A jury of three witnesses and the Jury found a verdict of accidental drowning.
Had this course not been adopted, the Jury must have found an open verdict, and much suspicion must have existed among the Chinese as to the cause of death, or rather indeed they would have believed that the boy had been murdered.
This case owes its importance to the fact that the Messageries Maritimes steamers have the status of men-of-war, and yet being in reality merchant ships, and under any circumstances, it is to be regretted that any difficulty should arise in a case of this serious nature.
As the matter stands, however, we have a man tied up hands, feet, and queue at 9:30 p.m. on board a ship in the harbour and within 50 yards of the Police Hulk. (In fact, the Police Hulk is the nearest in the anchorage to the ship "Janais".)
That supposed felon, after 6 hours confinement, gets released by some friendly hand, escapes over the side of the ship, is seen to attempt, at least, a two-mile swim, and no boat is lowered, or alarm given to the Police.
Page 375