286
Mahomed Ali, whilst the fight was going on in the workyard, saw two men running towards the privy. He followed and arrested No. 8 and another; at that time he was unarmed, was bleeding from the instep, and had no leg-irons on.
No. 9. Low Lee was sentenced in March 1874 to four years' imprisonment and thirty stripes with the rattan for gang-robbery, armed with deadly weapons. Chicketty says he struck every one of the peons who tried to come near the Captain with a large stick. Mootoo says that he had a water-carrier's stick, and that he was striking Captain Dent with it. It should be remarked, however, that this witness, in his depositions before the Magistrate, said that he was armed with a nibong stick and a hammer, and when asked directly by No. 9: Whom did I beat ?" answered, "You attacked peons and warders," saying nothing at all about his striking Captain Dent.
Naghen says: "He had a nibong stick amongst the people beating the Captain; I saw him raise the stick."
Nikar, a peon, says that No. 9 struck him with a stick. Allagapen says that he had a nibong stick.
•
No. 14. Leang Ah Boi was sentenced to fifteen years' imprisonment in April 1874 for gang-robbery, armed with deadly weapons. He is spoken to by Koh Tuan Jean and Lee How as having been present at the conversation in the 'ward the day before the outbreak, and Koh Tuan Jean says that during the outbreak he saw No. 14 guarding the gate with No. 3, shut it, and strike at Warder Burton. Lee How also saw him guarding. the gate and striking at Warder Burton. Mootoo states: "He had a large stick; he struck Mahomed Roose and peons with it, and afterwards the Captain." Leow Tean says: "He had a carrying stick: he struck Captain Dent on the thigh with it." Allagapen also speaks to him, but not very clearly or satisfactorily.
No. 21. Koo Joo Seng was sentenced to ten years in October 1873 for house-breaking by night. Armoodum says: "I saw him chasing the warders with a long sharp iron.' Mootoo says: "He struck Mahomed Roose with a knife and ran away."
Lahal says: "He had an axe in his hand during the row." Before the magistrate, however, this witness said it was a stick. Vengadalium says: "He had a large piece of iron in his hand." Mahomed Roose says: "He struck me in the stomach with a knife." Baboo says: "I saw him strike Captain Dent with an axe on the head whilst he was struggling with Capalab Busoh." Nagha says that he saw him running away. Allagapen identifies him as taking part in the disturbance.
row.
No. 25. Tay Tit was sentenced to seven years in April 1873 for gang-robbery, Armoodum and Allagapen identify him with a number of others as being engaged in the Nikar says: "He had an iron flattened at the end." Tanibi says: "He had either a nibong or a stick." Baboo (aged 13 years, but intelligent): "He had a carrying stick; he struck Captain Dent on the back with it." Veerapen saw him behind Captain Dent with a nibong stick. Nikar speaks to his having a carrying stick.
for
No. 36. Lim Ang Hoh was sentenced in January 1873 to seven years gang: robbery. The result of the evidence against him is as follows:-
Mootoo: "He struck a peon with an axe.” Lahal: "He had a blacksmith's iron
during the row," Before the magistrate he said it was an axe.
Vengadallum: "He had a small knife in his hand." Allagapen identifies him, but Armoodum: "I not satisfactorily. Mahomed Roose: "Hic struck at me with an axe." saw him running with a short, sharp iron in his hands.' treated for an incised wound on the forehead.
After the outbreak he was
He
No. 41. Lim Chee Tye was sentenced in February 1874 to three years' imprisonment for house-breaking by night. The principal evidence against him is that of Warder Lamb, who says that No. 41 led the party on at the first attack upon them at the workyard, that he took particular notice of him; that he had an axe in his right hand, and that he was one of those brought back from outside. Veerapen says that he had a large stick. was treated afterwards for bullet wounds in both legs.
This concludes the cases against all the prisoners.
(Signed) THOMAS SIDGREAVES,
Chief Justice, Straits Settlements. His Excellency Sir W. F. Drummond Jervois, RE, K.C.M.G., C.B.,
&c.
&c.
I. have, &c.
&c.
287
Inclosure 2 in No. 60.
Extract from Minutes of a Meeting of the Executive Council, held on the 28th May, 1875.
Present:
His Excellency the Governor.
The Honourable the Officer Commanding the Troops. The Honourable the Acting Colonial Secretary.
The Honourable the Attorney-General.
The Honourable the Treasurer.
The Honourable the Acting Auditor-General.
The Honourable the Colonial Engineer.
h
HIS Honour, the Chief Justice, at the request of his Excellency the Governor, attends the Council.
The Clerk reads the Report of the Chief Justice on the cases of the prisoners condemned to death for the murder of Mr. Dent in the outbreak in the Singapore Criminal Prison on the 15th February last.
The Governor asks the opinion of the Council whether it is proper that the sentence
of death should be executed on all the condemned prisoners.
The Council on various grounds unanimously answers in the negative.
After discussion, the following list is drawn up of prisoners who are deemed the most proper subjects for the exercise of clemency :-
Pleaded guilty
Chen Ah Pon.
murder: No. 10, Tan Ali Sam; No. 17, Lim Ah Kee? No. 19,
Found guilty of murder: No. 8, Oh Yam Soo; No. 9, Low Lee; No. 21, Koo Joo Sing; No. 25, Tay Tit; No. 36, Lim Aug Hoh; No. 41, Lim Chee Thye.
The Attorney-General is requested to draw up a statement showing the grounds upon which these prisoners severally might be reprieved, and submit it for a final decision at a future meeting of Council.
Extract from Minutes of a Meeting of the Executive Council, held on the 11th June, 1875.
Present:
His Excellency the Governor.
The Honourable the Officer Commanding the Troops.
The Honourable the Acting Colonial Secretary.
The Honourable the Attorney-General.
The Honourable the Treasurer.
The Honourable the Acting Auditor-General.
The Honourable the Colonial Engineer.
The Governor lays before the Council the statements regarding the condemned prisoners, drawn up by the Attorney-General in accordance with the decision come to at the last meeting, which is as follows:-
By the Report of the Chief Justice, it appears that, of the forty-four prisoners com- mitted for trial, one committed suicide, and one died of the wounds received by him during the outbreak, that the Attorney-General entered a nolle prosequi as against one; that o the others, eleven pleaded guilty to the charge of murder, and seven were found guilty of murder by the Jury; that the remaining twenty-three were either convicted on minor counts or acquitted; that eighteen men, therefore, are now under sentence of death ; and that, apart from the question of expediency, his Honour the Chief Justice sees no reason why the sentences should not be carried out.
The Council acknowledges with satisfaction the great care taken by the Jury in sifting the evidence against so many as thirty prisoners, who pleaded not guilty, and entirely endorse their finding.
The Council are unanimously of opinion that all the condemned prisoners are deserving of death, yet they have some hesitation in recommending that the extreme penalty of the law should be enforced, against the whole of the eighteen now under sentence. They, therefore, recommend that his Excellency should consider each case
(128)
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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference
11TTC.O.885
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
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