Page
THE TRAGIO, DEATH OF MISS CARD
CORONER'S INQUIRY HELD YESTERDAY.
VERDICT OF FOUND DROWNED "
RETURNED.
TEN HONGKONG DAILY - FREBA, FRIDAY, AUGUST SED, 1993.
HONGKÒNG LABOUR
TROUBLES IN- 1922. VIEWS OF THE CHINESE SECRETARIAT,
The Hon. Mr. E. R. Hallifax, Secretary fur Chinese Affairs, in his annual report for 1022, makes the following reference to the numerous labour troubles of the year:----
of
BROADCASTING, PROGRAMME OF MUSIC AT THE VOLUNTEER HEADQUARTERS. The Best public radio broadcasting programme was given in Hongkong yes terday afternoon at the Volunteer Head: quarters. Mr. E. G. Osborne, general An Inquiry into the circumstances sur-
manager of the National Radio Adminis rounding the death of Miss Ella Agusts tration,Ltd, who is passing through Card, whose body was recovered from Hongkong, was the author of the exhibi,| the harbour on Monday morning, was
tion, which was held under the auspices held at the Magistracy, yesterday after of the Hongkong Radio Society. The noon. The Inquiry was presided over by Mr. J. R. Wood (Coroner) and theral public grailed themselves of the following were empanelled as the Coron pertunity, which was given free, and er' Jury-Messrs. Herbert John Faun-attended in large numbers. The receiving set with which the exhibition was given tain, Wong Kwong Tin and J. Baptista.
is to be installed at Manila. The trans- The Coroner, in opening the Inquiry, said, the inquiry was being held to In. mission was done from the General Post These were in some gaaes settled with, indeed that they were always obtained
vestigate the circumstances surrounding the death of Miss Ella Agusta Card, which occurred on Friday night la The evidence would show that Mins Car
was last seen alive sometime after 11 o'clock on Friday night, when the wen- ther was stormy.". She was then seen leaving the Kingsclero Hotel and she had not been seen alive since. Her body was found in the harbour near the Douglas Wharf on Monday morning last.
The first witness called was, Mr. G. T. Edkins, manager of Messrs. Butterfield and Swird, who said: I knew the de ceased. She had been employed by mo for the last two years. She was a fully qualified "atenographer and her salary was £376 a year which she received with dollar compensation at the rate of $334 per month. I observed nothing exten- ordinary in her behaviour. She was 01 daty on Friday up to 5 p.m. On Monday
of a European lady, whose features were
Office, hy permission of the Postmaster General (Mr. R. E Lindsell), and can Kisted of violin and piano music, with vocal explanations given in the inter vals. In the body of the hall the sounds coming frem the sound horn were very Similar to those of a gramaphono. The
under music was clearly heard. but the vocal explanations were difficult to stand, and largely unintelligible. When the listener had the telephonic receivers overs his cars the sounds were far The set used is of English clearer.
assembled in manufacture and was Shanghai by Mr. Osborne's company.
AMERICÀN BEFORE THE COURT.
.
POLICE TO ASK FOR COMMITTAL In convection with the exciting shoot-
The year 10 was characterized by wide spread labour unrest. The Sen- men's strike in January and February was accompanied in its concluding stages by a general strike of labour in the Colony, and throughout the remainder of the year disputes took pince in vari Dus branches of industry and trade, out recourse to a strike, usually on a A few basis of percentage increases. strikers, such as those of the Chinese Restaurant Employees and the Watch makers Employees, were never formally settled, but new hands were engaged to take the place of those who struck.
The following is a list of the principal tradles and industries-in which disputes
occurred during the year.
Seamen, Stevedores, Tallymen, Launch- men. Building Carpenters, Motor Bus Drivers, Chinese Restaurant Employees, Medicine Workers, Cargo-boats, Sharks' fin workers. Sawyers. Dyers, Chiness boat-Builders, Caulkers, Watchmakers, Hakers, Low Level Tram Company's Employése, Sugar Lighter coolies, Knit ting factories, Hongkong Electric Ligh Company's Employés, and Chinese Black
smitha
An extraordinary amount of detailed
disputes. True, economic questions ún.
in the rest of the world could but be reflected here but they were exploited
NEW CHINESE LABOUR VOCABULARY," It has been curious to note the growth anow Chinese Labour vocabulary during the goan Chinese, even illiterate, caq be very voluble orators and their speeches are peppered copiously with tas new phrases for"" capital" and "labour" and the like, and illustrated freely with comparisons between the sale of labour' and ordinary commodities, for which a box of matches does splendid service, The box lends itself to division and sub- division, representing either bales of goods or individuals; and even the breaks ing of an overpressed match has its human parallel. But the idea based on this vocabulary wore, generally speaking, very limited: and gave the impression. second hand from some common source. They appeared at full-length in every Interview and discuss and were al ways held to support the same demand of an increase of about 40 per cent, regardless of existing differences in con- ditions or of recent increases there seemed to be something of a magic ring
about the figure.
STRIKES WHICH "BERST THEMSELVES OUT."
In several enses during the year- notably that of the Restaurants-strikes burnt themselves out. Excessive de- mands were made which the employers could not concede-they offered the best terms possible and asked only for "the- protection of the willing workers. These were easily found at the price; and altor a period of extraordinary precautions
normal, all the old servants being re- against violence matters returned to
placed. Many of them, however, have since been reinstated where this could be
the first effort on the part of the Com-
morning I visited the mortuary at 10.30 ing incident near the Kowloon Cricket labour was involved in the conferences done without injustice to the new hands. o'clock and I was then shown the body Club on Tuesday night, the American connected with the settlements of these This strike was of nota in that it showed
who was arrested then on a charge of past recognition. I was also shown some smuggling arms into the Colony, was doubtedly arose the position of labour munity to resist the methods of intimida- I of her trinkets and the Doctor gave me brought before Mr. J. R. Wood, at the her purse, a ribbon bow and her hair Magistracy, yesterday morning. slide (produced by Mr. Edkina). I was His name is Erwin Nelson, 20 years of to an extent with which the main body not able to identify these things myself age, and he is described a quarter master of the labourers had no sympathy and on the as President McKinlay. The which carried the disputes into a realm charge preferred against him is that of where the economic origin had little to unlawfully having in his possession twode with the demands made by agitators revolvers and 47: rounds of ammunition.
but I had them identified.
Miss Esther Mary Middlehurst, a atenographer employed at Messrs. But terfield and Swire, said she had known Miss Card for over a year and a halt. Witness lived at Kingsclere Hotel and occupied a room near to the deceased's room. She saw Miss Card between 1040 p.m. and 11 o'clock. She then came into her room and they talked together for bout a quarter of an hour or twenty minutes.
The Coroner: What was the conversa. tion about?
The Witness: She told me the nows she had had in a letter from England from a person that I also knew..
Continuing, witness said Miss Card left the room just before 11 p.m. She did not ace her again. "I did not notice any thing extraordinary in her behaviour,' added the witness.
Sub Inspeeter Spear, in charge of the cas; asked for one day's remand and i formed his Worship that the Captain Superintendent of Polion was, going to ask for the defendant to be committed for trial,
The hearing of the ease was fixed for 11.30 am, this morning,
Did you have any conversation with her then 1-No, when I left the room asid Good night," and she repeated the words Good night."
as the minimum required for a settle ment. The principal cause of this effect was the political position of China, and particularly of South China; the services of labour, and of such funds as the Guilds, could provide, had been enlisted in a purely political struggle in a man ner that went far towards putting the control of the balance of political power in the hands of its leaders. It is impos- xible to deny that this power, was uns scrupulously used or to believe that the objects of the lenders when they had realised the extent of their opportunity were to forward either the interests of
tion: the strikers were powerful and well supported, but a rallying point for resist- ing intimidation had been found, and the agitators at once ceased to have matters all their own way: and the workmen were free to exercise the taz yau (in- dependence of action) of which their leaders talked so much, but allowed so little to those in their power.
THE FUTURE.
At the request of the Coroner, witness the hall. She was going out and he did their country or the wishes of the labour during the year by common action among
then examined three exhibits which had been placed before the Court by Mr. Edkins and of those she was able to identify two of them definitely as the property of Miss Card-the purse and the 'rishon bow.
"
Witness, continuing, said he next say Miss Card at 11.30 pm. He saw her in not have any conversation with her. The weather at the time was stormy and rainy. She was wearing a raincoat and she had a scarf tied round her head.
10 Coroner: Can you suggest why Miss Card should commit suicide-No.
Mr. F. A. Wells, a chief nasistant at Messrs Butterfield and Swire's, said that Miss Card was employed in his Depart nient. She was fully efficient, and work. ed with him on Friday afternoon.
The Coroner: There was nothing extra-am. on Monday. ordinary in her behaviour -Nothing at all:
Do you know if she kept any papers in your office 1-1 found nothing at all; only a few bills, I found no correspondence.
Dr. Edward Minnot, Government Bae teriologist, anid that on Monday last he examined the body of a European lady. He remembered removing certain articles from the body which he handed to Police Sorgeant Mist who, in turn, handed them to Mr. Edkins in his pre- sence. He examined the body and found. it partly decomposed portions of the. face had been eaten away. He define
A tampan woman next gave evidence RE to the discovery of the body at 6.30
ers for whom they spoke..
The
INTIMIDATION,
"It is improbable that has seen e end of our labour troubles: but it is justifiable to expect that such disputes as may occur will be open to discussion for the discovery of reasonable solutions without resort to the strike. The glam our of the Seamen's Union Victory was at first dazzling to all labour: but experi cace and consideration has since shewn that the advantage in this game of fol low my leader lay mostly with the leader: their way to a mysterious account called and that any profits had a way of finding The Common Good, leaving the rank and file no better off than when they began,
Much trouble could have been avoided employers: the want of it has resulted in differences in the treatment of the same classes of labour and consequent general, strike was largely a un comparisons, always tending to force the highest level conceded by She had brown shoes on, The door waster of the intimidation of willing work." wages closed, but she opened it and let herself ers: a policy made only too easy by the any one employer, the smaller employers being naturally the more ready to make ut at her gregarious and timid babits of the Chieuressions. It is to be hoped that some out. He had not secu her go out at such an hour before. There were
nese Inbourer. Some, of course, were kind of Employers Federation or Asso- guests in the hall at the time.
The Coroner: Was she ill-She looked carried away by the glowing promises of ciation will be formed in the near future: the advantage to the employers is ob higher wages maile, to them, by a "com vious, but it is no less important to the all right.
The existence of a body to bination that seemed to dominate Can-labourer. tou and to hold Hongkong also in the time, with the certainty that all neces which disputes can be referred at any
Bary technical knowledge can be repre- hollow of its hand; but over these have begun to see daylight and to realise that sented on it, will provent that delay which is 30 dangerous in the early stages an increase of wages is of little value of a dispute and will at the same time secure to the men that they will be if the increase is largely swallowed up
"victorious" understood without the necessity for by the demands of their
wearisome explanation of detail to un- lenders and by its boomerang effect on
technical care. The Government would employment and prices. Further, what over may have been the position in 1021 concerning the readiness of employers to consider the demands of labour (and wages in setne trades ar sections of them beginning to realise that he can nex always scoure a reasonable hearing with out utilising the services of an exper sive and dangerous agitator as a medium, and that the real value of the Great Strike (if it had any value at all for them) was that it impressed on employ ers the necessity for quick and resson uble accessibility to complaints and de mands: and the lesson was pushed full home on all alike, and there was nothing left for the later strikes to do. These nothing on the credit side which could were at Lest poor copies and showed not have been ahtained without loss through more regular methoda.
Her testimony was followed by that of Hargt. Mist, who was sent dayn from the Central Station to superintend the re- moval of the hady from, we water to the Ho did this at 7.30 am. The mortuary.. deceased, he said, was clothed in a white cotton dress covered by a raincoht. She had a shawl over her head,
Constable John Dryden gave evidence as to the weather on the Friday night, when he was on duty on the Praya from 8 p.m. to 9 am. The No. 6 typhoon signal, he said, had been up all day, There was a strong wind blowing but
was strong enough to blow anybody off the street. The wind was blowing from the West and the Praya was sheltered to some extent."
also reap material advantage in the sav ing of the time required before the seri- sion are considered justified, in the wider qua formalities of appointing a Commis field of experience and technical and special knowledge which would be always at the disposal of such a body without disputes without Government interven-
the cause of death to be due to asphyxin. he could, walk in it. He did not think it did require adjustmont) the workman is delay and in the probable settlement of
tion through immersion.
The Coroner: Would you say from the appearance of the body that it was con- sistent with having been in the water for 49 hours.7
Witness: 1 cannot say the exact time, but I should say about that time.
Witnesa, continuing, said that he had examined the stomach to look for signe of food He noticed a little fluid of a yellow colour, which might have been food. He sent a portion of the stomach to the Government Analyst (Mr, Dovey) for examination ***The Coroneri Have you seen this
report? No,
This was all the evidence placed before the Court.
The Coroner, in summing up to the Jury, said, the Inquiry into the sad tragedy was not held so much for the purpose of investigating anything about foul play. It was held entirely for the satisfaction of the friends of the de ceased both here and at Home. So far as was known Miss Card was in perfectly normal health right up to Friday even ing, when she was observed to take the The witness concluded his evidence by very unusual step of leaving the hotel at saying that he found no signs of internul 11,00 o'clock on Friday night, during injuries in the body.
syphoon weather. That seems to have boy at Kings done deliberately, the Coroner clere Hotel, told the Court that he was und Her, farther actions after that in charge of Miss Card's room at the hour, are unknown, but it seems likely hotel. He saw her several times on Fri by what we have been told that she en- day night. On the first occasion at 6.46 tered the harbour, either by accident or o'clock. She was then in her own room deliberately on the night she was last She was standing by her dressing table seen. If you think there are enough eir as it looking for something.
cumstances to find that Miss Card was The Coroner: Did you have any con- acting deliberately, in walking from the versation with her --No, I just asked hotel to the Prays and taking her own 'her the wanted her dinner. She said, " life, taking advantage of the weather, "no," She had never refused dinner you will return a verdict of suicide. If helors but on that particular night she on the other hand, the circumstances are would not take her dinner.
not sufficiently strong and clear to point Did you go to her room again 1-At 9.30 to that conclusion you can bring in a p.m. I went into her room and saw Missverdiot of "Found Drowned. Card there. She was sitting in a chair The Jury, after a very briof consulta ronding letters. A
tios, returned a verdict of Found Drowned." (Continued as foot of next Column.)
|
* THE SEAMEY'S UNION
tion
HIGHWAY ROBBERY.
A CASHIER HELD UP AND ROBBED.
There appears to have been a fresh outbreak of crime in the Colony, judging by yesterday's police reports. There were Wednesday, one being of especial interest: two bad cases of highway robberies on to Europeans. The cashier of the Hong kong Engineering and Construction Co., Mr. Ng Yuk Hing, was robbed of 81,200 The general strike was no sooner ended in bank notes During the tiffin hour he than a realisation of the results of their was proceeding along. Swatow Street, and methods caused a secession from the on turning into the Praya East he was method Union which has been seized by an unknown man, who - polled left with practically no member his spectacles off and rubbed pepper into ship outside the nion of the stewards his eyes. Two other mon then came on Department of which it was originally the scene and snatched a leather bag he composed. It still has power, based was carrying and made off with it. The largely on the funds accumulated in the bag contained the bank notes and it is months of its asceudency and the person-evident that the robbers knew of the con- álity of some of its leaders, but its in- fente. fuence is waning. Its hand has been In the other case a shop-kreper and seen in nearly every labour trouble of the rent collector of No. 28, Wing Lok Street, year; but it has had to struggle to retain has reported that at 11.30 a.m. when leny. oven its welcome as a meddler and has ing Kwang Hou Terrace he was stopped failed to organise the combination of all. by two men. One truck him whilst the labour sasieties which is now its prin, other attempted to rab bir of his belt cipal aim. Its two principal alies the containing 3485 in money The rent Kong Ng Lua Shun Kung Ul, and the collector screamed for help and the two Hip Tsun Hsung Kung Ui have been sup- would-be robbers ran away without taking pressed owing to their illegal actiĝns. anything.
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