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Your Excellency,
The facts concerning the alleged murder at Wong Kong are as follows:
On Aug. 1st news was received in the camp of the murder of an elder of Wong Kong. Major Prendergast at my request proceeded there. He was shown a room where blood had been spilt & was informed that the previous night a band of men (unknown) had presented themselves: had shot the elder in question: & had retired taking away his body.
The people of the village appeared very much frightened; were extremely reticent in giving any evidence: but it was elicited that it was a case of revenge, & not of robbery. It appears that last year when the Chinese Admiral visited this district to suppress the countless murders & outrages committed all round by members of the Triad Society the Elder in question had given evidence which had resulted in the decapitation of several of these men & it was supposed that this murder was out of revenge for this. In consequence the people were not keen to give evidence: alleged that they were unacquainted with & unable to identify their assailants, though a hint was given that it was thought that some of them came from Sha Tau. As they appeared terrified lest further visits be made, Major Prendergast consented to send a small body of troops after dark for their protection.
The troops went for several nights but all was quiet.
In addition Major Prendergast assembled all 18
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