THE SUBMARINE FATALITY. JURY'S VERDICT."
"ACCIDENT ARISES OUT OF
NEGLIGENCE.”
The inquiry into the death of a Chinese paint-scraper, who met his death on the 17th ult., on board submarine L8, now dying at the Naval Yard undergoing repair, was concluded at the Magistracy, yesterday afternoon, by the Coroner (Mr. R. E. Lindsell) and a Jury, -
THE HONGKONG DAILY. PRESS. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 2ND, 1938.
AN OBSTREPEROUS
PRISONER. »
OF DOUBTFUL SANITY.
The presence of a man who acted like a labatie in the Dock caused much excife- ment in Mr. Lindsell's Court at the Magistracy, yesterday morning: The man had been arrested the previous day at the Yaamati Ferry Pier and was charged with throwing stones at the ferry passen. gers. During he Court proceedings the Ah Kwan, the chief paint contractor, prisoner remarked that he was sorry that recalled by the Coroner, said he remembe did not use bamboo poles instead of bered being called to Mr. Brookshaw'a office on the 13th ult. He was told to
take the No. 1 painter to the office with him. He did not take the proper No. 1, because he was busy and the No. 1 giainter he took with him was well acquainted with the work. Witness ad mitted receiving written instructions frole Mr. Brookshaw on the 10th inst., regard ing the commencement of work on L.3. He did not tell the No. 1 painter that he bad to consult Mr. Brookshaw, before starting the work.
The Coroner: Why not Every time previously he had carried out the work ...satisfactorily. “
Cheng Ng, shipwright foreman at Naval Yard, stated that on the 16th ult. he opened up the submarine tanks on instructions from his chargeman (Mr. Middis). The painting coolies had no thing to do with the opening up of tha tanks. On the 17th ult. the tanks were re-opened by him. He was not on board when the painting gang started work ou the vessel that morning. Some of his fakis were there. They (the fokis) went into the interior of the submarine to re
nore bolts.
The Coroner: Did you know the tanks were in a dangerous condition?
The witness (in a besitating mauner): No, I did not know,
-ECHO OR THE WO .PING
VMURDER CASE,
CHINESE ACTOR ALLEGED TO
HAVE BEEN THREATENED.
1
LOCAL CHINESE PRESS COMMENT.
-KWANGTUNG AFFAIRS.
The Tran Han Yat Po says that the The famous We Ping murder case was appointment of a Civil Governor, after recalled at the Magistracy, yesterday being delayed for over two months, has afternoon, by Mr. Leo d'Almada, who, ben anlyed by "one shot red from Luk appearing for the defendant ebarged with Mang Fay's pistol. The result is that intimidation and demanding money by Kwangtung has a Civil Governor, add menaces, put several questions to the com- the members of the Pincial Assembly plaipaat (an actor), relating to the mur-have received their arres of pay and der which caused a great sensation in expenses." Luk has got into trouble, But his attnienient should be rewarded. the Colony.
What he loses' in 'reputation he gains in The defendant is Hui Lin, a young material benefit. The transaction, has Chinese, and he was charged, before Mr.been completed and the purchasers are Hamilton, with intimidating a Chinese returning with their goods," meaning that actor, named Wong Siu Hung, between the Civil Governorship." was bought by the 16th and the 24th August last. A fur-settling the arrears of pay due to the ther charge against the defendant was members of the Provincial Assembly. that he demanded $100 from the complain. The people now hope for an era of peace aup by means of menaces.
{as Governor, Chaa has declared that he Mr. Webster, who appeared for the will always have their interests at heart;
the other hand, doubts
exist at disorderly conduct preferred against prosecution, said the complainant belong.on.
stones.
Or the entry of the Magistrate into the Court to take up his duties for the day the man stood up with the rest of the Court officials sod refused to sit down. e saluted the Magistrate in military fashion time and again, and when spoken to sternly by the Interpreter shook his fist violently at him.
When his case was called and a charge
him he interrupted at almost every worded to the Chuk Wa. Nin troop of theatri-jas to his ability because it is well known, that he has no administrative experience. the Magistrate said. When spoken to cala, now performing at the Kau U Fong
However, as General Chen strongly rel by the Inspector in charge of the case the Theatre. They came down to Hongkong
to his patriotism and talents. As regards man entered into a heated argument with on the ith ult, and they had been in commended him, he must be satisfied as him and swore aloud in pidgin English. Hongkong ever since. So the 18th ult. the power attached to the post, it will He was repeatedly saying 'right, the defendant, it was alleged, came with be recollected that Tang Shao Yi persit others to the matshed theatre at Causeway eatly refused the appointment because of o'right; what for you bling me here?!?
Sergeant Durling suggested to the Bay and demanded $100, saying you the lack of guarantees as to the separa Magistrate that the defendant wasst pay us $100 because many of our rish of military and civil control. Has
brothers have come down and we have to Chan obtained these guarantees bit touched."
ٹوریم
Mr. Lindsell then tried to speak to the defendant in his sternest manner, but failed to duly impress the "iman.
It was hopeless to proceed with the case, and the Magistrate decided to adjourn the case for three days, pending riedicat examination as to the man's mental con- dition.
As the prisoner was being led out of Court he struggled violently and shouted at the top of his voice. Outside be became so violent that it was considered, advis
His
provide them with food," On being told proposal had the approval of the mili by the complainant that he was very poor, tarists, but it does not follow that he will the defendant was alleged to have be able to shape a policy independent threatened to shoot him. The next day the of their interests. It seems probable same three men came again and made the that he will be a Civil Governor in name, same demand. They were again refused, but not in reality; his duties will be con- On August 21st after the Company had fined to the signing of documents and left the Theatre and gone to Kau U Fong the custody of the seals of office. Theatre the defendant called again and will have very few opportunities of exer- repeated his demand. The complainant's cising his talents for the benefit of the wife and another man was there when he province. One fears that Chan will only. called. The police were informed and the be a Civil Governor subsevient, to another
He
So you thought they were safe? able to hand-cuff him. In the prisoners" accused was arrested by two Chinese diovernor and it will be too late when it
would not say they were not safe,
DROWNED OR ASPEYIATED.
Dr. Esler, recalled, was put this ques tion by the Coroner: The question has been raised by the Jury if the man wax over the counter,, where 'Ee grabbed an overcome by gas fumes and fell into the inkwell and with his manacled hands stagnant water at the bottom of the tank threw it with all his fores amongst the
and was drowned.
Dr. Ealer: I think it very likely that this was so, but at the post-mortem examination the signs I found were more like those of asphyxia than of drowning.
LTUNG.
The gathering scaltered in all
directions, but the Court Sergeant and a reporter in search of copy, and a number of Chinese got the full shower of the ink,
Later the man was removed to the cells
trict watchmes
Mr. d'Almada objected to this on the ground that unless it could be proved that the defendant, wrote the letters it could not be brought up in Court against him.
The subject of the two letters was not pursued...
The complainant was then placed in the
There was no water in the lungs 7-Yes, where his crics could be heard throughout box and bore out his solicitor's statement critical period of its history..
but I would expect to find more in a
运
room his cries attracted crowds of people.
dawns on him that he has failed in his What would you say then?-I knew they These annoyed, him considerably and he
duty to the Cantoness. To secure. Chan's Mr. Webster said that since the Court election, Chen insisted that he strongly rere unsafe.
leapt over a counter and was only pre-proceedings had been instituted the com recommended him and he would accep vented from commencing a frontal attack plainant had received two threatening Kwangtung's history, nobody has been
full responsibility for his actions. on the crowd by the prompt action of two burly constables.
letters from the. Matual Lovers' Associable to accomplish anything without the He was hauled back
military backing and the Kwangtunk tion,"
Army is the predominant military element la: present. Is there a remote possibility of the military being content to permit the, civil authorities to have in free hand the Government of the proplet In addition to these difficulties, Chan i look forward to any praise for, succest, the unenviable position of not being able to
but he will be blamed and derided for failure. Kwangtung bas “renched "the Chen Chiung Ming is actually in supreme control of the Province as the military commanders are all his subordinates and the Civil Governor is his protégé. He's the one, man who can shape its destinies and the Cantonese hope that his stead fastness of purpose will urge him on to fresh achievements. Whether Kwangtung in particular and China in general, is to of chaos into a road leading to prosperity be les successfully from its present state
thirty million Cantonese will receive will depend on his decisions. The something in return for their tribulations We trust that he will have no cause for even if this is only partially attained
shifting the responsibility on to the “You were one of the unfortunate vic-newly-appointed Civil Governor. Dr. Suu has accused Chen of inaugurating a tims 1-Yes, but that was some time ago.
feudal system and it is our hope that he Did you receive any recently 7-No,
will refute the statement hy bringing You have been going about in the course blessing to Kwangtung. of your profession in fear of your lifet. Yes,
case of drowning. The fact that artifeinthe Court. Finally he was sent to the respiration was tried might have taken lunatic asylum in a motur ambulance. the water from the lungs.
Then it is possible that the deceased)
was overcone by gas and fell into the There, again, the Jury had to decide if water and was drowned 7-Yes.
This was all the evidence called.
THE CORONER'S SUMMING-UP.
The Coroner, in summing-up, briefly reviewed the evidence and went on to say that it remained for the Jury to decide whether the death was a mere accident or whether auch blame "attached to any person is to bring that person within the inw of manslaughter: that was to whether any one bad been guilty of culp able negligence in failing to take proper precautions before any workman entered the submarine tanks before they were safe, Four or five persons appeared to be directly or indirectly responsible for the work, on the submarineThere was Mr: Brookshaw, who, as chief shipwright, gave orders to the chief contractor for the work
this practice amounted to culpable negli. gence against Mr. Middis If, on the other hand, the Jury found negligence which was not culpable they would bring in a verdict of accidental death and they could add a rider censuring any parti calar person,"
The Foreman asked, for the guidance of the Jury in view of the difficulties of the be returned without bringing the charge case, if a verdict of manslaughter could
home to any particular person.
The Coroner replied that in the event of the Jury returning, à verdict of man- slaughter they would have to state some particular person or persons.
THE JURY'S VERDICT AND ALDER.
Cross-examined by Mr. d'Almada, the complaint was asked if he had ever heard of the Wo Ping murder some time ago?
The complainant: Yes, I heard of it in Canton."
Mr. d'Almada: In fact all the actors have heard of it and they have been very
scared-Yes.
ti
And recently the majority of leading actors have received threatering letters in some form or other?-Many of them
have
THE WATER SHORTAGE.
ment's announcement of the extension of In view of the Public Works Depart- the present supply by one hour in Kol Icon and an unlimited supply in the dig As the interpreter had difficulty in ex-following comment is interesting
trict supplied by Pokfulum reservoir, the
The Jury then retired to consider their
And you were suspicious that there verdict and, after an absence of 13 would be an attack upon you -You had to be undertaken on this particular boat minutes, returned with a verdict of The chief contractor was then told toccidental death due to misadventure, the wind up consult the charge man (fr. Middis). The Foreman announced that they wished. "What dogs he da, L" continued the to add the following rider:— Coroner. He merely instructs his No. I
The Jury wish to put on record their pressing the termwind-up in Chinese upon and that he can carry on. The No. 1 of negligence on the part of some person dropped. painter that the boat is rondy to work view that this fatal accident arises out the cross-examination on this point was painter in his turn, on the 10th ult., naks in the Naval Yard, and inasmuch as foul After the complainant's wife had given Mr. Middis if the tanks are ready, Mr tanks are virtual death-traps, the tank corroborative evidence the case was ad- Jiddis says definitely that they are not which deceased entered should not have Apparently, without any further reference been accessible until it had been certified journed until Monday afternoon. to Mr. Middis, the No. 1 painter sends to be free from gas." 12 of his men into the tanks on the morn ing of the 17th-four for each of the three tanks."
WHO WAS TO BLAMBÍ
SPORT
SWIMMING.
Prior to the announcement the Chinese Commercial rews said that the Chinese who lived in tenements served by the rescinding of the curtailmente. It synt rider-mains looked forward to an early32 that during August, we had substantial rains nearly every day and the Chinese 27. had collected Aväter from the eaves for washing purposes. The Water Authority states that the reservoirs only contain about half the normal supply. Can it be that the statement (at a Tung Wah Hos- pital meeting) about there being a hole in the bottom of the reservoirs is correct?,
classes of the community at the present state of affairs. It is really pitiful to see. The Hongkong team to take part in the the conditions- prevailing at the publie fountains. Burly coolies can easily pro Interport swimming contests at Shanghai cure an ample supply, but young children left here, last evening, by the M.M. sis. Wait from 9 in the morning till 2 in the "Angkor. The party consisted of G. Wing the scarcity, the rich and strong have afternoon without getting a drop. Dur Sewell, Bussert, G. A V. Hall, D.not been put to any inconvenience hut. Laing, D. Lyon, J. Johnston, M. A. R. the poor have suffered.
-TEAM
notice of the Naval Yard authorities the "Further, "the Jury wish to bring to the
necessity for enforcing measures which will preclude any recurrence of this Continuing, the Coroner remarked that nature, and recommend that a locked grid this No. 1 painter had admitted having bo put across any opening from which DEPARTURE OF THE INTERPORT There is dissatisfaction among the poorer done ten previous jobs of the same sort the man-hole cover has been removed and that he had never had any real acciwie tanks are in the process of ventila dent before. This led him to suppose that tion; and that all tanks should be certi it was not really dangerous to go down fied in writing to be free from gas before into the tanks At the same time it was work is commenced; and, that a copy of generally known in the Yard that the such certificate be handed to the contractor tanka might be dangerous and that pre concerned and signed for by him." cautions had to be taken before anyone
ANDREA MASA BRAVE CONSTABLE was sent down. Despite that; the No. 1 painter allowed his men to go straight on. Whether the contractor or the No.1 painter were guilty of culpable negligence was for the Jury to decide.
Dealing with Mr. Maddie's evidence, the Some minutes after the Court had, been Coroner said that Mr. Middis knew that cleared the Jurors returned
rider on record thanlied the Jurors for The Coroner after placing the Jury's the interest, they had taken in a long and Souza, J. Stewart, G. Jack and D. difficult case. The Jury was then dis Noronha... charged,
the tanks had to be tested by means of a desire to see the Coroner expressed
lighted candle before the paintera entered
-
Subsequent to the announcement, the Wah Taze Yat Po wrote that the current Chinese opinion regarding the condition of the reservoire is wrong. The majority thought that as the rains had been heavy Since the middle of August, the reservoirs" were overflowing. The real position is
interview with Mr. M. K. Lo, who has that but for the recent rains the restric tions would have to be increased. In an taken part in several deputations to the aathoritics, the fact was elicited. that modato six billiard tables is well in hand, servoirs last Sunday and the water was and it is hoped it will be completed by about 20 feet below overflow. The
Singapore Cricket Club reports & aur thend This test had not been carried out Foreman said: The Jury also desire to The membership at the close of 1921 was On the Coroner resuming his seat, the plus of income over-expenditure of 81,744 but Mr. Middie had said that he had no put on record their appreciation of the 1,020, against 1,947 in June, 1021. The den, that the men intended to go down courageous conduct of Naval Yard Polica contruction of the extension to accom- M Lo had specially gone to see the re into the tanks that morning. Mr. Middis Constable Hancock admitted that it had become the practice, This additional rider was placed on
had become common for the foremen to record,
“take men on board and start." right in The Jury consisted of Mesam. W. McK. the end of the year. All branches of sport Chineso are exhorted to abide by the
without any reference to the chargeman. Pittendrigh (foreman), J. Gomes and.
(Continued at foot of nezt column.) R. D. Baptista:
were successful,··
Government's decisions and to exercise every cara în conserving the supply.
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