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bring to your notice the services rendered by Mr. C. McI. Messer
who was acting as Registrar-General when the murder occurred.
Owing to the serious nature of the case and to the fact that
the then Acting Captain Superintendent of Police was placed
at a disadvantage in dealing with it owing to want of knowledge
of Chinese, the case being one in which it was obviously
necessary to work without the ordinary Chinese Police Detectives
and Interpreters, Sir Henry Blake asked me to undertake the
investigation. It happened that the Easter holidays supervened
on the murder and during the few days leisure thus afforded
me, I was fortunate in being able to lead the enquiry into
channels that proved to lead in the right direction. I visited
Canton with an emissary whom I left there, and who obtained for
me a copy of the photograph of the murdered man which had been
made by the Chinese Officials and certain other clues.
6.
I had, however, not time to devote my entire
attention to an investigation which promised to be very tedious,
and I utilised Mr. Messer to carry it on. This he did with
much intelligence and a degree of industry and pertinacity
worthy of the highest praise. It was principally due to his
careful work that the evidence was built up on which the
principal actors in the crime have been brought to justice.
The late Detective Inspector Gidley of the Police also rendered
valuable assistance.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient
Humble servant,
Аннад
Officer Administering the Government.
ALD