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Augen 1 16.1934
THE HONG KONG WEEKLY PRES
HOW MICHAEL PINE
WAS RESCUED
Borderers Men Commended In Court
Frther evidence was taken by Mr. E. W. Hamilton at Central Ma- gistracy on Wednesday in the case in which a Chinese named Ng Loi Yuen, "alias" Ng Yick Lam, "alias" Ng Yick San, aged 28, unemployed is being charged with the murder of Michael Pine and with the at- tempted murder of Mary Pine, Tony Flood, Fay Bromley and Nor- man Stone by throwing them all into the Albany Nullah, near the Lower Peak Tramway Station the afternoon of June 22.
on
Mr. J. A. Fraser, assistant
At- torney-General, appeared for the Crown, and the accused was re- presented by Mr. R.C.H. Lim, in- structed by Mr. J. M. Hall of Messrs. Lyson and Hall.
Mrs. Lillian Maud Vincent told the Court that on the afternoon in question she was walking up the steps near the sentry box in Mur- ray Path in the company of Mrs. O. M. Thomson when she saw a crowd near No. 3 bridge. She went to the scene and looked down into the nullah towards the tunnel where she saw a sailor's straw hat. She also saw a little boy in the nullah. whom she did not recogn- ise. She then looked upwards and saw another little boy floating on his back. She recognised him as Michael Pine. He had a wound on the right side of the forehead, and appeared to be unconscious He went on past the bridge and witness's attention was then drawn to a little girl who was following some way behind. She recognised her as Mary Pine. Close benihd the girl came a Chinese who was a good way above the bridge. Mary was going down the nullah, screaming and in a sitting posi- tion. She and the Chinese both passed under the bridge and then witness fell sick and did not see any more.
"In Sitting Position" Later she saw on the other side of the sentry box, that Mary had been rescued. After that she and Mrs. Thomson walked down Mur- ray Path right to the end where the tunnel was. There she saw a Chinese being brought from the tunnel. She recognised him as the man who came down the nul- lah behind Mary Pine.
Continuing, Mrs. Vincent said that she later saw a boy whom she did not recognise being brought up from the point just below the bridge. She now knew him to be Norman Stone. The
Chinese was wearing white upper garment and black lower garment. Cross-examinated by Mr. Lim, witness said that the Chinese was in a sitting position, fac- ing down the n'lah when she first saw him. She did not notice any wound on his head. Before this incident, she had known Michael Pine and his parents for about three or four months.
Mrs. O. M. Thompson who was with the previous witness at the time of the incident, then gave corroborative evidence. She add- ed that when she saw the Chinese she was under the impression that he was trying to save the girl as they were so close together.
Sergeant L. F. Gaywood, R.A.O. C., said that on the afternoon in question he was standing outside his bungalow in Murray Barracks when he saw Corporal Giles run- ning past. He did not take much notice then but immediately after- wards his attention was attraced someone looking ino the nullah. He went there and saw some peo- ple in the water near the month of the nullah. Mr. Bowles then walking up the nullah with a little girl. Witness helped to pull them up. He then got a torch and went inside the tunnel as he heard that a boy was being wash- ed down.
Fell Into Water
was
he was unconscious, very limp and had a cut on the head.
Michael Rescued
Similar evidence was also given by Bandsman Glover who added that accused was suffering from the effects of swallowing water and shock. All his muscles were trembling.
The way in which Michael Pine was rescued. was then related by Pte. William O'Kelly who said that as soon as he heard that a boy had been washed down the nullah he ran down the Murray Path to Queen's Road where he met Pte. Sellers. Together they went to the V.R.C. where he saw a boy floating about twenty yards from where he was and about fifty yards from the mouth of the tun- He jumped into the water and caught hold of the boy who gave a groan. The boy had a deep gash at the back of the head and a swollen forehead. He later ac- companied him to the Government Civil Hospital.
After walking a short distance he heard voices and turned in his torch. He found three soldiers and a Chinese there. The soldiers were holding the Chinese who was lying on his back. Witness took hold of his left wrist with the in-nel. tention of raising it, but the Chin- ese attempted to bite his hand. He then suggested to roll him over on his stomach, taking a leg and hand each so that he could not bite. The man struggled and at one time managed to get his right hand free.
As a result he fell into the water and a struggle en- sued but they picked him up again. Eventually the Chinese was taken out of the nullah and was given artificial respiration.
Pte. T. McCarthy of the South Wales Borderers testified that he went down into the tunnel with Pte. Simmons, and assisted in tak- ing the Chinese out of the nullah.
Pte. A. E. Burgess, who was the first to give artificial respiration to the accused, said that when the man was taken out of the nullah.
His Worship (to Mr. Fraser): This man and Pte. Sellers acted with commendable promptitude.
Mr. Fraser: Yes, and great pre- sence of mind too.
Lance Sergeant W. G. Giles told the court that he rescued one of the girls just outside the mouth of the tunnel.
Hui Wing Han, a "N.A.A.FI.' boy said that just as he caught hold of one of the girls he was washed away. The girl was later rescued by Mr. Bowles.
The case was then adjourned until 11.30 this morning.