456
C
( 8 )
Mr Dixson,—Mr James Stephenson was one-Mr Douglas Lapraik was another. I was requested to attend the Council, to furnish any evidence in my possession to substantiate certain statements in the China Mail. I may mention, that all my statements were borne out by memoranda produced by Mr May.
about it, and that he had advised him, as he was sure to lose the case, to pay back the money at once. I may say, that, as a friend of Mr Caldwell, it has vexed me exceedingly to see his connection with such a man, and I have repeatedly spoken to him on the subject. On one occasion, the last before Ma-chow Wong's apprehension, I said, Depend upon it, you will rue the connection with such a scoundrel." Chairman, Do you know if Ma-chow Wong's investiga- Caldwell's reply was "Oh, you can frequently turn rogues tion before the Council was got up at the instigation of to good account," or something to that effect. He thought | Mr Caldwell? that he was using Ma-chow Wong as a tool, and I thought that Ma-chow Wong was using him.
Mr
Mr Dixson,I do not know. I know that Mr Caldwell
was exerting himself to accomplish the liberation of Ma-chow Chairman,-Have you had any occasion to change your Wong, which I attributed to the very long acquaintance opinion since ?
Mr Dixson, I think the only reason that I have to do so' is, that, with such powerful evidence as was brought against Ma-chow Wong in the Court, I cannot comprehend how Mr Caldwell should still continue to advocate his innocence and strive to procure a pardon.
Chairman,--Did not Mr Caldwell, before the apprehension of Ma-chow Wong, tell you, in reply to your remonstrance, that the connection had ceased, or words to that effect?
Mr Dirson, I am under the impression that he did, but would have forgot it unless the question had been asked.
Chairman,--Will you tell the Commission what took place at your examination before the Executive Council ?
Mr Dirson,—I considered the line of examination adopted by His Excellency as Chairman of the Council was so one- sided and so unfair, that I told the Council it seemed as if I had been put upon my trial,--that I had come there voluntarily by request to testify what I knew regarding a notorious scoundrel, and to produce such proofs as I had in my possession; that if I was not allowed to tell my story my own way, I would close my note-book and leave the
room.
- Chairman,--Can you tell us if it has come to your know- ledge that any endeavour is being made at present by Mr Caldwell to get Ma-chow Wong off?
which had existed between them.
Chairman,--Did not you say just now that the Council was brought to a sudden close by the production of some memoranda of Mr May ?
Mr Dixson,-Yes-Mr Caldwell and Stace, understood, got permission to take away any documents connected with Ma-chow Wong in the hands of the Police. That of certain of these papers, Mr May with the assistance of interpreters had taken memoranda. The papers were taken away from the station-I understood by Mr Caldwell and Mr Stage. I had learned something of the contents of the memoranda, and on informing the Council that I believed I could fully substantiate all the statements I had made in the paper, was astonished to learn that a translation of the papers, made by order of the Government, by Mr Caldwell assisted by Mr Mongan, contained no proofs, or but very trifling proofs indeed, of the correctness of the charges I had brought. The trans- lation I heard read over in Council, and it proved an entirely different affair from what was shewn in Mr May's memo- randa. All the members of Council expressed the utmost astonishment at such being the case, and Mr Mongan on being called could not account for it. The Council seemed to break up suddenly, and I have never heard from that day
to this whether the documents were ever forthcoming or not. Chairman,-Do you agree to Mr Anstey's version of
Mr Dixson,-No. I am not aware of such attempt at your conversations? present, nor have been for some time.
Chairman,-What took place at the Council?
Mr Dixson,The principal occurrences were, that His Excellency had drawn out four charges from passages in the China Mail (of 17th September, 1857,) and demanded of me to prove them. I said I thought I could do so; and amongst other things, produced a Bill of Exchange drawn by Ma-chow Wong upon one of the pirate-leaders at Shanghae. I mentioned the names of several parties who had expressed a willingness to appear before the Council to substantiate my statements. The Council was very suddenly broken up upon the production of certain memoranda by Mr May. I don't know why His Excellency did not summon the gentlemen I mentioned. They had expressed their readi-
Mr Dixson,On Mr Anstey's evidence being read over
I confirm it with the following remarks:
The fire referred to (when the threatening gesture was made) was at the Police Station, not at Taipingshan. I know nothing of my own knowledge, good or bad, about Mr Caldwell's family; I have been introduced to the reputed adopted Brother and Sister of Mrs Caldwell. I know nothing of my own knowledge against Mrs Caldwell,
Chairman, Of your own knowledge do you know if she was ever brought from a brothel ?
Mr Dixson,-From my own knowledge I do not. I be- lieve she never was a prostitute. I have heard the charges read over. Of the 1st, 2d, and 3d, I know nothing. The 4th must be very much qualified, except in the case of Ma-chow Wong. The 5th, Iknow nothing of. The 6th Idon't know except Chairman, Can you give me the names of the gentle- by hearsay. As regards the 7th, I believe that the Police have been in the habit of arresting innocent men on the information
ness to come.
men ?
(9)
As for
Mr Dixson, I know of none. 1 did not like his con-
Chairman,--Do you not know that while he has been in the Government employ, he has done material service to the Government?
Mr Dixson,—I do believe so, most conscientiously, Chairman,-Are you not aware that Mr Caldwell has been enabled to render most of this public service by means of Ma-chow Wong?
of Ma-cliow Wong. I don't know anything about the 8th- I don't understand it. No. 9, I know nothing of. With nection with Ma-chow Wong. regard to 10, I have already said all I have to say. 11, there is one entry of money paid to Mr Caldwell in Mr 12, 13, 14, May's memoranda of Wong Akee's books.
16 I have already explained. and 15, I know nothing of Of 17, 18, and 19, I know nothing.
Chairman,-Did
you not tell the Attorney General, last week or the week before, that you did not think that Mrs Caldwell had been a prostitute; but that you knew she had once been an inmate of a brothel, and that you knew a China- woman well who had lived along with her in a brothel ?
Mr Dixson,--No. Chairman,--Did not the Attorney General ask you if you would have any objection to be called to give evidence of
these facts?
Mr Dixson,-I said that I should be happy to give evi- dence, not of these facts, but of facts connected with the general enquiry. What I said was, that I knew or had heard from a person who had lived in a house (not a brothel) with Mrs Caldwell, that she, Mrs Caldwell, had been brought up as a singing-girl in a brothel. I do not know this of my own knowledge-and am not inclined to give the name of my informant. I decline to bring any body here; but I believe the statement to be true.
[The name of the informant was by request handed over to the Chairman.]
Cross-examined,
Chairman,-You have stated in your evidence that you were under the impression that Mr Caldwell had told you after the trial, that his connection with Ma-chow Wong had ceased. If such was the case, I wish to know if you are still under the impression that he is advocating his in-
nocence?
Mr Dixson-It is not so in the evidence. Chairman,-You have also stated that some of the papers taken in Ma-chow Wong's possession had been taken from the Police Station by Mr Caldwell and Mr Stace. give your informant's name?
Will
you
Mr Dixson, I am; but I qualify it, believing that Ma-chow Wong never gave any information without having a selfish end in view. I know of a case, and brought a witness up to prove it before the Council, where Ma-chow Wong gave information for ships-of-war to attack pirates, and afterwards sent boats to collect loot from the pirate junks, after the men-of-war had done with them.
Chairman, Do you believe that Mr Caldwell derived any pecuniary advantage from his connection with Ma-chow Wong?
Mr Dixson,-I do--in general terms.
Chairman, Do you think that from any of the unlawful transactions, Mr Caldwell dérived any share?
Mr Dixson, I decline answering that question. Chairman,-Have you known Mrs Caldwell for any length of time?
Mr Dixson,I have, intimately.
Chairman,-Are you aware that some time ago she was baptised?
Mr Dixson,-Yes.
Chairman, And that immediately afterwards they were married in the Cathedral?
Mr Dixson,-Yes. I was present at the marriage. I knew them before their public marriage, and considered them as much man and wife then as afterwards.
Chairman,-Have you ever seen anything in Mrs Cald- well's conduct which would tend to give you a bad opinion of her?
Mr Dixson,-No. I have never seen anything of the kind. Chairman,-You are also aware that Mr May has been on very friendly terms with Mr and Mrs Caldwell for many years
Mr Dixson, I decline giving the party's name. Chairman,--You say Mr Mongan was called up and ques-back, visiting at the house?
tioned.
Can you state if Mr Mongan explained how the examination of the papers was carried on?
Mr Dixson,-No. He said he had been instructed to ssist Mr Caldwell in making the translation.
Mr Dixson,-Yes.
Chairman,-You are aware that Mr May is a married man? Mr Dixson,-Yes.
Chairman,-He is Superintendent of Police and Justice
Chairman, Did you see the memo. of Mr May's before of the Peace? it was produced at the Council?
Mr Dixson, I decline answering the question. I saw it at the Council.
Chairman,-You have known Mr Caldwell intimately a great many years?
Mr Dixson,-Yes-most intimately, and would probably have done so till this day, but for Ma-chow Wong.
Chairman,-Have you ever had any reason to suspect that Mr Caldwell ever derived any benefit from plunder at sea ?
Mr Dixson,-Yes.
[Some questions of Mr Caldwell's were here disallowed by the Chairman.]
Chairman,-With reference to charge 16, I think you say that you are acquainted with the family of Mr Caldwell?
Mr Dixson,-Yes.
Chairman,-Are you aware that he has a Sister-in-law ? Mr Dixson,-A woman has been pointed out to me as such. Chairman,-Do you know if in 1855-6 she kept a brothel >