of the Colony Excellency
Arr
and accompanied He is a more or less official capacity when he made a tour through Japan in 1879.
That he Mr Pitman) was the recipient of a large sum of money from the Opium Farmers was within my knowledge at the time I spoke at The Chamber of Commerce and the evidence of this fact has recently been made public when, in the case of "Ko Leong Jeen and others versus Nan Chan wai alias Ban Hup" an entry made in the Books of the Opium Farmers was put in evidence as follows:
Merit sagired by twelve Directors dated Kiang Eu 5th moon (March 1879) in these terms:
As to bidding for the Opium licence in British Hong Kong it is known that the Foreigner Pitman was a good friend of the Governor, very likely through him obtained the Opium Licence; or Company, it is proposed to pay premium to him; now we have agreed with Pitman and settled with him that the bonus or premium for the three years should be fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) which we intend to pay (him) in lump sum.
The various gentlemen are hereby informed of this decision and agreement so that they may decide and act accordingly.
394
so that they may be aware of the leniency of the sentence
10.
caused, at the time, no little surprise and indignation (see newspaper comments marked 2 pages 49 to 51 in the pamphlet); and on the day the trial was concluded, a numerously signed requisition was sent in to the Committee of the Hong Kong Club to call a General meeting to expel Mr. Pitman from the Club. The meeting was duly held on the 18th June and Mr Pitman's expulsion was voted by 86 to 10.
At the meeting referred to in the last paragraph M. J. J. Francis (A.D.C. to His Excellency The Governor) moved that Mr Pitman should be allowed to resign. The Hon. M. J. Jounochy (an officer of His Excellency's Government) seconded this motion, but it was lost by a large majority.
Immediately after the meeting of the Members of the Club, His Honor The Chief Justice, who was in the building when the meeting commenced, proceeded to his Chambers and issued an injunction restraining the Committee from carrying out the Resolution. This was done on an information sworn by Mr John Pitman (the Defendant in the Libel case) and M. J. J. Francis (A.D.C. to His Excellency the Governor).
And Major Palmer R.E. (for some years and until recently A.D.C. and Private Secretary