ALARM IN DUDDELL ROUND THE COURTS.
STREET.
SLIGHT FIRE AT PHONE EXCHANGE.
MUCH ADO ABOUT LITTLE.
Hong Kong has a reputation for -doing things thoroughly, The hot weather these days, however, tends to prevent even an outbreak of fire becoming too lively.
A few sparks from a fused wire of a switchboard in the telephone exchange in Duddell Street gave about 30 charming young.""* hello- girls"
splendid opportunity for proving that they had “ road,"mark- ed, learned and inwardly digestod " their instruction relating to "Fires, Escape From, How To," shortly after 0.30 a.m. yesterday.
Fire Brigade Arrives. Something is the matter with the telephone exchange. Co to," commanded the Editor tercly, pointing out of the window with his blue pencil.
MISS PEARL WOO3
MEMORY JOGGED!
When asked yesterday by Mr. E. W. Hamilton why she had repeated- lý failed to attend Court to answer a traffic summons, Miss Pearl Woo told the Magistrate that she had forgotten all" about it.
His Worship: Very good. It you think you can come up to this Court when it suits your con- venience, I can assure you that you cannot. You are fined 825,
not having proper control of her car on August 6 at 2 p.m. owing
The defendant was summoned for
the fact that she allowed two other ladies to share the front seat with her. She admitted the offence.
SHOPPING AND CARS.
When summoned for leaving her car Anattended at the junction of Road Central, Mrs. H. Young stul- Cilman Street and Des Voeux
ed that she had been shopping in that locality. The Police stated that the car was seen attended for 20 minutes.
Mr. Hamilton (to Mrs. Young): I went to," but preferred the You did not put your car at a stairs to the window.
proper parking stand. The car is allowed to stop in the street only to it down or take up passengers. Fined 83.
Just as I turned into Duddell Street, the tail-end of procession of about 30 girls, marching quietly and in good order two-deep, dribbled out of the exchange "building. I fell into step and marched behind the procession, note book and pencil at the short trail. A snappy command from the head of the column saw the linea execute an "about turn movement. Then we rested on our arma reversed.
ره
Just then a fire-engine clamoured upon the scene, whereupon the young lady nearest my left elbow Baid proudly" I told you it was a real fre!"
Apparently it was for, a second later, two more fire brigade tenders arrived. Then, glittering in the bright rays of the sun a magnificent brass helmet awung around the corner, wobbled a moment uncer- tainly, and then dived into the door- way of the exchange.
Soon Extinguished.”
In
ease there was something amiss. I followed the helmet, taking shelter beneath its rear shield lest binzing beams or flying sparks jen pardise my complexion. Stumbling up sundry flights of stairs, I reached the second floor in safety and then peeped from under the helmet to see what was on foot..
At first I thought we had entered the wrong room, so to speak. Tele- phone switchboards and cables sur- rounded us but, beyond a slight smoke haze, nothing was amiss. At this stage, much to the relief of the owder; I. forsook the shelter of the massive brass helmet."
Within ten seconds I learned that A switchboard wire had fused, the operators had very efficiently carried out their fire drill, and an alert Chinese wireman had sprayed the aparking wires with a chemical fire extinguisher almost before the march-out of the operators began. About 200 lines would be affected for
some hours.
Conforming to Tradition. Shutting my nate-hook with a sigh, I groped my way slowly down the stairs again and had a slight mix-up with the leading files of the returning operators who were com- pelled to mark time a second or two
a eday feat, by the way, when you have the left foot on one stair and right foot on another-until I extricated myself from the ranks.
So it was that I presented a terse three-line paragraph to, my Chief apon the subject of the fire..
"That's not good enough,", he anid. "In Hong Kong the newe- papers usually give, half a column to a dog run over, a column to a coolie treated likewise, and two columns to a chimney on fire.· ́ We shall he scooped."
But we are not scooped. Here is nome fresh news concerning the fire:-
"Strange to relate, a large crowd of sightseers congregated near the junction of Queen's Road Central and Dudde“ „Street."
And thas, no doubt you will admit, is rare occurrence when anything is amiss in Hong Kong!
H.A.F.
The Peak, pleaded that she did not Mrs. E. Rodgers, living, at 332,
know that she was not allowed to leave her car in front of the Wing On Company. In firing her 83, Mr. Hamilton pointed out that it was up to Mrs. Rodgers to find out where she could park her car.
MAXIMUM FINE.
The maximum fine of 8500 was imposed by Mr. T., M. Hazlerigg esterday when a Chinese ship's hawker was charged before him with possession of 30,000 cigarettes on which duty had not been paid.
of
The cigarettea were discovered by Revenue Offcers who visited the s.3. Sui Tai on Monday evening. The defendant- WAS 1 hawker eatables on board the ship and it was stated that this gave him ex- ceptional facilities for smuggling seeds. The Magistrate was asked to take this into account when con sidering the penalty.
THEFT ON S.S. COBLENZ.
Before Mr. T. S. Whyte Smith yesterday a Chinese was charged Mr. Libright of the s.s. Coblenz. with the theft of a watch from It. was stated in Court that the steamer had left and that com plainant was not available. The steamer would return here about September 21 and the police asked for a week's formal remand.
His Worship asked of what good a formal remand of a week would be and was told that the police intended to ask for further remands Inter pending the return of the
steamer,
The defendant was accordingly remanded for a week.
ALARM CLOCK STOLEN.
larceny of an
Pleading guilty to a charge of.
alarm 'clock, Chinese who had a previous con- viction against him "was sentenced. clock was stolen from a hawker's to three months' hard labour. The
stall outside the Yaumati market.
UNLAWFUL POSSESSION.
A coolie, who was caught by the Police coming off the 8.5. Kum Sang on Sunday with a child’a gold bangle in his possession was charged before the Kowloon Magis- trate yesterday. It was explained that the defendant had been on board the Kum Sang to look for work as a coolle and that the
bangle was found on him as he left the strip. He was questioned bui failed to give a satisfactory ex- planation as to how he got it.
His Worship observed that if the defendant found the bangle het should have handed it to the police. In imposing a one of 86 or seven days' hard labour in default, His Worship stated that if the defend- ant had been caught stealing the bangle from a child, he would have got at least six months' imprison- ment and a birching as well.
ADVICE FOR INVESTORS.
READERS
are reminded that inquiries relating to the share market are answer- ed on page 9 every Tuesday
by" Kufan." Letters should be sent to this offico, and must be accompanied by writer'a name and address, not for publication Letters should ba addressed to "Kulan,” care of the Editor:
THE HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 28, 1929.
CHARTER OF A VESSEL.
DISPUTE ABOUT CARRYING CAPACITY.
ALLEGED MISREPRESENTA.
TION.
CHINESE VILLAGE | INDIAN CONSTABLE
MURDER CASE.
MURDER.
FUGITIVE'S APPEAL TO AN AGED NUN'S EVIDENCE.
MAGISTRATE.
NO WISH TO RETURN. TO-
CANTON..
An action was brought in the
The Chinese fugitive from Tsang Summary Court yesterday before ₫ Shing district who is wanted by the the Puisne Justice (Mr. Justice Canton authorities for the alleged Wood) for the recovery of $1,000 murder of two village guarda in paid as a deposit preparatory to August last, was yesterday commit- the hiring of the Sai On Company's ted by Mr. E. W. Hamilton, to A., Tin Sze for transporting sand. Victoria Gaol to await the order of It was alleged by the Wah Tung | H.E., the Governor. Company, 187, Des Vœux Road Evidence was given yesterday by Central, that at the time they made a farmer named Lo Wai, who stated the deposit it was falsely represent that on the day of the shooting he ed to them that the vessel was of was one of the village guards on fact it was of 400 tons nett burden. It was market day and the guards 700 tons nett burden, whereas in duty in the Tsang 'Shing district. Because of that fact the charter were in a matshed near the main contract was not entered into and highway. There was a gang of men the deposit was therefore claimed.
across the road in a ten shed and the defendant appeared at about
Mr. F. C. E. Rendall (of Messrs. Russ & Co.) appeared for the plain-noon time and led these men in an tiffs and Mr. A. el Arculli was for attack on the village guards. Two men were shot dead and the rest of the guards fled.
the defendants.
Outlining his case, Mr. Rendal said that the plaintiffs wished to charter the ship in order to save transport costs in their business of bringing and to the Colony for glass making, by being able to fetch 700 Cons at a time. This would mean only two trips a month, instead of 'em- playing a hundred junks. They therefore, made a deposit, but they discovered later that the vessel could carry only 400 tona,
to
700 Tons or 400 Tons?
Mr. Rendall read a letter written the plaintiff by Mr. Leo d'Almada, formerly acting for the defendant, referring to an agreement for hiring the bont for three months at $1,400 per month, and reminding the plaintiffs of the deposit made and offering to execute Mr. Ray's office, which they had neglected to do.
Icast
A letter was written, in reply stating that the plaintiffs were not prepared to execute the lease aa they had been told by Mr. Ray that the vessel wag, 400 tons nett and not 700. A request was included for the return of the deposit, as the con- sideration had failed.
A
QUAINT COMMENTS ON THE COURT.
Lam Ling, the Chinese, who is charged with the murder of an
Indian constable on an unoccupied
piece of ground near Kung Chung Market, was again before Mr. T. S Whyte-Smith at Kowloon Magis tracy yesterday. Mr Somerset. Fitzroy, Assistant Attorney-General. prosecuted.
Evidence was given by a Chinese farmer who was one of the six men who stopped the accused and
hia "girl-wife" on the railway
which defendant threw away and track in Chinese territory. He said that he picked up the revolver
took it to the Sheung Shui Police
Station,
A Chinese Nun.
The next witress was a young girl, with shares head sad wearing. a black gown. She said she was a Buddhist aun of the convent at
Mr. Hamilton: What did you do which the accused and the girl Witness: I bolted also.
stopped for shelter.
Mr. Andrews (for the Crown): He has-put it in a nutshell.
CORRECT DRESSWEAR.
TO ENSURE THAT
PERFECT APPEARANCE WEAR
KREMENTZ
DRESS STUDS, LINKS,
WAISTCOAT BUTTONS ALL TO MATCH.
A MAN'S GIFT
FULL DRESS SETS AT $17.50.
PR LINKS IN NEAT CASE $5.00.
SHIRT & COLLAR
STUDS 50 ́CTS.
Finally, the Court interprete: LANE, CRAWFORD, LTD.
The "Prioress" of the Monas tery was also called. She is a very The next witness called was a man old lady, but evidently accustomed who lived in Kowloon City and to rule. who originally came from the Taung Why do you want me
Her first remarks were, Shing district.
to give He said that his father was in America and he and evideace! I am old and deaf: The his mother had left the country to previous witness has told you all I
Defendant avoid the defendant.
know." arrived in his house in Kowloon City: had to "y" from his village and persuaded her to tell the Court in April with a story that he had
having billeted himself vu them be what she knew. After gazing care- refused to leave. He did not pay for his keep, neither did he do any fully round the Court she said that work. In the circumstances, the ehe did not see either the accused witness made reports to the volun- or the girl come to the convent teers in his village and also to the because she did not come to the Public Safety Bureau in Canton.
gate. She had only been informed of their arrival by one" of her "disciples."
The fugitive asked his Worship not to send him to Canton but to impose sentence on him then and there. His Worship pointed out that he was not trying the fugitive but was only there to see if there was sufficient evidence to
warrant further letter from Mr.sending him to Canton. J'Almada admitted that the plain- The fugitive stated that he left tiffs had been told the tonnage of his country when he was ten years the vessel was 700 tona gress but old and he was now-twentysix. He not nett. As the plaintiffs were not had never been back all this time. prepared to execute the lease, the He went to Canton first and came deposit money would be forfeited to Hong Kong on August 15 last and they would be liable for losses year. All the prosecution witnesses incurred to their failure to complete were telling lies. the lease,
Plaintin Firm Manager's Evidence. The manager of the plaintiff firm said that he understood the steamer could carry 700 tons nett, which he took to mean that 700 tons of sand could be put on board. After the payment of two sums of 8500 each as deposit, he was told by the sur- veyor that the vessel was only 400 tons nett, and he therefore refused to execute the lease. Witness add- ed that an average junk carried 60 tons of sand at 50 cents per picul, whereas transport by a 700 tons nett steamer would cost about 15' cents per picul.
Cross-examined by Mr. el Arculli, witness denied that the reason why he did not execute the lease was because he could not get a permit until the charter period had nearly run out. He also denied a sugges tion that he never mentioned the tonnage matter until he received a letter from a solicitor.
After further evidence had been called, His Lordship said it seemed to be a question as to which side of the story could be believed.
Defence Case Fails.
Continuing, he said that the in- driven out by Lo Wai and his habitants of, his village bad been gang and that instead of being a murderer, he was really a very much injured man.
In committing the man to gaol to await the orders of HE the Governor, Mr. Hamilton told the fugitive that he would not under any circumstances be surrendered within fifteen days and that if he desired he could appeal to the Supreme Court.
Why the Growd?
During her evidence, the aged nun. suddenly remarked to the inter- preter who was standing next to her, "Why are all those people at the back of the Court ?
I feel
afraid. I've never been in a place like this before."
Mr. Ip, the interpreter, patiently explained that they were interested being heard, and had a right to in the murder charge which was
present.
be
The old lady gave them another look which indicated that in her opinion they had no right to eaves- drop when she was giving evidence.
grim proceedings when Mr. Fitz- Some amusement lightened "the roy, in examining wituem, asked her smilingly, in the hope of ser ting her at ease and winning her confidence, Are you a The old woman responded, a broad grin settling over her aged features As the nodded an affirmative.
nun 1
After telling the Court all ebe knew, the old woman had yet an other remark to pass on the Court surroundings.
I will not come
tons, nett vessel except the bare atatement of the witness. The two receipts made no reference to weight, and that in itself was peculiar if the question of weight had always been so important. It was the defendants who sent the ball here any more," she said. "Once rolling by pressing for the lease to is sufficient (" be executed, and it was not until then that the plaintills began to the witness-box and hobbled out A the old lady got down from take steps. Plaintiffs had also seen the ship, and they were obviously of Court she mumbled something
about " compensation able to differentiate between vessel of 700 tons and 400 tons carry-
wasted 1" ing capacity.
Without calling upon Mr. Kendall to address him, His Lordship said he believed the story of the plain tiffs, and gave judgment for them
Mr. el Arealli said that there was nothing to support the claim that the plaintiffs were promised a 700❘
(Continued on next Column.) costs,
WRITING HOME
for time
Evidence was then given by, the police officers who had last seen the Indian constable and by those who had found the body. The hearing was adjourned till Thursday, 11.15
&.m,
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