487
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the paper myself, and it appeared to me to be something about pirate boats and provisions. Ma-chow Wong's name was in it I think, but Mr Caldwell's was not. It was written in English in a very bad handwriting; it seemed a sort of memorandum. I recollect shewing it to the Chief Magistrate who committed Boggs for trial. On the night of Boggs's apprehension, he told me that I must take great care of that paper, as he could convict somebody on it; the next morning he told me he meant Mr Caldwell. I read the paper; I know Mr Caldwell's handwriting, and feel quite certain that it was not in Mr Caldwell's handwriting.
I am sure Ma-chow Wong was not present when I delivered the gold dust; I should have known him a mile off, as he used to wear black spectacles. I received the information of Ma-chow Wong's innocence on the first case from several Chinese; they told me that it was not his shop which had anything to do with the matter, and his coming forward to the Police Station so boldly, shewed that he could have had no connection with it. I did not inform Mr May of my intention not to arrest him, nor did I countermand the order to the Police for his apprehension.
I saw no more of the gold dust after I delivered it to Mr Caldwell, and he gave me back the 7 taels. I did not see the persons who were securities for the delivery of the gold dust, nor do I know anything about the security. I know that there were security papers returned by Mr Caldwell to the Police Station. They were delivered to Mr May the next day. I do not know where they were kept, and have never seen them since; I am not quite certain that these papers were returned, but think that some red papers were handed in. Mr Caldwell made enquiry for them and I searched with a Chinese clerk for them. I think it was Mr May who desired me to make the search; Mr May think searched with me.
NINETEENTH MEETING.
Thursday, 8th July, 1858, at 12 o'clock Noon, Present,-All the Members, except the Hon Mr Davies JAMES JARMAN, Inspector of Police, examined.
-Called and
par
I personally apprehended Ma-chow Wong under warran on the charge upon which he was subsequently tried. went to his shop in the Central Market, and seized some book and papers both from the hong and from the shop. The principal part of the books and papers were put in an izop safe, which was locked, and the key remained in my posses sion. The remainder were put in two or three baskets; ther were then carried to the Central Police Station under my inspection. They remained in my custody in the station: those which were not in the iron safe were put in a wooden chest, of which I had the key; and when required for the poses of the Police Magistrates they were taken up to the Magistracy, and brought down again at the end of each daya proceedings, still remaining in my custody. I remember during the progress of the investigation their being examig ed at the Police Station by Mr Stace, accompanied by al Chinaman. Mr Caldwell was present during, I believe, the whole of the investigation; he was there the major part of the time, if not the whole. While the books and pape were being examined, I was sitting at the table on which they were placed. I considered it a part of my duty to see that no papers were taken away, and that all that were examined were returned to my custody, and I did so. I don't recollect any of the papers being sent to the Surpene Court; I believe there were some, but am not certain. M Grand-Pré had charge of another set besides those I had After the investigation at the Police Court was concluded the books and papers not required at the Supreme Court were returned to my custody as before at the Central Police.
I never heard whether Mr May approved or disap-Station, and after the conviction of the prisoner I was proved of the delivery up of the gold dust. The articles ordered to send them to the Magistracy. They were sent in taken from the Kwong Yik Loong shop which I delivered baskets covered over with oil paper, and it being a rainy day, up were bundles and bedding; there was $32 also. I de- they were tied down and sealed up. They were sent from livered up the property at the Station, and the books at the the Police Court to the Government Offices, and my receipts Supreme Court, solely by virtue of the order of the Acting specifying the number of baskets containing books and papers Colonial Secretary on the petition. I think it was to Mr were sent with them. From the time I seized them until May personally, not in the office of the Superintendent of I sent them up to the Magistracy for transmission to 1 Police, that the security papers were delivered.
Government Offices, they remained in safe custody in my GOL saw these papers afterwards on the table in the Police: hands, and I do not think it possible that any of them could have been abstracted. I cannot, to my recollection, say that I have found myself embarrassed in my action against pi- rates by Ma-chow Wong. I was present during part of the trial of Eli Boggs. I do not remember hearing a document read by him, nor seeing him hand in a document. I wa not.present at the conclusion when he made his defence. I [There being no quorum on Wednesday, the Chairman was not present when Eli Boggs was searched up his adjourned till the following day at Noon.]
apprehension, but I remember seeing a square piece of calico, which was a rebel pass, and which had been taken from Boggs. I think it was Roberts who shewed me this pass. I do not recollect seeing a paper. I have not since
Office, but had not charge of them. I think they were given to Mr May as Sheriff, as the case came through the
Court.
Adjourned to 12 o'clock on Wednesday.
The property was given over to Inspecter Roberts. Grand Pré was also there at the time.
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is trial seen the paper alluded to; it ought to be produced chow Wong at Mr Caldwell's house on three or four or more the Gaoler by the Inspector who was on duty at the occasions. I have seen him on various occasions. I think I time. According to practice, a paper read and handed in at recollect, on one occasion when Mr Caldwell was very sick, Court would be kept in Court, and in ordinary cases of convic- that he went up stairs to Mr Caldwell's room. I have never seen tion would be handed over to the Gaoler, if not given in evi- anything in their demeanour towards each other which would dence at the Magistracy; if given in evidence at the Supreme warrant me in saying they were intimate as friends. I re- Court, and if it be property of the prisoner, it would be given member Mr May and Tong Akü making an examination of over to the Gaoler again. I have some slight knowledge of the Ma-chow Wong papers. I was present and had charge seeing the tin box at the Police Station.
of the papers at that time. I am quite satisfied that all the Mr books and papers examined by them were returned to my custody—it is quite impossible that any of them could have Cross-examined, I remember some years ago a case of been abstracted. Mr May gave me orders regarding taking an alleged robbery of some tin belonging to a merchant charge of the books and papers, as I had seized them, There was some money and boxes of clothing belonging to the at Singapore. I was, on the 24th June 1855, concerned
Kwong Yik Loong shop remaining in the custody of the Police, in the endeavor to trace this tin. I remember going with
after the books and papers were sent up to Government Office. Mr Caldwell to search for this tin on board the ship Chin-
Mr Grand-Pre had charge of this property. Mr Grand-Pre chew. I understood that the information which led to ordered it to be given up. He gave up the dollars and the our going on board came through Mr Caldwell. There clothing to a man who was clerk at the Kwong Yik Loong were a few blocks of tin found on board the ship; we took shop, and who was tried with Ma-chow Wong. Mr Grand- possession of it and brought it ashore. After coming from Pre personally delivered up the dollars. I did not see him the ship, we went to a house where it was said to have been deliver up the clothing. There were one or two Chinese with bought from, but found none there. Two persons were this clerk. Before the property was delivered up, Mr Caldwell charged before Mr Hillier, I think, with having unlawful came to the charge-room window with a petition, and asked possession of the tin. I believe the parties were not com- me if Mr May was in his office, and said that the man- mitted for trial on the charge. I don't recollect whether pointing to this clerk-was come after the property, or some- they were or not. I remember, before going on board the thing to that effect; at all events the property was given up. ship, accompanying Mr Caldwell to search a hong I think Mr Caldwell went to Mr Grand-Pre or Mr May. Mr Bonham Strand. The tin found there was, I think, taken Grand-Pre came out of his office afterwards. I think that as possession of, but was not I think, the same tin as that soon as he had had the conversation with Mr May or Mr Grand-Pre, Mr Caldwell went away. I should like to cor- which was missing.
rect my statement, that Mr Grand-Pro had all the money. Re-examined, I apprehended Ma-chow Wong on the 16th July between 9 and 10 o'clock. I arrested him on bad $10 myself, which I delivered up to Mr Grand-Pre, on the occasion of the money being given up. I found the $10 two occasions on the 16th and 18th; this one on the 16th
in one of the boxes, and shewed them to Mr May at the time, was before the issue of a warrant. When I apprehended him
and kept charge of them until the property was given up. it was a short distance from the Old Central Police Station I do not know what ultimately came of the blocks of tin found
told him that I had made him a prisoner and took him
on board the ship. I was away a day or two about that to the Central Police Station. I told him also that the time after pirates, and did not attend the Police Court when charge against him was confederating with pirates.
the case was going on. Mr Grand-Pre had in his possession words he made use of were "What for you takee my now, a gun taken from Eli Boggs—no other article that I know have go up stairs Mr Grand Pré's house last night." No- of. I do not know what has become of the gun; he may have
The
thing further passed till we arrived at the Station, when I told Mr Grand Pré, who said that Ma-chow Wong had not been at the Police Station the previous night. I told Mr May that if he did not look after the case strictly, most likely it would fall through. I did not attend the Police Court on the first examination of Ma-chow Wong when he was held to bail by the Chief Magistrate. I believe from what people have told me, that Ma-chow Wong inter- ested himself in cases of piracy.
it still for all that I know.
ELI BOGGS,--Called and examined.
I
At the period of my apprehension I remember a paper being found on me. The paper, as near as I can recollect, was written for Ma-chow Wong, and sent out to a lorcha to a young man named Beaver who had charge of the lorcha. It stated lie Was part owner of a lorcha. Some one on board was about to take the orcha away, and he wished the lorcha to be brought back. It said I have heard the Chinese say, that Ma-chow Wong was nothing further. I had several papers, when I was arrested. believed by them to be in possession of great power; they said This paper was in English. I remember something about a that he was always connected with pirates, and they were paper, which I requested might be taken particular care of, as afraid to have anything to do with him. I recollect on one it would be of use to me. I saw that paper at the Supreme br two occasions, that some of the Lukongs said, that Ma-chow Court on my trial. It was put into my hands by Mr May. Wong was friendly with Mr Caldwell. I have seen MaI believe I read the contents of it in Court. I handed it to