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THE "TAI LEE" PIRACY." EVIDENCE OF THE INDIAN GUARDS.
GUARD CLAIMS TO HAVE SHOP
THREE PIRATES..
SKIPPER SHOT FROM THE BRIDGE. Interesting evidence by a witchman
two wounded Ladian guarda was given at the enquiry, which was resumed yesterday afternoon, iuto, the circum stances surrounding the murder of Capt. Willox, late minster of the .3. Tai Lee, who was shot by pirates on board his vessel on January 1st.
!!
Mir. t. E. Lindsell (Coroner) presided and the Jury consisted of Messrs. H. R. B. Hancock (foreman), W. A. Perry and A. F. B. Silver-Netta,
THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, SATURDAY, MARCH 2ND, 1934-
Dil you hear that the Captain had been shot learned that after the pirates left.
Are you quite sure of that! The Corgaor: Why do you nakt Mr. Brutton: Because the chances are that the pirates might have talked about
it.
He
A VERITABLE FIRE-EATER. Indian Guardi, No. 270, who was wounded by the pirates, said he was un ex-soldier of the 14th Pathans and had served in France for a short time. was on duty at No. 2 grill in the how of the ship on the starboard side. He was inside the grill, which was locked. was inside, the grill which was loked. Witness bad the key in his pocket. After the ship left Wong Moon he did not open the grill at alt until he was 'wounded after the commencement of the piracy when the key was takeŋ from hin.
Asked to explain this, witness said the bosun and two men, one of whom wa a sailor. came from the lower deck at about 12.15 am and called to him to open the grill. Rahamed Khan, who was at the other grill let them through and they then came to his grill.
The Coroner: Did you open your grillt Yes. 1 opened it at the bosun's re-
HOW THE CAPTAIN WAS SHOT. Indian Gaard, No. 31, on duty on the portside, described how just previous to the pirney the Captain came along and asked to he let through the grill to go to the lavatory. The grill was re-locked. ΟΙ four The Captain returned three miputes later. Witness opened the grill. and let him in re-locking the grill after- wards. As he went towards the bridge witness heard three shots fired and hé saw the Captain fall outside his roon. Witness Ared three shots towards the bridge. Just before he fired he saw
gure in the bow, but when he fired that gure had disappeared. Witness was then shot in the right thigh. This shot was fired through the grill. He did not see who fred it, as he was looking to wards the bridge. He fired three more shots towards the bridge. He then took up his rifle and fired one hot when be was again wounded, this time in the left arm by a shot from the bridge. His rife fell on, to the deck. When his rife fell down, the bosun's assistant and a sailor came up and took his rifle and bandolier. The bosun's They were both armed. assistant secured the key and opened the grill. Three or four men came through and they struck him with the muzzles of their revolvers.
NEW RENTS ORDINANCE
POINT
LANDLORD LOSES, CLAIM.
PUISNE JUDGE'S IMPORTANT BULING.
The Puise Judge (He) Justiče Gom- pertz), in the Summary Court yesterday. delivered a considered judgment in the case in which Lêung Taun, a merchant, of a Connaught Road West, claimed from the Him Sang Fat Company, of 41, Des Yeux Road West, and 72. Connaught Road West, possession of their premises. Notice to quit had been given defer- dants by plaintiff, who is the landlord, on the ground that the premises were to be reconstructed. When the claim-origin- ally came before the Paine Judge lost week. Mr. E. Davidson, who appeared for plaintiff, stated that the houses in two ordinary Chinese buildings standing back-to-back. Notice
Plans was given on October 31st, under See-
were submitted to the Building Authority tion of the Reats Ordinance. showing that the reconstruction involved the entire demolition of the buildings, with the exception of the party walls. The open space and scavenging lane re quired by the Ordinance were provided, Witness said he was taken into the and plans were passed, and a certificate saloon and together with four other giords has their hands tied behind. Chtained to the effect that the alterations Ten minutes later they were ordered out were such as to make the building a new on deck and on passing through the building under the Public Health and grill he noticed the bodies of an Indian Buildings Ordinance. According to See- guard and a Chinese lying by the grilltion 101 of the Buildings Ordinance, party Witness and the others with him were taken to a bathroom in the stern of the walls of a certain length had to be of n vessel and confined there. After the certain thickness, and in the case of the pirates left they were released by the $110 in money
stolen premises under consideration the thick- carpenter. from bim.
ness of the party walls ought to have
question were Criminal
Lieut. R. R. Beauchamp (Assistant Harbour Master) sat on the, Bench with the Coroner, Mr. C. G Purdue, A. S. P. and Assistant Director uf Intelligence, watched the enquiry on behalf of the Police, Mr. G. K. Hall Bration appeared for the Chin Coast Officers' Guild and the Marine Engineers' Guild of China.
WHAT HAPPENED IN THE COMPRADORE'S GYTICE.
quest and let the hosan anal the sailor through, but the third man I refused because I did not know hita
Continuing, witness said the stranger spoke to the Losun, who then explained to
witness in Hindustani that the stranger was going to take his place during his absence on leave. Witness was satisfied and let the stranger through. Is it usual for the bosun and sailor to come on the upper deck at that hour of night --Yes; we have special înstructions to allow the bosun to go to and from the bridge at any time.
car-
Mar Kan, a watchman on the Tai Lee for the last 10 months, said that his chief daty was to keep watch on the grill he tween the middle and lower deck, and prevent steerage passengers from coming on to the middle deck. When the ship reached Wong Moon on the night of the piracy the side grill was opened. He did dot allow any unauthorised persons to pass through the grill. When the piracy broke out he was standing at the grit which was open. "The bosun had the key of that grill and presumably he was working in the bow of the vessel, weigh ing anchor. It was customary for hic
Continuing, witness said about three to wait for all the sailors to go down minutes later he heard commotion below through the grill before he (wit below. He heard some one call to his
ss) locked up. The ship had been companion to open-his grill and the under way some time after leaving Wong peäter came through. The, grill was re- Moon when he heard the report of fire locked. As he was relocking the grill Carbs in the bow on the top deck. Wit some one fired from below at Rahamed ness attempted to go out into the alley-Khan and he fell on his back on the deck. way to investigate, but before he reached Witness could not see who Bred the shot. the door four pirates came up and push. Two shots were then fired at him (wit ed him into the compradore's office. He ness). He did not know which direction The second did it recognise any of them. They the first shot came from. shut the door and told him not to comte came from the bow of the ship. He im- out. An hour later the compradore was mediately took shelter behind a box. He brought in and he opened one of the was armed with a rife and a revolver. "safes under the orders of the pirates, He fired "two shots towards the bow of One of the safes could not be opened and the ship in the direction from which the the compradore was asked to get the second shot bad come." key. All the time he was in the office pirate was on guard outside the door Another watchman. W33 also confined there, as well as two servants of the Compradore's staff.
יי
At that moment I stooped down to look at my companion lying on the deck," witness' continued, "I saw the. carpenter stoop and lift up the com- panion way grill. I was abong to fire on Witcess said that he saw 11 or 12 bin when I was fired at by another man. pirates altogether. All but two or three I immediately turned on him and fired. had firearms. He did not know any of The Coroner Why did you want to them by night. Later, the Compradore shoot the carpenter? was brought back and he opened the The witness: Because I suspected him other safe. The money in two safea was to be assisting the robbers. put into a basket used for collecting the
Continuing, witness said the man he farcs: Witness said he was confined in fired at fell on the deck. Another man the offee until 4.30 am.
then appeared from the bridge. Witness The 'Coroner: Between 12.30 a. m, and | fired at him and be fell. 4.2 2.1. did you see any members of the crew?
".
Witness: Yes, I saw severni of the aucibery of the crew carrying money. "This was about am. There were seven or eight of them all sailors. Each one married a bag of money on his, shoulder
"
You
The Coroner: Both of them? dropped both of them?--Yea Then I fired two more shots towards the bridge My revolver was empty.. I was going to reload it and had opened my pouch to take out six rounds when I heard some one-ruzning up to the grill. This man
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STA
Mr. Brutton remarked that it, was most extraordinary thing that the Chief been 7 inches. As a matter of fact, they Officer did not see the shots fired from were only 18 inches thick, and when the the bridge as mentioned by this witnesa Building Authority discovered that they Regarding the truth of the statement had overlooked the point, they withdraw of the Indian guard, No. 279, who claim- ed that he had shot three of the pirates. the certificate. From that it was being Mr. Brutton expressed a suspicion as to argued that the proposed building was the veracity of the statement, when Mr. not a new building, and that the notice Purdue mentioned that one of the pir- utes was taken below to have his leg to quit was invalid. dressed by a medicine man. This man, Mr. A. E. Wright, the Building Author- and the Chinese seen lying outside theity, subponed by defendants, stated that grill, would account for two of the three the certificate was withdrawn because it claimed.
The Court rise at 5 p.in. the Enquiry had heen given under a misupprehension being adjourned to Friday afternoon He considered that the building could not be regarded as a new one. He ad mitted that the plans should not have MISSIONARY LADIES' HOUSE been passed, and that the Building
Authority was in error. LOOTED. DASTARDLY, ATTACK BY NORTHERN SOLDTERS..
next.
DEMAND
FOR $1,000 ON PAIN OF DEATH
Reuter's correspondent at Ichung says: A distressing experience of three ladies belonging to the China Inland Mission at the hands of looting Northern soldiers in their advance against the Szechuanesc is recounted by one of the ladies, who is passing through Ichang on her way home on furlough.
In delivering judgment yesterday His Honour, after briefly detailing the particulars of the claim, said that op- parently the plan submitted to the Build- ing Authority showed the old party walls in itu, but did not give their figured dimensions. It appeared on measure- ment that these., walls were not of the
thickness required by law in the case of
new building. It was contended, con- tinued the Puisne Judge, that the certi hente having been withdrawn, the posi on was the same as if it had never been issued; that it was null and void. Again specified in Section 4(1)() of tho it was alleged that the new building.
Rents Ordinance, 1922, must be a new building, not only within the definition 39 of Section of the Public Health and Buildings Ordinance, but also a building within the law-that is to say, within Section 101 of the Public Health and Buildings Ordinance..
ден
which he deposited outside the door of tried to force open the grill by twisting over, but it failed to satisfy the looters, his view of the law-and his Honour saw
the Compradore's office. They came many times. On each occasion they were accompanied by strange pirates who were. armed.
She, with the other two indies, was stationed at Chuhsien, some five days' journey overland from Wanhsign. Size: chuao. Or January 15th the Szechuanese Army was forced hastily to evacuate the eity as they were hard pushed by the Northern troops under General Yang Sen. As the Szechuanese left the city, the advanced guard of the Northern forces, consisting of two companies, en- tered at the other end. A party of sol. diers, intent on loot, forced their way into the house occupied by the ladies announcing their coming by firing shots into the house. They demanded $5,000 as the price of security, but, though the ladies collected all they had, it did not amount to more than between one and two hundred dollars. This they handed the hars. At that time I had only put who demanded the full $5,000 on pain of shooting. Some stood over the ladies one bullet in the revolver. I fired this with their rifies pointed at them, while at him. That man was hit and he also the others ransacked the whole bouse, fell. As I stood up a shot hit me in the turning out all cupboards, wardrobes and boxes. They even went so far as to calf of the leg but I could not tell from search the persons of the ladies, robbing which direction the bullet bid come. "I them of watches, spectacles and other articles! They carried away clothes, sat on the deck and took up my rifle, bedding, clocks and all useful things from bring it in all directions. I fired all 10 rounds, and then proceeded to reload, salves by shooting at various objects all when four or five men came out of the over the house, putting bullets through Asked by the Coroner if he at any first class passengers' room. One of them the pictures on the walls. One of the time saw the bosun, witness said he did was the assistant bosun. I was going soldiers made a bayonet thrust at one of at 3.45 am Thọ bosun at that time came
to fire at them but they rushed at me the ladies, but the bayonet was turned to the Compradore's office. He had a sad snatched my rifle They also took aside by her skirt and she was not in
rearm in his hand and raid he was look away my revolver and cut off my bando-jured. *ng for the compradore to take him lier. They picked me up with the in- The ladies, now at their wit's end. ashore, but that official could not be tention of throwing me overboard, but thought of the Chinese pastor, who was found.
they changed their minds and dropped in the Church buildings in another part Witness" said that he had taken from me back on the deck. They then dragged of the city, and sent there to see if they him by the pirates one overcoat, one hat me across the deck to the saloon where | could get some help. This place, how. and 37 in Hongkong money. Witness they took the grill key from my pocket ever, they learned, was also being sys added that he knew one of the alleged and tied my bande behind my back. One piratical sailors by his nick name Sau other guard was already there. He wai Nam Yu. The sailers that he recognise wounded. A robber was left in nised with the pirates were dot seen after charge and shortly afterwards the No. 1 the pirates left
guard and two others were brought in to Pressed by Mr. Hancock witness said the saloon and their hands were tied. fe kiew the name of another of the The Corcoer: Did you see the Captain sailors-Man Sam.","
before the piracy started 1-No.
The Coroner: Did you see whether any of them were armedi
Witness: Three of the sailors were aroled
Continuing, witness said that just be. fore the pirates left the signal, "Be off," was called out. He beard some of the ship's hosts being lowered.
Mr. Brutton: Don't you know the namq of the bonus i
Witness: Yes, Pang Cheung And you know his brother the brass polisher -Yes; but that is 'Man, Sam,
And was he one of the armed men- Yea.
Whn was directing the pirates in the vicinity of the office-There was no one directing operations.
Who gave the order " Be off "1-One of the pirates.. I could recognise him - zumin. I did not know him.
Did you see him afterwards -No. Mr. Hancock Could 'he tell what the carpenter did after Hahamed Khan was shot! Did he assist him-No; he did not do anything but lift the grill.
"
The Coroner: Did you see anybody come up through that grill after it had been opened by. the carpenter t-I can. not say for sure. I think not,
Mr. "Brutton, being asked if he had any questions to pat, remarked, that the other Indian, who was wounded, was not such a fire-eater ne this man,
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the house. Some of them amased them-
tematically looted by other soldiers, who carried off all the clothes of the pastor and his family, as well as all the money on which they could lay their bands It would appear that some of the Chris tians had considered the Church build- ings a safe place to hide their money, for the soldiers got a large sum. Help. however, came at last in the shape of two soldiers, who informed the ladies that they were Christians, and stood by them," warning off other parting of looters.
Finally the gang left the house, after taking a parting shot or two at the ladies which fortunately missed.
As to this last matter, added his Honour, he had had the opinion of Mr. Wright, Executive Engineer, PW.D., who stated that the new building as shown by the plan submitted to the Building Authority did not comply with the law and that no certificate under Section 204 would be grunted by the Building Authority. Assuming for the moment that Mr. Wright was correct in no reason to hold that ho (Mr. Wright) was, wrong—it would be a curious posi tion if the law permitted the ejectment of a tenant and a member of a class whose possession the Ordinance was in- tended to protect if the reason for such ejectment were that the landlord desired to construct a new building which the. law would not permit to be occupied. Puisne Judge, base my decision on this round. The landlord's notice to the Rents Ordinance to state in writing the exact nature of the reconstruction in- tended. This, in this case, the notice fails to do. It states the intention of the owner to be ta reconstruct the premises by completely pulling down and rebuilding the same." It is admitted that the real intention was to leave the party walls standing and not to recon- struct them." ARTISTA
Plaintiff," concluded Mr. Justice Gompertz," has, therefore, failed to bring himself within the provisions of the Eents Ordinance, and there must be judgment for defendant with corte." Judgment was entered accordingly.
I do not, however," continued the
tenant is required by Section 4 of the
"AT" THE CITY HALL FOUNTAIN.
A CONSTABLE'S FIND IN THE
BASIN
Passing by the City Hall fountain in It is understood that Bishop Cassells Queen's Road Central, a Chiness Detec came to Chubeien immediately and made tivo Bergeant chanced to look into the representations to the military command-basin of the fount at 6.20 a.m. yooterday. er, who repaid the money taken. No In it be found a parosi containing sa compensation, however, was made for the automatic pistol and 113 rounds of sm mapy: articles looted from the house. munition.
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