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of those circumstances, which I brought prominently under the notice of the Jury, the verdict would have been Wilful Murder instead of Manslaughter,
and I have no hesitation in saying if the Prisoners had been Europeans, I should have sentenced them to Penal Servitude either for life or for not less than fifteen years.
I know nothing whatever of what may have occurred before the trial. All I knew was that there had been the usual preliminary investigation—that the Acting Attorney General had found a True Bill for Murder against the Prisoners—that they were brought before me for trial and that they were tried accordingly in due course.
I abstain from making any comment on the letter of General Sir Hope Grant, although there are portions of it to which exception might well be taken. I may, however, be permitted to explain that the Supreme Court of Hongkong has jurisdiction to try any British subject who may have committed an offence in any part of the dominions of the Emperor of China.
I have, &c.
(Signed) M. H. Adams,
Chief Justice.
(True Copy)
Andr
Colonial Secretary