COPY. No. 70.1
Enclosure No. 1 to Despatch No. 139 of the
Sir,
Sub-enclosures
2.
10th April, 1903.
Police Office,
Hongkong, 4th March, 1903.
510
I have the honour to forward the enclosed report by Police Constable Pitt of a violent assault made upon him while in the execution of his duty by four seamen of the Imperial German Navy on the evening of the 1st instant.
Their names (I am not sure whether I have them quite correctly) are as follows:
1st. Hermann Rennde or Pennde.
2nd. Ernest Garbode, of S.S. "Kaiserin Augusta".
3rd. August Meyer,
4th. Hermann Pitzner of S.S. "Furst Bismarck".
The first three were allowed out on bail of $75 each, which was deposited by Lieutenant Mielke, and the 4th was bailed out for $35 by an Officer named Wenzel.
None of the four surrendered to their bail at the Magistracy yesterday, and Warrants were issued for their arrest.
The assault appears to have been a most dastardly one, and P.C. Pitt is badly knocked about, and narrowly escaped losing his eye.
I have the "fighting iron" in my possession. It is, I believe, what is commonly called "a knuckle-duster" and is a nasty weapon.
The warrants cannot, of course, be executed on the German war-ships, and it is unlikely that the men will venture ashore.
I consider, however, that the case is too serious to be passed over with the mere forfeiture of bail, and would ask that the German Naval Officer Commanding may be requested to give the men up for trial, or if that cannot be done, that he will cause an enquiry to be held on the ships and inflict severe punishment on the accused persons if the charges against them are substantiated.
I have &c.,
The Honourable
The Colonial Secretary.
(sgd. F. J. Badeley,
Actg. Capt. Supt. of Police.)