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Proceedings of 8th July continued. JOHN ROBERTS, Deputy Inspector of Police and Deputy Inspector of Markets,—Called and examined.
I recollect the apprehension of a man who was charged with stealing a watch from Mr Lapraik. I was examined in the gaol upon a subsequent charge of piracy against the same man.
The mode in which the remuneration was to be distributed was agreed on by Mr Caldwell, Mr Randall, myself, and Mr Heaton the second engineer. A certain portion went to the ship, coal, wear and tear, &c., a portion to the crew, and a portion to the Captain, Engineers, and officers.
The Elders of the village came on board and made an arrangement with Mr Caldwell for the payment of a sum of money if we could catch these desperadoes, but I do not know the amount.
I was examined in the presence of the Acting Colonial Secretary, Mr Caldwell, Mr Inglis, and a Chinese prisoner named Kwan Chun-hee. From circumstances, I imagined this man was accused from dislike between him and the second Engineer and the Captain. When Roberts and Lyons asked me these questions, they did not tell me they should want me to give evidence. When I came here yesterday, Roberts told me he had written down what I had said. I told him I thought it very curious, and that if I had known that, I should not have said anything.
When the boat went off with Mr Caldwell, I saw the men wading in the mud and trying to get on shore. The vessel was so far off that I could not see whether they landed or not; they may have done so; there was continually firing in the direction of the villages, and great numbers of people on shore. The steamer was about a mile and a half from the shore.
Re-examined,—During the time in which I was employed on board the Eaglet we never made any prisoners. In the Kulan affair there was loss of life sustained—five of the Rattler's and six or eight of the Powhattan's men were killed, besides other casualties.
The information that the junks captured at St John's were pirates was obtained from a fleet of two or three hundred junks which we met on our way to Mamee. We were going to Nowchow for a convoy and fell in with this fleet. We hailed them, and asked if they had seen the fleet we were about to convoy. They told us that the pirates had gone ahead, and we then ran into Mamee, where I think we got information that the pirates had proceeded farther up. The Captain and Pilot were on the paddle-box, and they had the conversation with these junks.
There was a rumour that the steamer was to receive $5,000 for the Swatow affair if the villages had been taken. The Eaglet's Comprador lived on board the ship, and went with us in the cruises. When in harbour he went ashore and brought off with him provisions as required. I do not know his name, or that any person living on shore acted as Ship's Comprador. I do not know by name Szekai.
I once prosecuted a servant of mine called Ahing who was in the steamer; and I remember a gunner, Roderick, a Portuguese, who, after he quitted the vessel, was indicted for a larceny but acquitted; but I have no recollection of any other person whom I have seen on board the Eaglet having been brought up for any offence. I have no recollection of seeing any one wearing spectacles coming on board except as a passenger. I have seen Passengers wearing spectacles.
I never received any other sum than the $55 either as prize-money or remuneration for extra or dangerous service.
[Lai Sze-kai shown to witness.] This was the comprador of the steamer, and used to accompany us in all our voyages.
Ma-chow Wong and Kwan Chun-hee and this man. When I was examined there was a paper shown to me, and I was asked if I had ever seen the paper before. The answer I gave was that I had seen the paper before, that it was written by a friend of mine about a year before; it was relating to the sale of a lorcha.
The Acting Colonial Secretary then remarked that the prisoner had that paper in his possession, and had given it to Kwan Chun-hee, of the lorcha. The Acting Colonial Secretary then went on to say that the paper had been given by this prisoner to Kwan Chun-hee within the last few days in Gaol, and that Kwan Chun-hee had given it up to accuse the prisoner about the searching of the prisoner at the Station, and I said I thought it was impossible he could have been locked up, without any paper which he might have had on his body being found.
The Acting Colonial Secretary asked me if I had ever seen the prisoner before his arrest. I told him I had seen him one time previously, when he was making a charge in the Central Police Station. He then asked me if I could recognise a man named Yik-foo, if I saw him. He then asked me if the prisoner was not Yik-foo, and I said that he was not.
The Acting Colonial Secretary then sent me round the body of the Gaol to take another look. I returned, and told him I was well assured the prisoner was not Yik-foo. Mr Caldwell then asked me, as the prisoner was sick at the time, could his sickness not have altered him, so that I could not recognise him. I assured him he was not Yik-foo, upon which I was dismissed.
A short time afterwards I met the Acting Colonial Secretary at the Central Police Station, and in speaking to him I remarked that I had been told by one of the European prisoners, that the paper had been in Gaol since the conviction of Kwan Chun-hee.
I then told him that Kwan Chun-hee had already brought a charge against Tong Akü which had been proved false. The charge against Tong Aku was after the sessions at which Ma-chow Wong had been convicted. Dr Bridges said that he would see into the matter, that he would inquire amongst the prisoners in the Gaol, and ascertain whether it was as I said with reference to the paper.
I again saw the Acting Colonial Secretary up in the Police Court, when he told me that what I said was correct, and that he was convinced the paper had been in gaol all the time.
I remember the apprehension of Beaver; he was apprehended and brought to the Police Station by Mr Caldwell. I was present when he brought him there. I searched him, and found on him pieces of red paper, eight or nine inches long, with Chinese characters, which were interpreted to me by one of the Chinese in the station named Ahee.
It was to the effect, that Beaver was an American, a very good man, and had been some time in his employ; I don't know whether the interpretation I put upon the paper or not. I kept it for a day or two. When he was examined at the Police Court, the paper was produced by me before Mr Mitchell. I cannot recollect whether it was interpreted in Court. I recollect perfectly telling Mr Mitchell what the effect of it was.
In a day or two after Beaver was remanded, I was sent for by the Acting Colonial Secretary. At about 6 o'clock in the morning I went to the Acting Colonial Secretary's house. He commenced asking me, as licensing day was coming on, about the character of the different Public-house keepers.
After that was finished I told him about this man Beaver, and a case of piracy which I had known, and which had occurred in the previous January. I told him about a gun being purchased from the lorcha, also that the money had not been paid, and that an order had been given, I was under the impression to Ma-chow Wong.
The pirate who took the lorcha was Chu-kwai, and he had an European with him. The Acting Colonial Secretary said he would like very much to see the order; it was for $80.
The lorcha came in two days afterwards. I boarded her as she came to an anchor about half-past four or five in the morning. I took the Captain of the lorcha, and Achong, the Chinese owner, up to Dr Bridges's house about 7 o'clock, and they produced a paper which they said was the one to which I alluded.
It was only an acknowledgment of having taken a gun worth $70, which they intended to pay for. There was no order on any particular house. The paper was then sent together with the first paper found on Beaver's person to Mr Wade to be translated; and the Acting Colonial Secretary told me that as Mr Caldwell had already a charge for confederation with pirates against Beaver, I had better send my witnesses down to him.
The witnesses were first sent down to Mr Caldwell, and then went before the Magistrate. After the paper was translated, it was returned to me by Mr Grand-Pié, and after getting it I went before the Magistrate again, with the witnesses, and the paper was again produced before the Assistant Magistrate Mr Mitchell.
I do not know whether it was interpreted to him at that time. The examination lasted over a space of three weeks, and the paper was taken there every day for examination. The witnesses failed to identify Beaver, and he was sentenced to find security for three months, or quit the colony; he quitted the colony.
This paper was never to my knowledge in Mr Caldwell's possession. He saw it, but I don't know that he read it at the Police Court. After the investigation was over, Beaver asked for his papers, but Mr Mitchell said that they were to be retained.
The last time I saw the paper was at the Magistracy, when he was committed to the Gaol upon not being able to find security. I have not seen it since. I have looked over the papers in the Magistracy, and that document is not attached to the case.
Beaver told me that he had been in the employ of Mr Caldwell and Ma-chow Wong on board a lorcha. If I had not been told, I should not have taken my witnesses to Mr Caldwell, on account of Beaver having been in Ma-chow Wong's employ before.
I told Mr May about the paper while the trial was going on. I know from reference to my chart, that Luy-chow near Hainan is from 8 to 10 miles from the mouth of a river. It stands a little way back from the shore. I have been past, but never in it.
[Read Lyons' evidence concerning his visit to the Gaol to inquire about Beaver and the paper, and Beaver's conversation with himself.]
I agree with nearly every portion of it. Beaver himself told me that he was with Akwai. I was at Boggs's trial, and saw the paper produced. I do not know what was done with it.
I had seen the paper at the Police Station, and knew that Boggs was going to produce it. I believe the paper was in a tin box which he had. It was given into the hands of the Constable, and carried to the Supreme Court in the usual way.
I read it, and recollect it saying something about Ma-chow Wong, the brother or brother-in-law of Mr Caldwell, being a good man, and recommending him. I have an idea it said something about provisions.
I do not know whether the paper was produced at the Police Court. I thought the paper was in Mr Caldwell's handwriting, but am not certain of it. I do not recollect his signature being to it; it might have been.
Can swear to Mr Caldwell's handwriting now, but could not then. Boggs told me the paper was from Mr Caldwell, and told me to take care of it as he would produce it on his defence.
I do not know what connection ever existed between Mr Caldwell and Boggs, further than that Boggs was in Akwai's lorcha, which was said to be connected with Ma-chow Wong.
I heard the evidence of Randoll and Stone, and do not agree in their version of our conversation. Mr Randoll told me that $5,000 was the first agreement, and that $12,000 was subsequently paid for the bombardment of the village.
Randall said nothing about the pirates taking any boats from Ma-mee. The pirates were captured and taken into Ma-mee. He then told me that he was very much disappointed in not being able to capture the junk which was loaded with opium.
I asked him how he knew she was a pirate. He said, "they did not care what the devil she was, so that she had the opium on board." Randall did tell me that they got $12,000 for bombarding the village at Swatow, and made use of the word squeeze with reference to it.
He said his share was $500, and the Engineer's $250. I knew that Mr Caldwell was master of the Eaglet and know nothing of her cruises except that she convoyed. I never saw her out at sea.
At one time I was in her neighbourhood, and saw part of her convoy. I was then going to Hoihow on the West Coast, and was told it was part of her convoy, but did not see the steamer.
I do not know whom she was owned by.
MANOEL DA SILVA, Sergeant in the Water Police,—Called and examined.
I remember the apprehension of Po-Pak-Shing on a charge of piracy. I had his boats and family in custody, and believe they, the boat and family, were connected...
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