CO882-(4-5) — Page 613

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :--

TELEC.O. 882

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE. LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

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Tong, begged on his knees that he might be allowed to go. They said, "We will let you go now, but we will kill you later on." He had no proclamations on his person when he was seized. He had distributed them among the villages. He said he was released because he had no proclamations on his person. Tang Cheung was sent to the Un Long Division. On his way there he was seized at Kap Shui Mun. Ng Ki Cheung told me this. Ng Ki Cheung told me he had seen Tang Cheung in the meeting house at Un Long. Ng Ki Cheung and Ng Fung Cheung both said that he had only been distributing proclamations, and that he should not be dealt with until the Chinese had gained a victory. Tang Cheung was seized on the 7th day (16th April), and was murdered on the evening of the 8th (17th April), after the Chinese had been defeated. So far as I have been able to ascertain, only four persons were present when the murder was committed. They were Tang Tsung Sz, who ordered the murder, Tang A Nin, who committed the deed, Tang Chu Shan, who also joined with Tang Tsung Sz in ordering the murder. Tang I Shek was in the meeting house on the 7th (16th April), and he also ordered that the deed should be committed. He and Tang Tsung Sz were the prime instigators of the murder. The murderer, Tang Nin, is a man of no regular occupation; he carns his living by gambling and thieving; he sometimes acts as a ferryman. Tang Cheung was taken to Ha Tsun and was murdered there. Ng Ki Cheung did not go to Ha Tsun. The murder was committed at night.

(Signed)

Statement made before me this 26th day of April, 1899.

Ng Ki Cheong states:---

[6.]

(Chinese characters.)

i.e., Ng Sui Shang.

J. H. STEWART LOCKHART.

Ping Shan, May 2, 1899.

On the 8th day of this Chinese moon (17th ultimo) Tang Cheong was caught at Cap Sui Mun by some Ha Tsun men-I do not know how many-and taken by them to Un Long. They took him at 3 p.m. to the Tai Pink Kuk meeting house, and left him there in charge of some of their number while the rest went away.

At 7 p.m. my brother Ng Fung Cheong sent to the meeting house, and fetched him away to his (Ng Fung Cheong's) house at Un Long. The people who were guard- ing him at the meeting house allowed him to be taken, because he was not a Un Long man. About 8 p.m. Tang Tsing Sz came to my brother's house and said, "This is not your man, he has nothing to do with your village." My brother said, "I brought him from the Tai Ping Kuk. I will take him back there." Then Tang Tsing Sz and a party of Ngan Tin men took Tang Cheong back to the Tai Ping Kuk. Ngan Tin is in Tung Kun district.

Between 3 and 4 p.m. on the 17th ultimo, I went from Ha Tsun to Un Long, and I saw Tang Cheong in the Tai Ping Kuk at Un Long some time after 4 p.m. on that day. His hands were bound, and he was locked in a room, and about eight men were guarding him outside the room. The Shan Sz of the neighbouring villages were allowed to go into the room and see him. I went in, and he asked me to call Tang Chak Hing, who is master of the I Un shop in Ha Tsun. I sent a man named Chau Ying to find him, but I do not know whether he found him, or whether he came. then returned to my house at Nam Pin Wai, where I spent the night.

I

About 8 p.m. on the 17th ultimo my brother came to me at Nam Pin Wai, and told me Tang Tsing Sz had taken Tang Cheong from his house at Un Long. Nam Pin Wai is only a few minutes walk from, Un Long. I am certain this was on the 8th day of the Chinese moon, not the 7th. That is all I know about the matter. My brother Ng Fung Cheong is now in Canton. have sent for him, and expect him back in two or three days. Tang Cheong did not tell me why he wanted to see Tang Chak Hing. I had no further conversation with him, and after seeing him I went straight home to Nam Pin Wai.

I did not overhear Tang Cheong's guards say anything. Tang Tsing Sz was not at the Tai Ping Kuk when I was there; my brother told me he, Tang Tsing Sz, went there about 8 p.m.

(Chinese characters).

(Signed)

F. J. BADELEY.

Taken by me this 2nd day of May, 1899.

Tang Kam Po states:-

249

[7.]

The body of my father was found the day before yesterday. It had fallen out of the pig basket, but was tied to a pig basket by a rope. I saw it myself. Tang Shui, my cousin, found it. The corpse had one gunshot wound in the back, and two just below the right ribs. The body was also covered with weals, the result of the beating, and a chain was still attached to the neck. The body was found near Wong Chan.

TANG KAM Po X

Statement made before me this 24th day of April, 1899.

His

Mark.

J. H. STEWAart Lockhart.

Tang Shui :-

I found the body of Tang Cheung, the day before yesterday, the 13 of this Chinese moon (22nd April), I found it at Wang Chan in the creek. There was a pig basket attached to the body and a chain round the neck, fastened quite tight, and locked with a lock. There were three gun shot wounds on the body, and marks of the body having been beaten. The body was buried yesterday at Than Pin Ling. The deceased was a clansman of mine. I recognised the body as that of Tang Cheung.

Fria

Statement made before me this 24th day of April, 1899.

YOUR EXCELLENCY,

TANG SHUI

X

Mark.

J. H. STEWART LOCKHART.

I RECEIVED this paper* late last night. I had already reported this case to Your Excellency, and the steps taken in connection with it. I informed you yesterday that the body had been recovered. I now attach statements made before me to-day by the son of the deceased, and by a clansman who discovered the body. I have informed the district concerned in his murder that $1,200 will have to be contributed towards the support of his widow, to be divided as follows:-

Ha Tsun (where the murderer resided and where

those who caused the murder lived)

Kam Tin

Pat Heung

Shap Pat Heung

Ping Shan

8600

150

150

150

150

$1,200

All the districts mentioned are members of the Council in the Meeting House of which the murder was ordered.

Representatives of all the districts were present when I announced my decision, and they all acknowledged its justice, and promised to pay the money in a month.

I am taking one of the widow's twin sons into my employ. (Ng Kee Cheong lives at Un Long.)

April 24, 1899.

Tang Shui states:

J. H. STIWArt Lockhart.

I found the body of Tang Cheong on the 23rd ultimo. A chain was looked round the neck, and there were three gunshot wounds. I could not detach the chain, and the body was buried with the chain attached. I had been looking for the body five days. Tang Cheong's widow told me to look for it. She did not tell me where to look. A man from Wen Chau told me where to look. I do not know him or his name. Tang Po states:-

On the 23rd ultimo Tang Shui came and told me the body of Tang Cheong was. found. I went and viewed it. I recognised it as the body of my father. Blood was

• A petition reporting murder.

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