates could circle...
not say unveil the obelisk er cenotaph adjoining the hold was removed the liner sador to rent even a rabbit but
when he visits, the Coldy next year. was brought back. It was believed that
RODERICK KANDUM. the damage was poÏ'serious,
៩
a sub-committee a selection was made
sometimes
(Continued of foot of neat column.)
A MEDAL ALREADY."
Everyone knows
: r° "ན་
it is not by looks alone that
we judge & man-rather by the knowledge
of his own capabilities.
Similaly you cannot judge a piece of
furniture by what it appears to be.
Brilliant finish, and bold design do not
necessarily mean you are getting value
for your money.
Where is the craftsmanship beneath the
highly polished veneer ?
You only feel justified in buying goods that have experience behind them, as is most certainly the case with all the Furniture turned out of our workshops.
Doubt! But why? We are always
open to allow an inspection of the actual
manufacture at any time.
Why then be deceived into buying inferior articles, when you can obtain a combination of quality and workmanship from
Lane, Crawford & Co.
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༄ཝཾ, '།ཀ་ -।
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