from the Daily Press of this date, containing a report of the pre ceedings at the Police Court in
the case
of
three Russian Naval
Officers charged with an in_
fringement of Ordinance W: /
of 1895.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most Obedient Humble Servant,
William Robinzon
The Daily Press of 18th Feby.
1896.
SKETCHING TH¬ LYEMOON DEVENCES.
CONVICTION OF THREE RUSSIAN OFFICERS,
At the Polion Court yesterday, before Mr. 7. Sercombe Smith, Baron Graevenitz, a lieute. nant on the Russian mau-of-war Vladimir Monomach, Lieutenant Epanchine, and Lieuto-
the same ant Strannolinsky, of
vessel, were charged with unlawfully trespassing in the field works at Hongham Dock Fort for an anlawful purpose, and being in possession of sketches and sketching materials on Sunday, the 16th inst.
Hon. Commander W. C. II. Hastings (Acting Captain Superintendent of Polico) conducted the case for the prosecution, and Mr. V. 1. Deacon represented the three defendants. Con- siderable interest was manifosted in the case, and several officers of tho Garrison were present is Court Mr. St. C. Michaelsen, the Rus sian Consul, was also in Court and sat next to Mr. Deacon.
Mr Doacon-Before the prosecution com- niences their case, if it is to procend, I take the carliest opportunity of making a statement.
His Worship-Do you wbmit it all P
Mr. Deacon-I admit every fact, but not the offence.
His Worship Do you wanit that they were in the possession of sketching materials F
Mr. Deacon-Some sketches were found on one of them, certainly.
His Worship said antess Mr. Deacon had something to say in mitigation of the offence, the case must proceed.
Mr. Deacon-I was really going to give the version of the officers as gentlemen and leave it to you.
His Worship--I shall hear the evidence first. Mr. Deacon We must go on in the usual
way, then.
His Worship--Yes
Thomas O'Toole, acting bombardier, R.A.,was called and said-On the morning of the 16th instaut, about 11 a.m.. my attention was drawn to three men trespassing on Government pro- perty outside the Kowloon Dock forts. I saw one with an opera glass, which he was using in the direction of the forts. Another gunner, a private, and I went to them. I took their hames and brought them down to Hougham police station. They ware about forty yards from the observing station.
Hon. Commander Hastings-They wore in the field?
Witness-Yes.
Mon. Comniander Hastings-Had they passed any notice board F
Witness-Oh, yes, two of them.
His Worship-What were those boards?
notice
Witness-One of them had upon it, "War Department Proporty. No admittance".
Mr. Deacon-What do you mean by field works? Were the defendants actually within the fortifications?
Witness-They were between the bridge and the range fire observing station They had passed the bridge and were on the hill near the aberrving station; that is a field work.
Mr. Deacon-Was there any gate or door or anything through which they had to pass
Witness-No.
Mr. Deacon Was it all open P Witness-Yes, it was all open, but notices wore posted up, and the defendants could not have gone that way without seeing the notices. Mr. Deacon-You know the road that leads up to the Docks from the town below?
Witness-Yes.
Mr. Deacon-I think that branches off to the right and left close by the forts P
Witness-It does.
Mr. Deacon-Now up to the junction of the reads there is no notice at all?
Witness--There is oua notice just before
yan come---
Mr. Deacon-Now just think. Witness-There is one notice. Bir. Deacon-Whore P
Witness
Enclosure
GC35
REG 20 MAR 93,
Witness-At the beginning of the road. Mr. Deacon-What do you call the begin- ning of the road-the foot of the hill ?
Witness-That is the foot of the hill; it is just before the junction.
Mr. Deacon---You say it is just before the junction; I want to know exactly where it is. Is it close to the foot of the hill ?
Witness-Yes, it is at the foot of the hill. Mr. Deacon-What is on that notice board ? Witness-It is a very large notice board. Mr. Deacon-What is on it? It might say anything. What is it? You have come here to try to incriminate my clients, so let us know what is on the notice board.
Witness-I do not know what is on that Relics hoard.
Mr. Deacou-You don't know anything about it. Is it a War Office notice board?
Witness--I know it is.
Mr. Doston-How do you know that? If you don't know what is on it, I do not see how you can say it is a War Office notice board. Just be careful what you say. You know nothing about it at all, that is perfectly clear. What is on the other notice board?
Witness" War Department Property. No admittance."
Mr. Deacon- Which of the roads is that notice on-the one to the right or the one to the left ?
Witness-It is on the right going through the junction.
Mr. Deacon-Now bear in mind this: we have come up from the village to the bill. Is the notice on the left or the right road P
Witness-It is on the right road; it is just at the junction.
Mr. Deacon-This is rather important. Just make a little sketch of it on some paper.
Wness, with the aid of a stick, a pencil, and his left hand, described the position of the roads.
Mr. Deacon-Did you see them pass that notice?
Witness-No.
Mr. Deacon-As a matter of fact didn't you see them go up to that notice, look at it, and turu back again?
Witness-No.
Mr. Deacon-You have told us of two notices -one at the foot of the hili and one at the left of the road. Is there one on the other road ?
Witness-I cannot say.
Mr. Deacon-You don't know? Witness-I don't know.
Mr. Deacon When you first saw the defend- ants where were they standing?
Witness-They were standing at the foot of the hill to the left of the fort, lonking towards it.
Mr. Deacon-Looking all around, I suppose Wituoss-Looking direct at the fort through opera glasses.
Mr. Deacon-They could not all have looked through the opera glasses. Only one you mean?
Witness-Only one.
Mr. Deacon-Which one? Witness--I cannot say.
Mr. Deacon-Did you see them looking all. around, or only at the fort?
Witness-Only at the fort.
Mr. Deacon-Were they looking over the harbour or anywhere else?
Witness---I did not see them.
Mr. Deacon--What you call the field work is really open to everybody. There is no wall to pass, or gate, or door?
Witness-No, there is not.
Gunner Morris Langan said--About eleven o'clock on Sunday morning a Sikh called my attention to three men. They were then on the hill side, which is part of the field works. One was looking through a pair of opera glasses. They afterwards wont into the road.
Mr. Deucon What do you call a field work ? Just describe it.
Witness-A field work is land used for British works, and near this spot there is a pedostal for range finding.
Mr. Deacon What is your recollection of the notices there? How many are there?
Witness-I cannot say how many; there are a good many all round,
Mr Deacon
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