329
Chairman, Where is Beaver now?
(6)
It was accordingly proposed by Mr Lyall, seconded by Mr Fletcher, and unanimously agreed to.
Mr Lyons,—I believe he has gone to Sydney as an ordinary seaman.
Chairman, Do you know who Samkwei is?
Mr Lyons,—Yes.
Chairman,—Have you ever seen Mr Caldwell in any of his cruizes?
Mr Lyons, No.
Chairman, Do you know anything of the Convoy business?
Mr Lyons, Only by repute—by conversation with Beaver and others.
The Public were then informed of the above resolution, and of the postponement of the meeting until 11 o'clock on Tuesday.
Chairman,—Can you specify any one besides Beaver with whom you have conversed?
Mr Lyons, Yes; but I cannot give the names of persons who have witnessed anything.
Chairman, Do you know the Eaglet?
Mr Lyons,—Yes.
Chairman, Do you know what was done with any of her prizes?
Mr Lyons,—Only from hearsay I have had no conversations with any who witnessed anything done with them. I do not know whether Ma-chow Wong had any share in the Eaglet.
Chairman, Do you know where Shap-lok lives?
Mr Lyons, Opposite Circular Buildings.
Chairman,—Have you ever visited Mr Caldwell's house?
Mr Lyons,—Never, except on business as Inspector of Nuisances with Mr Caldwell.
Chairman, Do you know the inmates of Mr Caldwell's house?
Mr Lyons, No.
Mr Dixson's evidence.
Chairman,—Can you inform the Commission, Mr Dixson, of anything concerning Ma-chow Wong?
Mr Dixson,—I am ready to answer any question that may be put to me.
Mr Anstey, said that perhaps the best mode would be, for him to recite all he had learnt from Mr Dixson, who could point out any part of the narrative which he did not approve.
Chairman,—Yes, I think that is the best course to pursue.
Mr Anstey, I arrived in this colony on the 30th January, 1856. Within 3, certainly 4, months after, I was strongly exhorted, again and again, by Mr Dixson, to do, what he said would be an act of the greatest benefit to the entire community, but particularly to the Chinese portion of it.
Chairman,—Are you aware that Mr Caldwell is intimate with Ma-chow Wong?
Mr Lyons, I do not know except from hear-say; I do not know Ma-chow Wong.
Chairman, Were you present at Eli Boggs' trial?
Mr Lyons,—Yes.
[Extract of a letter from Attorney General of 13th May, regarding statement made by Boggs in his defence, read. Extract acknowledged by witness to agree with his impression of what took place at the trial concerning Mr Caldwell, although he did not vouch for its correctness.]
Friday, 28th May, 1858, at 12 Noon.
Present,—All the Members of Commission.
The Public being requested to withdraw, a discussion took place as to the mode of proceeding with the inquiry, in consequence of the reception of various documents from the Colonial Secretary's Office, which rendered it absolutely necessary to obtain legal assistance in arranging the evidence therein.
SECOND DAY,
short time ago, all he could to get Ma-chow Wong pardoned. I would suggest that Mr Dixson be asked whether these circumstances have or have not materially altered his former opinion that Mr Caldwell was only a dupe, not an accomplice, of the criminal.
The only difficulty which I had in comprehending Mr Dixson's views, consisted in his belief that Mr Caldwell was the dupe and not the accomplice of Ma-chow Wong in the incidents which he mentioned to me. However, I, being a stranger in the colony, for some time continued to hope that this might be so, and that my contrary judgment might be wrong. That hope has been completely dissipated, as far as I am concerned, during the year and-a-half in which Mr Caldwell has held the offices of Registrar General and Justice of the Peace.
ANDREW S. DIXSON,—Called and examined.
Chairman,—Will you tell the Commission what you know about Ma-chow Wong?
Mr Dixson, The man had been a notoriously bad character, and I have known him as such almost from my first arrival in this colony. What Mr Anstey has stated of my conversations with him regarding Ma-chow Wong, is perfectly correct.
Mr Dixson, I intend to quote one instance of extortion, in a case in which Ma-chow Wong professed to act as agent for a Procuress, who had compelled a Chinese woman to acknowledge a debt of $71, out of which Ma-chow Wong levied $30, to raise which sum the woman had sold herself to a brothel-keeper for two years.
Chairman, Can you hand in to the Commission the names of any of your informants?