336
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1857, of the sum of $300 for houses on lot 262 on account of Caldwell's estate; also a bill of sale in Chinese dated 16th December 1857 of three lots-238 C, 240, and 250, by Mr Caldwell to Chew Alai, for $450, and bill of sale by Mr Caldwell to Lum Ateen dated 16th December 1857, of lots 179, 241 B, 241 C, 242 B, and 262 for the sum of $2,050.
WILLIAM THOMAS BRIDGES, Acting Colonial Secretary,-Called and examined.
I was Acting Colonial Secretary in the month of November last.
I remember the sale of the Western Market property. I attended the sale. Mr Caldwell was also present. During the progress of the sale I saw a China boy come up and speak to Mr Caldwell, who was standing by my side I think at the time. Mr Caldwell turned round to me and said he had an authority or commission to bid. I asked him for which house and he pointed to one, but I do not know its number. He did bid after that, and I think I remember him signing the paper as purchaser. I think that the conversation referred to between Mr May and myself took place about three or four months ago. To the best of my belief I was remonstrating with Mr May as to the objections he invariably made to any suggestion which originated, or which he supposed to originate, with Mr Caldwell. Then Mr May said he would have no objection to take Mr Caldwell's place, and that Mr Caldwell should take his. I do not recollect Mr May's saying anything about such arrangement benefitting Her Majesty's Government. When Ma-chow Wong was first apprehended, Mr May disavowed having any hostility toward Mr Caldwell, but not I think upon this occasion. I am certain that the remark as to Mr Caldwell's hatred towards Mr May was not made to me on that or any other occasion.
I remember an inquiry concerning a charge against Mr May of not putting down a notorious brothel. In March last one Atay was charged before the Magistrate with keeping an unlicensed brothel out of the brothel district under the following circumstances: Having had my attention drawn by a person in no way connected with the government to the fact that certain brothels were allowed out of the district, and in particular to one in the neighbourhood of Mr Murray's house--I saw Mr May, and requested him to cause this brothel to be put down. We had some conversation on the subject, and about a week afterwards finding that nothing had been done, I desired Mr Caldwell to do what I had requested Mr May to do. Mr Caldwell took certain steps which led to the keeper of the house being brought up before the Chief Magistrate. I had also certain reasons to believe that Mr May was in the habit of frequenting a house in the immediate vicinity of this brothel, and I was determined that the fact should be elicited, if possible, at the investigation before the Magistrate. I attended as a spectator, and as Mr Caldwell gave his evidence without in any way referring to Mr May or to such house, I requested the Magistrate to put such questions to Mr Caldwell as would elicit these facts, which I intended to bring to the notice of the Governor. The Magistrate did put the question; the facts were elicited; and also the belief of Mr Caldwell that the woman living in the brothel had escaped therefrom into the house frequented by Mr May. On the following day a letter was received by me, being also addressed to the Attorney General and Chief Magistrate, making a violent attack upon Mr Caldwell for the insufficiency of the grounds upon which he had supposed that the woman could escape into the house already referred to, and also attacking the motives from which the statement had been made. I wrote in consequence to Mr May either on that or the following day, explained the circumstances under which Mr Caldwell had given his evidence, and laid the whole matter before the Governor. This letter was written on the 11th March, and entirely exculpated Mr Caldwell from having brought the matter forward, and shewing that what he did was on my action.
My report to the Governor bringing certain charges against Mr May, and Mr May's charges against Mr Caldwell, were referred by His Excellency to the Chief Magistrate, who made two reports, the first blaming both Mr May and Mr Caldwell, the second being on consideration of the blame upon Mr Caldwell, an exculpation of him. Letters were written by order of His Excellency, conveying his decision both to Mr May and Mr Caldwell. The letter from His Excellency to Mr May was in the nature of a very severe reprimand. There were two letters to Mr Caldwell; the first on the occasion of the Chief Magistrate's report was also a severe reprimand, and that upon the reconsidered report was in exculpation of him. I omitted to state that the woman Atai was convicted by the Magistrate.
Cross-examined, I took considerable part as a friend in the arrangement of Mr Caldwell's affairs, at the suggestion of His Excellency the Governor. I went round to the various creditors who appeared favourably disposed towards him, and the arrangement was in a great measure, I think, effected through my instrumentality. I did not undertake this professionally, only as a friend. I have no recollection of preparing documents connected with the settlement. I advised him to make a declaration to the effect that a part of the property standing in his name was not in fact his, but was held by him as trustee for another person, having been bought with money belonging to another person. This I did in consequence of a statement to that effect made to me by Mr Caldwell. I do not know whether that declaration was ever made, nor can I recollect ever having seen the draft; I may have drawn it myself, but have no recollection of so doing.
I think it very probable that the objection made by Mr May to which I have referred was as to the appointment of a distinct party of the Police to act under the Brothels Ordinance under Mr May's superintendence. The reason assigned by him was, that such employment of the Police would lead to their corruption. I have an impression that I have seen this remark of Mr May in writing. Before the examination at the Police Court, Mr Caldwell communicated to me that Mr May's name was likely to be called in question. Mr Caldwell expressed his unwillingness to be brought into collision with Mr May, but I insisted on Mr May's conduct being brought forward, as I thought it a matter of public importance. I did not inform Mr May of the communication I had received from Mr Caldwell. Mr May could not have informed me that he was unwilling to interfere with Mr Caldwell in the carrying out of the Brothels' Ordinance, because it was part of the duty of the Police to do so.
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would lead to their corruption. I have an impression that I have seen this remark of Mr May in writing. Before the examination at the Police Court, Mr Caldwell communicated to me that Mr May's name was likely to be called in question. Mr Caldwell expressed his unwillingness to be brought into collision with Mr May, but I insisted on Mr May's conduct being brought forward, as I thought it a matter of public importance. I did not inform Mr May of the communication I had received from Mr Caldwell. Mr May could not have informed me that he was unwilling to interfere with Mr Caldwell in the carrying out of the Brothels' Ordinance, because it was part of the duty of the Police to do so.
I do not remember any such occasion when I in reply to Mr May said, “I suppose if it is my wish that you and the Police should assist in carrying out the Ordinance, it will be done." I am convinced no such conversation could ever have taken place.
Personally I have not ascertained the exact relative positions of Atai's house, and the house said to have been frequented by Mr May, but I believe the one is two or three doors from the other. I do not know the houses by sight, and do not know whether they are in the same street.
With reference to charges 4 and 16 I would suggest that a Chinese female Assow can give evidence, and also Mr Inglis, governor of the Gaol.
The Brothel Ordinance is as to part under the special Superintendence of the Superintendent of Police, and as to part under that of the Registrar General. The Registrar General has had much more to say to it than he would have had, but for the positive resistance offered by Mr May. Finding that I could not get anything done by one officer, I was obliged to resort to another. It is the sole duty of the Registrar General to license the brothels, and it is the duty of both Registrar General and Superintendent of Police to prevent any violation of the law; but it is the special duty of the Superintendent of Police and the Police force, to confine the brothels to the proper district, and take care that none exist out of it. I do not mean that this duty is expressly defined by the Ordinance, but it arises out of the general duty on the part of the Police to prevent any violation of any existing law. There are special duties assigned to the Registrar General by the Ordinance, such as Registration, licensing, receiving money, and sending women to Hospital. The only special duty assigned by the Ordinance to the Superintendent, is having charge of constables under the Ordinance, if such should be appointed.
Re-examined, I heard Mr Grand Pré's evidence. I saw his letter of appointment. He was therein appointed as second in rank in the Registration Office, to have special charge of the Collection of Police Rate, and to assist when not so employed in the business of the Registration Office. I know of my own knowledge, that the houses let by Mr Grand Pré to Atsoo were not occupied by her till about or after the passing of the Brothel Ordinance. I am speaking from my recollection of a cursory reading of the letter. There was no connection between Mr Caldwell and Mr Rienaecker to my knowledge, except that they were jointly interested in the Eaglet.
On the 9th or 10th of March last my name had been mentioned at the Police Court, and been brought into question during the progress of the investigation of a charge brought by the Registrar General against a brothel keeper. I had not received any intimation from the Acting Colonial Secretary or from the Registrar General that my name or conduct was in any way connected with the inquiry. The reference to my name was that certain women were stated by the Registrar General to have escaped from the house of a brothel keeper, into a house in which I was said to have an interest. I positively disclaimed having any interest at all in any house in any way connected with the brothel keeper prosecuted by the Registrar General; and having examined a particular house said to be the house alluded to, I found it utterly impossible for women to have got from one house into the other. I thereupon wrote to the three Justices of the Peace who sat on the Bench at the time of the investigation, viz., the Chief Magistrate, the Attorney General, and the Acting Colonial Secretary, complaining of the untruthfulness of the charge as against the owner of the house, and begging that they would remove from the case any evidence supposed to connect one with the other. I also complained of the use made of my name wantonly, unnecessarily, and when not pertaining to the case at issue. I enclosed in that letter a report from Inspector Jarman, stating, as the result of his examination of the premises, that it was impossible women could have got from one house to the other. I got an answer from the three Justices of the Peace: two of them expressing their conviction that the alleged escape from one house to the other was incorrect, and I got a letter from the 3d Justice, the Acting Colonial Secretary,
CHARLES MAY, Superintendent of Police,-Recalled. I know that the houses which I stated to be brothels were in fact so, from seeing prostitutes in the windows and doorways. I was Acting Assistant Magistrate from November 1856, to February 1857, and from June to November 1857. During those times I had no opportunity of seeing the houses. At the other times I am certain that 2 or 3 houses on lot 206 were brothels. With reference to the comer house of which I spoke, I do not