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I do not know a woman called Shap-lok. Nobody came after the sentence to the Fawn-shop that I know of to speak of getting a pardon. I have only a small share in the firm. $200 was paid to Mr Gaskell, I do not know of any other money being paid; I have not seen any money paid; Low Sing-keet the manager of the shop, knows. Low Sing-keet gave the $200 to me, and I went with Wong Ashing and paid the Money to Mr Gaskell at his office. I was never present at the payment of any other money, but I know that money was paid for feasts, and trouble in connection with the matter. I never saw $800 paid to a woman, but I saw a bill made out shewing disbursements to that amount. I do not know to whom it was paid some of it was in feasting, some to buy shoes and cakes for presents. I did not see the money paid, and do not know if it was promised to be paid before it was paid. Low Sing- keet said money was to be paid to lawyers and others, I was not responsible for it. I did not make myself responsible to Mr Caldwell for that or any other sum.
I do not know a female called Shap-lok. I have been treasury comprador 14 years. Wo-hang is a partner in the Pawn-broker's shop. I did not see any one ask Wo-hang to pay his share of the Money. There are entries in the account of the money expended, but it only states how much has been expended on the case of the watch being pawned by mistake. I do not know if Mrs Caldwell has a sister by blood or adoption; I never go to Tai-ping Shan, and do not know about that matter.
LOW SING-KEÉT,--Called and examined.
I was managing shopman and have a share in the Foo-T'ai pawnbroker's firm. I recollect one of my partners being convicted of having received a stolen Gold Watch. After his conviction I was engaged in getting some seals put to the petition for his pardon. Shap-lok a female came to the shop when Ch'o On was present. She told Ch'o On to ask people to save the prisoner, and also that if the affairs should be completed, shoe-money, i.e. a present, should be given to Shap-lok. She spoke to Ch'o On, and I heard from Ch'o On th the sum of $450 was to be paid to her by him. When the conversation took place, I was not at home, but was sent for aud told of it by Ch'o On, who said that Shap-lok was able to perform the business; and that $450 would have to be paid her.
I do not know what was to be done for it. Ch'o On said that it was to be paid when my partner's business was settled. This was after the conviction, but I cannot recollect exactly when. The money was paid after the conversation; I was present, and handed the money over to Ch'o On. It was paid, $100 in Bank Notes, and $50 in Silver. I do not know what Shap-lok was to do with the $450, and do not know how she was to perform this business; it was Ch'o On who spoke to her. Ch'o On was security for the amount but only by promise.
Ch'o Ou's hand, and he paid it to Shaplok. I do not know Shaplok, nor where she lives, nor what her occupation is, have not heard what she is, nor to whom she is related Besides the $450, there was money paid to Lawyers; I do not recollect how much; it was paid through Ch'o On. M Gaskell was lawyer; I did not accompany Cho On to make the payment to him.
I did not hear my partner say anything about $800 to be given to Shaplok, he only spoke of $100. I do not know why this woman was able to do anything in the matter. I wan ordered by Ch'o On who has a large share in the business, to pay the money.
There were other persons present who saw me hand the money over to Ch'o On; I have no doubt of it. There is probably an entry of this payment in the books. I left at that time, and a person named Lum took my place.
CHARLES MAY,-Recalled.
I produce the charge sheet in the case of Beaver, also that in the case of Boggs. [In the charge sheet 23d October, 1857, there is an entry," Henry Beaver, barkeeper at the Commercial Hotel, being charged by Mr Caldwell with federating with pirates; a paper mentioned as found upon ha person; the charge was taken by John Roberts and was brought before Mr May as Acting Assistant Magistrate, by whom he was remanded for re-examination on the 31st, ard: was to be admitted to bail, such bail to consist of two house) holders in £100 each,”]-
It will be in the recollection of the Committee that at the
beginning of the inquiry, reference was made to the Suwong Wo and to Mr Caldwell paying some amount of groundient into the Colonial Treasury on account of marine lot 33 D, the receipt mentioning from the Sunon Wo. I know that thes Sunon Wo is a house belonging to the Sunon people, bought out of the public funds of the Sunon people, and that this house was in the hands of Ma-chow Wong as the head in Hongkong of the Sunon people. Owing to the increased value of house property in that neighbourhood, it has of late, years been of great value. I have heard within the last two or three months that there has been a dispute between the Elders of the Sunou people and Ma-chow Wong concerning this property, and that placards have been posted up on the subject.
I mean by the Sunon people the residents of Flok v coming from that district, chiefly the poor class, fishing and boat people. Many of them are fishermen employed in the markets. I have always been led to consider them as ak of the worst people here. I do not know of any ruler of the De in Sunon. Ma-chow Wong is the only person I know of whe has had any concern with them here.
Examined with reference to charges 18 and 19. Some six or seven years back, perhaps. Me Caldwell
Wohang is a partner in the firm, and he was asked to pay s ghate.
I went to inform him, and his relation also informed mentioned to me, amongst other circumstances of his celi him. He did not say anything; he was busy at the time. I did not ask him to sign a paper promising to pay.
When the money was paid, Tong Kwong-sin, Lum Ayee, myself, and Ch'o On were present. The money was paid into
career, that when at Singapore he was a member of a Sorel Society. I do not know whether it was Malay or Chinese The conversation was about the power of the Seere : Svietis at Singapore. More was said on the point, laut ¦ Ergeb
verything but the particular fact of Mr Caldwell telling the Opium Farin Ordinance of this year, and not to the ne of the circumstance.
Registration Ordinance. I am quite certain that I should With reference to charge 19: Upon another occasion, I have hesitated very much in bringing forward any inquiry hould fancy three or four years ago, Mr Caldwell mention-about Mr Caldwell or Ma-chow Wong except upon very d to me that if he did not receive presents with his own strong evidence indeed. hands he should not object to his wife receiving them. I
il that it would be considered the same if discovered. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL,-Recalled at his own re- hether he took them or whether his wife took them. His quest. reply was to the effect-with a significant laugh, “I should: According to Ordinances 1 and 12 of 1815, which are ke to know how any one could find it out." I mentioned still unrepealed, Mr May is perfectly correct as to the duty these circunstances to the Hon'ble the Attorney General in of himself and Mr Caldwell of putting down all Secret Socio- his wise: After the passing of the Registration Ordinance tics, impracticable as that duty may be. If the Commission n the present year, the Attorney General told me that he really wish to know from a better authority than Mr May had inserted a clause in the Ordinance preventing any Go- what are the laws of the Triad Society, I can refer them to Sernment servants or their families from participating in any the document itself. benefits arising from the Ordinance. That that part of the I presume this so-called charge (18) refers to what I said clause which referred to the families had been strongly in debate on the 10th May in the Legislative Council, whea bjected to by His Excellency the Governor, and that the challenged by Dr Bridges to explain my allusion to Mr
Caldwell's antecedents before his Chinese career began. Attorney General's reply was, "what a Government ser-
may not do with his own hand, it is possible he may do said his own account of them as given to Mr May was, that he with his wife's." I replied "it is a singular illustration of had been a member of a Secret Society, and, as I understood, I know that all Secret hat you state-that Mr Caldwell told me that he would amongst the Chinese at Singapore. hot object to his wife's receiving presents."
Societies amongst the Chinese at Singapore, and any con- The part which refers to the Secret Society at Singapore nection with such, are illegal by law of Singapore, for mentioned at some subsequent date, because the Attorney have read it-eternal hostility to all foreigners, tartar eneral told me that when he made allusion to the repute included, being at the bottom of them.
With regard to the other charge (19), I confirm Mr May ́s antecedents of Mr Caldwell, he met with violent position and assertions of Mr Caldwell's entire innocence statement as to the way in which the conversation began, om the Hon'ble the Acting Colonial Secretary.
only observing, that it was apropos of the Opium Farn I had heard so much of the Cross-examined-I am not certain about the objects of Ordinance then in Committee. he Triad Society. The rules bind the members to aid connection subsisting between the Caldwell family and the ach other in obtaining some ends which I am not certain markets and the passage and harbour boats and particularly bout, and to assist each other in carrying out enter- a scheme for a monopoly of the former, which had been pro- rises under certain penalties, these penalties being the loss jected in 1857, but which I had been mainly instrumental in life by various ways, and that each member is bound to preventing from taking effect, that I was determined to prevent, rry out the verdict of the select of the society against any if I could, any of the family or their people from having any- ring member, even to the extent of destroying his father, thing to do with that tremendous machinery which the new other, child, or any relative. I wish to disclaim any belief Opinn Farm Ordinance was about to bring into play, and I Great opposition my part, or any idea, that Mr Caldwell told me that he therefore moved the disqualifying clause.
a member of the Triad Society. I recollect at one time was made to the words, "wife and family" by the Acting
ere was a notion that triads were very much to be feared, | Colonial Secretary, and then it was I made the observation to ad to be driven out of the Colony; but the triads never did which Mr May has to-day referred and which seemed to satisfy any harm, and the feeling against them died away. There the Legislative Council, viz., that in this Colony oppression have been a dozen seizures of persons attending triad and corruptions were tolerated in the Chinese wife, which otings at Hongkong. Sometimes they were made by my could not be ventured with impunity by the European sometimes by Mr Caldwell, and sometimes by Mr Inglis. husband. That clause has been since adopted in at least three have heard that the Malays have a Secret Society, but do ordinances subsequently passed. I gave ready credit to Mr May's statement of Mr Caldwell's words, and the rather because my duty and of Mr Caldwell's to put down of this circumstance: Having twice experienced the indignity all Secret Societies. So far as I have been enabled of an offer of a bribe as Attorney General, since my arrival, a Chinaman who spoke English, and fom residents of Singapore, I believe that there are once personally by
at Singapore, composed of Chinese and Chi- once through my Comprador, by a Chinaman who could Le Klings. It is possible that the conversa- not speak English, I took effectual measures to prevent a Hon'ble the Attorney General regarding Mrs recurrence, and I had the entire sanction of the Chief presents may have been one referring to Justice for the course I took in the first case, and no doubt
know its name.
part of