405
(105)
only found Mr Caldwell's name mentioned once, that was in a letter from the Cowloong Mandarin to Akee, requesting him to ask Mr Caldwell to look up 2 missing coat collars amongst the property taken from Cowloong.
[This deponent being questioned as to the burning of the books states,]
On one occasion I said to my master Mr Mongan,--- Ma-chow Wong's trial is now settled, these books and papers occupy so much room you had better have them put somewhere else, or throw them away, if they are not important. Mr Mongan went upstairs, returned presently, and told me that Dr Bridges had ordered the books to be "fired." Mr Mongan accordingly called a coolie, had the books and documents carried out and burnt in my presence. No Chinese or European ever hinted to me that the books were crowding our office. I believe solemnly that they were destroyed without any corrupt purpose on the part of Mr Mongan, Dr Bridges, or any other British official. I did not know Ma-chow Wong. I never received any message or hint from him directly or indirectly, or from any friends of his respecting the books in question.
Cross examined by Mr Tarrant,—
The parcels of books and documents were first untied by Mr Mongan (in the examination at our office) I do not recollect the date of the examination. As each document came to Mr Mongan's hand, he glanced at it and handed it to me; if at all of a suspicious character, it was placed by itself, if the reverse it was put aside. As I inspected each document, I handed it back to Mr Mongan, who finally sealed up all the papers and sent them to Mr Wade. The examination took place in our inner office, at a side table. The parties present at the examination in the first instance were myself, Mr Mongan, and another Chinese teacher. This was on the first forenoon. Mr Caldwell or his teacher were not present at all at that first examination. On the afternoon of the same day, Mr Caldwell's Chinese teacher was present. I am not sure that he himself was. He (Mr Caldwell's teacher) went to a seat at the table, and examined each document as it came to hand. I do not recollect whether the examination extended over one day or two days. Mr Caldwell during the examination did come into the office; he walked up and down but never did take a seat at the table. He came in once or twice, but I never did see a document in his hand. He took no active part in the examination as far as I could see. He can speak Chinese well, but, as far as I know, cannot read it, I was intent upon my own duty in the work in hand, and did not pay much attention to what else was going on.
Continued by Mr Tarrant.-The other Chinese teacher who was assisting me in the examination was Sum-cheok-yeen. He belongs to our office. I did not see Mr Caldwell make any memoranda of the contents of the documents. I was busy at the time.
[The report drawn up by Mr Caldwell upon the contents of the documents is explained to deponent, who states in answer.]
I never saw Mr Caldwell make any memoranda. I cannot conceive how he made up the 13 items comprising this report.
[The witness is examined upon each Mr Caldwell's report.]
separate item of
Item No. 1, I do not recollect.
Item No. 2, the same.
Item No. 3, the same.
Item No. 4, the same. Item No. 5, the same. Item No. 6, the same. Item No. 7, the same. Item No. 8, the same. Item No. 9, the same. Item No. 10, the same.
Item No. 11, I recollect. It refers to the recovery of the 2 collars already mentioned by me.
Item No. 12, no recollection.
Item No. 13, was an English document.
Remanded to 13th instant.
FOURTH HEARING,
WILLIAM THOMAS BRIDGES,-examined on oath. I am, and was Acting Colonial Secretary when Ma-chow Wong's books and papers were in the custody of the Government, and when they were subsequently burnt. They were never in my custody, nor in that of my department, nor am I aware that I ever saw them. They were in the custody of Mr Mongan, who is one of the interpreters in the Diplomatic department. One day in March last he came into my office and said to me. What is to be done with Ma-chow Wong's books and papers, they are encumbering the Chinese Secretary's Office? I said you had better speak to the Governor about them. He answered, the Governor told me to speak to you.
I then said they are mere rubbish and they can be burnt. I had no conversation with any person either superior or inferior to myself about these papers, nor have I any further knowledge of the subject.
By Mr Tarrant.-I think I saw Mr May's memo. in Mr May's hand at the Executive Council. I have an idea, but no certainty, that they were given to Mr Wade, but whether left on the Council table or what actually became of them I cannot say. My impression is they were given to Mr Wade, as he was requested to make a further examination of the books and papers. To the best of my recollection, it was not at my request they were committed to Mr Wade. Mr May never stated before the Council, as far as I remember, anything referring to Mr Caldwell,
Mr Dixson of the China Mail made certain averments as to the contents of Ma-chow Wong's books and papers, and called in Mr May to corroborate them. Mr May did corroborate Mr Dixson as to three averments, but none of them, or of Mr Dixson's other statements have any reference to Mr Caldwell. The purport of Mr May's letter of 20th July 1857 was not to convey the fact of a strict intimacy existing between Mr Caldwell and Ma-chow Wong.
Upon Eli Boggs making a certain statement on
[An extract from Dr Bridge's evidence given on 29 June is here read by defendant, stating that the Investigation into the Papers, was instituted before the articles in China Mail appeared.]
[Dr Bridge's correction is also read, dated 1st July 18 "I had no other reason for seeking the removal of documents than that they were an incumbrance in office.
There are also some other papers shewing the account wages paid to Johnson, Master of a Lorcha, and some receipts for interest on money lent Wong Akee, also some accounts connected with the ship Potomac.
The above are the only items contained in the books papers which were found in any way connected with statements made in the "China Mail" All the rest appear to be merely Compradore's accounts, and transactions relating to Passenger ships to California. If the whole of the books and papers found have been forwarded to the proper authority, I cannot imagine what grounds Mr Dixson could have had for making the statements which he did in his paper of the 17th ultimo.
I beg to state that the examination was conducted in the first instance by Mr Mongan, assisted by his Chinese clerks, and on anything suspicious being found, it was handed to me and I took down the particulars assisted by one of my Chinese clerks.
D. R. CALDWELL, Registrar General.
5th October, 1857, Victoria Hongkong.
THIRD HEARING.
Thursday, 12th August, 1858 DANIEL RICHARD CALDWELL,-examined on oath. The report made by this deponent, bearing date 5th October, 1857, is placed in his hands. The report is entitled, "Report on the examination of the books and papers found in the Kwong-yik-toong Hong, and in the house of Wong-Akee." I identify the report now in my hands. I declare upon my oath that the said report sets forth a true and full account of all entries of a suspicious nature that passed under my eye, in my examination of the documents in question.
I relied mainly upon my own knowledge of the Chinese text for the opinion I formed of the documents. I know nothing whatever as to the destruction of those documents. I knew nothing of it until I learnt it at the recent enquiry. I never suggested it directly or indirectly, nor ever had any interest in directing it. I should much prefer they had not been destroyed. I declare, upon my oath, that I never have had directly or indirectly any confederation or complicity with pirates or outlaws in any shape. On the contrary, from my activity in the suppression of piracy, my name has become a terror to all pirates and their confederates in these waters.
Mr Turner,-I never found the name of Dr Bridges or any other British functionary in any of the documents examined by me.
(Signed) D. R. CALDWELL
YING-LOONG-TUN,-I am teacher to Mr Mongan.
12. An entry in a book of the sale of 2 Guns to Sye Fong Mok for $58. Another entry of the loan of two Cannons to Lan-leong.
Another of the payment to Mr Caldwell of $130 on account of Wong Kum Ming.
Another of Ts. 232, 5, 6,—or $323, paid by Ying Kwong to Wong Akee for Guns.
13 A note written in English, without address, respecting the taking of Coolies to Singapore in October last year, purporting to have been the memoranda of Ma-chow Wong. In my examination of the documents, I did not fall in with anything criminatory or throwing any sort of suspicion upon the character of Mr Caldwell or Dr Bridges, or any other public functionary. I