in case
facts in
addresses
you
the minister.
on the
subject.
I have the honour to be,
Sir, Your Most Obedient
Humble Servant,
Mach
Administering the Governments
COPY.
No.8.
Sir,
EN CLOSURE 1
U.S. Consul to Col. Seey.
415
Hong-Kong, February 19th.,1898
I have the honour to inquire as to the usage
governing jurisdiction over offences committed on board
American Ships in harbor.
The case in point is that of an alleged as-
sault of the mate (Patton) of the American Ship "R. R. Thomas
now in the harbor, on a seaman (Bretner) who was alleged to
have been asleep on duty. As the case was not allowed to
come regularly before me for hearing,I do not care to place
myself on record as to the merits of the charge.
Briefly however, the further facts are as fol-
lows, -The said mate was summoned to appear before the Po-
lice Magistrate (Mr.H. E. Wodehouse) and after a trial was
sentenced to six weeks hard labor. An appeal was taken.
The question of usage that arises is: Do the
local Courts claim and insist on jurisdiction over such
cases and all crimes committed on American Ships while in
the waters of this Colony?
By treaty and Consular Convention between
Hon. J.H. Stewart Lockhart,
Colonial Secretary.
the