346
drops this serious
Constable and
says
charge against the
he went direct
from the steam ferry to the mataket of the 3rd prisoner. that on the invitation of that 3rd prisoner he sat down and that shortly afterwards the police came and took him there.
own
The case for the prosecution against Leung a futh is as clear as Chinese testimony can be—his story is inconsistent with that case but it is not consistent with itself. I see no reason to doubt the justice of this conviction.
My suspicion on the whole case is that the two first prisoners—really employed by somebody—were set to catch Tan Chee Wan whilst smuggling; that failing to find him with Opium in China waters, the two first prisoners attacked him on British waters; that emboldened by recent immunity they committed a robbery within this harbour.
a crime which it was the duty of the Supreme Court to put down with a strong hand by punishment the most deterrent. If the act had been avowed by the Chinese Government as done under its authority, the outrage would have assumed very large proportions taking the case out of the jurisdiction of the judicature.
(signed) John Smale,
Chief Justice. Hongkong, February 2nd. 1877.