THE RECENT FIRE DISASTER
CORONER'S INQUIRY,
CRACKER-DEALER IN WITNESS.BOX,
When the joss-paper merchant came into possession, was tho premium increased 1-Yo.
Did you tell the insurance Com.. pany that he was a dealer in fire crackers 1–No, I did not know that myself,
Was any business, done in the ground floor-Only papers and enndles,
12:
No crackers-I did not know if there were any crackers there.-
Do you know if they used the basement as a godown-Yee things
HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 1931.
REVENUE STAMP CASE.
TWO MEN ON TRIAL AT THE SESSIONS.
FORGERY ALLEGED.
The trial commenced at the Criminal Sessions ver
yesterday before
SOLDIER SENT TO HONG KONG STOCK
PRISON.
COMMON ASSAULT ON A WOMAN.
PREVIOUS CONVICTION.
PROVED.
MARKET.
CROUCHER & CO'S DAILY REPORT.
Today's trading was on a more generous scale than for some days, any investment shares, offering at quotation, found ready buyers,
Banks and Unions ruled, quiet at 29,010 and 2010, respectively, A previous conviction for ston.-
Underwriters are bettor at $8.60 the Chief Justice (Sir Joseph ing watches from shop in but no shares appear to be had. Komp) of two Chinese named To Queen's Road Central was reveal
Wharvos came to business at 8107 Luk and Fung Chau Pun in con-ed at the close of the trial of Pted 85.75 with further sellers at and 8107.80 and Providents at 85.70 nection with donis in revenue Alexandar Paddam, of the Argyll 85.80.
amps of 810 face value. They and Sutherland Highlanders, at Hotels were again the medium Schofield, was a special jury of explained that, in connection with were jointly charged with possesion the Criminal Bestions yesterday ness Boing done at $17.70 cash and
The Coroner's inquiry into the disastrous fire at 35, Staunton Street, on the night of June 0, was commenced at Central Magistracy yesterday. The inquiry took the form of an inquest into the death of one of the victims-a woman.
Assisting the Coroner, Mr. W.
three, comprising Masra, H. R. B. Hancock (foreiman) C. E. H. Oliver and Lf Kam Fat.
ground floor of the premises was a cracker and joas stick shop. The three main points to ascertain and determine were:
were stored there.
T
Do you know what was stored there 1-Yes, Joss paper,
At this stage. Inspector Shaftain
a
the insurance, he had seen the police
of forged stamps and on a further on charges of robbery with violence and the words "paper and crack count of uttering or passing for and common assult against ers" appeared on it. He could le 240 stamps, while there was a married woman named Wong So
third count against the first accus-Lin. S produce the policy at the nexted of uttering ten other forged stamps. Both accused pleaded not Wong Chow, the master of the Chow Ki jos paper shop, was the guilty to the charges.
Mr. Somerset Fitzroy prosecuted for the Crown, and Mr. Hin Shing Lo defended the second accused.
The onse présented certain di cult features for the jury, who, after retiring for three-quarters of an hour, wore divided in their verdict, and after a further short retirement they found the accused not guilty of the first count but they unanimously found him guilty of the lesser charge on common 45- sault
A.
months hard labour, the Puis
In passing sentence of aide
Lindsoll) Judge Mr. Justice
Baid:-
Addressing the jury at the outset, the Coroner explained that the in-bearing. quiry was into the circumstances of the are which broke out at 33 Staunton Street shortly before next witness called. He told the o'clock on June 9. The house of cours that he occupied the base ment, ground and first floor of 35, three storeys was buryed and fifteen Staunton Street. He at first occupi A Prospective Buyer. persous lost their lives. The ed the ground floor and basement,
unton Street Witness explain Crown, Mr. Fitzroy said that a moving in, in July 1930 from 37,
In opening the case for the
ed that he moved because he thought No, 37 was unlucky. While he did man named Lai Kum Lan was put business there his family had al- in touch with the first, accused as "Apparently you do not bear ‘a ways been. ill. In May, 1881 he prospective buyer, and they met also took the first floor of the pro-in Yaumati to discuss the question his stock there. Previously he had of forged stamps. At this meeting mists for the purpose of storing stored his stock at the ground floor the first accused produced specimen of 34, Staunton Street, but he found that having the shop and storehouse stamps. The two men agreed to in one house made it more con meet again and discuss the ques-not being legally reprosented, and venient. Recently he told the tion, but the first accused seemed the jury empanelled were Messrs. Coroner, he had sprained an ankle moving from house to house. The suspicious and they adjourned to L. Scott (foreman), F. X. Gomes, H. P. Tees, F. I. Tavares, P. A. goods stored on the first floor, anid another tea-house.. witness, consisted of paper and fire
Yvanovich, Mak Kam Yuk and Li Kwok Yan. trackers.
(1) How did the woman meet her
death?
(2) What were the causes of the great loss of life in the house 7 (3) What at the proper steps.to be taken to prevent future
disasters of this kind..
4
WIA
One More Death,
Inspector Shaftain who watching the proceedings on behalf of the police authorities, informed the Coroner at the outect that of faur people who jumped over the "verandah of the first floor on the night of the fire, only two survived, but unfortunately one of these two died on Wednesday night. The only survivor from the first floor would probably be available for evidence some ten or fifteen days later. No statement was taken Describing the living arrange- from the person
ments on the first floor, witness and Wednesday night, the reason being one sitting room. The front cubicle who died on that there were three cubicles and that her condition did not justify was used as a store room, the a statement being taken.
The first witness called was Yun and the third cubicle by his wifo, When the men arrived at 6.45 p.m.,
second was used by his daughters beforehand with another. Shun Ming the husband of the himself, two sons and a daughter. the second accused took Lai's woman who is the subject of the in- quiry. He said that he left Staun-
Describing the orackers on the | ****
On the way they met the second accused, which mecting appeared to Question of Insurance,
be porfectly accidental. The first Regarding the question of insur-accused told the prospective buyer ance, witness said that he took out that he would be willing to sell ten three nolicies (two of $3,000 a stamps of $10 each and suggested one of 82,000) with the Tai Ping firm and a further, 83,000 with the 825 as the price. A compromise was Chun Sing Insurance Co. Two reached whereby Lai purchased the policies were kept in a safe in the shop and these survived. the fire lot for 823. while two others kept in the first- floor were lost.
.F
Another deal was suggested by the buyer and the first accused agreed to supply 500 stamps. They
Nathan Road, where Lai had gone met at the Kum Toi Hotel in
man.
com
good character either in your re- giment or in the public eye. It nene, of the troops in this Colony a fortunato that fow, practically behave like you do." w
Mr. T. S. Whyte Smith prose- cuted for the Crown, the accused
of a fair amount of trading, busi-
818.28 August, but are a bit casier
at the close Lands are inquired
July at 803.30.
for cash at 802.75 with sellers for
The demand for Humphreys con- tinue unabated both for cash and forward, sales taking place at 822.40 August and 821,73, caah - 33
Ewos were sold at Tis 14.10 and Tis. 14.15.
An undercurrent of strength in Trams lifted the price to $22.25 cash, but at the close business was done at this rate for July,
Telephones were sold at $38.50 for
$21.50 and Ropes at 821.75 are in the settlement,
lair demand.
Canton Icos at 85.50. Cements at
July 18, p.m.
plaint was a serious, cne and you Mr. Justice Lindsell: The com-
think it was a serious complaint did nothing whatever -I. did not
first, but I found it was so
afterwards.
His Lordship remarked that witness should have done some thing instead of letting it slide.
Accused, giving evidence from tho witness-box, said that he "loft barracks with Pte. Hurrowes at about 6 p.m. and went to the Ma that they had already seen the jestic Theatre, where they found picture
which was announced.
Snatching Incident.”
Mr, Whyte Smith said that com Outlining the case for the Crown, plainant, at about nine o'clock on the evening of the day in ques. They then went to the Y.M.C.A. tion, was at the junction of Na and later to the Palace Hotel, than and Gascoigne Roads, near where they had scme drinks. Ac the Pc Hing Theatre, and was cused had two five dollar notes and engaged in oxamining a 85 note some small change and paid for and a silver dollar wrapped up in the drinks amounting to 89 with her handkerchief. Accused, and a five dollar ncte. another soldier came along from behind and accused snatched the handkerchief. Complainant
-re.
A Hostile Crowd.
ton Street at 8 p.m. and went to Premises, witness said that these panion to the verandah and show-lowed by complainant and a crowd a sight they continued to walk
9, Hollywood Road. He learned of
wore stored in boxes about 12 inches ed him, a packet of stamps.
basement were kept in wooden cases,
in the faceThere would be ho decided to walk with his com
After leaving the Palace Hotel monstrated, but pecusod struck her
at about 8.30 p.m., accused said evidence to show that sho was panion as far as the Majestio kageked down and kicked and the Hotel bus stop, at which point direction of Mongkok, being fol- to the camp. As there was no bus two soldiers went away the they were entitled to a cheap ride
Im-who had gathered.
as far as Waterloo Road when a the fire at about 9 am, and hasten.3, 18, inches in size. Those in the mediately Lai gave Bignal to thoone in the crowd lont a police them., Burrowes jumped into a
While following the men, some
hostile crowd appeared behind ed to the scene as soon as possible. those in the shop in a glass show police, who were waiting outside. whistlo to complainant, who start bus going to the Star Ferry, in He found his house weil alight, the case and on the first floor there were
Mr. Fitzroy continued that thood to blow it. At a spot between order to avoid trouble. Witness fire having, competely taken bold two wooden cupboards where crack Crown would prove that the stamps Street, accused was seen to hand was not quick enough to jump
Nelson Street and of the premises.
Shantung Witness, stated
ors were stored. There wore about were forged. The Superintendent- something white, presumably thinto the samo bus, but ho boarded the 800 worth of crackers in the shop on day following of the fire he went to at the time of the fire. The value of the Stamps Ofice, would give handkerchief, to the other
another going to Shamshuipo when the Mortuary and identified the of the stock on the premises, said avideme of the forgery and also who walked across the road and him to go to the police station. two constables entered and asked Lody of his wifo.
Witness stated the top floor, $10,000.
witness, was a little more than
aay that the forgeries were printed boarded a bus going in the direcHe did 80 Staunton Street, where he lived, Describing the fire, witness said on paper entirely different to the and the crowd continued to following he would not have walked was divided into four cubicles and that he was sitting at the counter genuine stamps issued by the Gov-accused until Argyll Street was along the main road had he snatch three bed spaces, but witness could of the shop at the time when he saw ernment, while there were also other bus going in the direction of suggested that it was a case of not say exactly how many person bright reflection in the street and
reached, when accused boarded & ed anything from the woman. Ho lived in each cubicle. He knew that almost immediately he saw flames differences in the perforation. ench of the bed spaces held two shooting out of the first floor
Shamshuipo. MA
mistaken identity. persons. Witness himself lived in the fourth cubicle with his wife verandah of his house. He did not and two children.
hear anything prior to that. Wit-
that
4
Stamps Net Genuine.
man.
tion of Tsimtsatsui, Complainant
The bus was stopped, however, and accused was arrested by two policemen who took him to the police, station.
Accused denied the charge, say
Mr. Crawley, Superintendent of ness said that because of his the Stamps Office, said he had held sprained apkle he walked slowly out of the shop. Some of his fokis that post for four months, previous were at the back of the shop while to which he was in charge of all others had gone to a dinner party, stamps at Weihaiwei. The out-dress as Nc. 24, Bowring Street, endeavour to borrow ton cents to
bright reflection in the street and ince then told him to go away from the score because he had a sore foot.
Hole in the Roof, Asked by the Coroner whether there were any other exits from the top floor except by the stairs, wit- noss explained, that there was a
standing feature of the genuine hole in the roof which was covered
stamp was its watermark of the up, but witness could not say whe ther the cover, was locked or other-
crown and the letters "CA", which wise. Access to this hole was a very
Went to a Monastery. meant "Crown' Agonts." The per- difficult matter, as to gain it one Witness said that he went to a foration on a genuine stamp was had to get access first to a cockloft nearby monastery with the inten- regular and contained 80 per- which was more than ten feet above tion of telephoning to such of his forations to each rectangle. A let the floor with no ladder. leading fokie who had gone to the party. up to it. Witness said that there He found that the telephone was tor
"E" was also overprinted was a joss shrine half way up the in great demand by policemen try which specified Bills of Exchange, wall and this was the only steppinging to get the Fire Brigade and for which the stamps were used. stone, as it were, between the floor he was not able to use it. He went
Witness said that it was not true
Evidence was also given by Pte. Burrowes, who said that he had only five cents in his pocket when he got away in the bus. He had Woman ** Muddled,”. to get off noar Haiphong Road and wont round the Palace Hotel Complainant, who gave her ad- and the Y.M.C.A. again in an
who snatched her handkerchieftained ten cents from the mas identified accused as the man who pay for his return to camp. He Sho declared that both mon struck ter tailor and arrived in camp at her and the other soldier kicked about 9.35 p.m. her in the chest.
Mr. Whyte Smith, in cross-ex Cross-examined by the accused. amination, put it to the witness witness admitted that she had that he could not have done every- previously stated that boarded a bus going to Tsimsha the time mentioned, and that wit- accused thing to which he had doposed in tsui, while she was unable to say ness purposely got into the bus to new in which direction the bus avoid the police.. was travelling. Witness said that she was muddled by the many questions put to her, at the Kom After retiring for 45 minutes, the foreman of the jury announced.
in ovidodon that he saw the 'no-
Jury's Findings,
had
The jury, after a further short rotirement, announced through their foreman that they reached an unanimous verdict. They found the accused not guilty of the charge of robbery with violence; but they found him guilty.
of the house and the cockloft. The Back to the scene of the fire but. The stamps which he had examinoon Court, hole in the roof was only two feet could not get neat enough to seed, alleged to have been in posses Cheung Fin. Lam, a student at that they were unanimously agro- above the cockloft,
In regard to the means of escape anything. He did not seo, any opsion of the two accused, were of the Shered Heart College, stateded that there was not sufficient by the verandab the witness ex can from the verandah. "I had to plained that a number of iron bars borrow a cout from one of the ordinary commercial paper, and the cused snatch something from the evidence to show that any money protuded from the wall that separ
monks," said witness, because I watermark was that of an ordinary woman, Witness spoke to the two had been stolen. They had found, ated the verandah of No. 35 from was not properly elad. the verandah of adjacent houses. Of the four, people who were, on
manufacturer's mark, and did not soldiers and asked them to return a majority of five to two, that what they had taken from the wo- something had been taken from the The representative of the owner the first floor at the time, witness bear the crown and the lettersman, but they took no notice and woman, but they were not prepared of the premises, in giving evidence, he tore visit of them were gitle". The gum, too, wat
was quite continued to walk in the direction to say what it was said that the property was first he who were visiting his daughter. Of different from that used on the of Mengkok.
His Lordship, directed the jury quired by his mother seven years these four three have since died, the
Witness said that bo also saw to consider again whether the go. His mother died last Novem only one remaining alive being his genuine stamps. It appeared to be the two soldiers striking the wo autching was done with intent to lier and the property passed on to own daughter.
thicker, on more irregular. The man and it was the accused who steal and also whether any violence his older brother for whom he acted.
He said that he and his brothers that 80 per cent, of the goods stored colour was also slightly lighter. He kicked her immediately, after the was used.. and sisters lived in the first and in the first floor wera fire crackers. would say unhesitatingly, that they enatching Witness continued that near Argyll Street be saw the first Becond floore of the house until The bulk of it was paper.
focused pass something ever to the In answer to further questions by were not genuine stampa three weeks before the fire when they moved out. The reason for Inspector Shaftain witness said Mr E R. Dovey, Government other soldier, and the latter board ed a bus going to Tsimshatsui, zhoving out, witness explained, was that the crackers be sold came front Arlalyst, gave evidence of having Acensed aise boarded a bus going because they did not like to live in Hunan and Canton. He denied examined the stamps and was of to Shamshulpo, hat he was drrest
house in which their mother had that all "crackers, received by him the opinion that they were fored by two constables,
were opened on the premises anti
Asked if anything was known gories, basing his conclusions on Reservists Inactivity. The house was insured for 86,boo relabelled with his own label, C
about the accused, Mr. Whyte There were, according to witness, the same evidence as that given by Mr. A. O W. Muoney,
Smith said that Paddam waS HON and the rent for 81,000. The ground floor and basement, was boxes of crackers on the first the previous witness.
tancad on July 28, 1930, to four geant in the Police Reserves, stat montius-hard-labour by the Pollen rented out to Choy Kéo, a josefloor, each box containing 175 -In cross-examination, witness said paper dealer who paid them 875 packets, and each packet contain that be made no claim to have made that he was near Waterloo Road Magistrate, for larcony. On, that ng 20 strings of crackers Each is special study of stamps in this when he heard paice whistles on occasion used stole rutted Insurance Policies.bat weighed about 80 to 70 cattics ease the forged stamps were very the other side of the road. He gold wrist watches from 105,
Asked whether any electrical good imitations and it was only by went over and found a woman who Queen's Road Central In answer to Mr H JArm, wiring ran behind or through the comparing them with the genuine complained that two soldiers had In answer to his Lordship, se strong, witness said that the in cupboards in which the crackers stamps that the differences were led her. The soldiers were used admitted thin convictionis Buranos company was the New! wore stored, witness said that no hotau
manthay thếng about two hundred yards Zealand Insurance of which Mossra wire passed near the cupboard. After hearing further evidence Away Witness said he did not doing that, he pleaded guilty at
the time. Reiss, Massey & Co., were the local The inquiry will be continued on the case was adjourned until thigayahing in the mattor Abeliod was sentenced to a term agents.
Monday,
(Continued on next Column.) of imprisonment as stated.
died.
month.
morning.
ser
of common assault,
Haig
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