1929-03-30 — Page 14

14

STRAY BULLET SEQUEL TO DEATH OF CHINESE GIRL

FINDING AT INQUEST.

The inquest on the body of the| Chinese girl, Wong Mui-tsai, who was shot in Yaumati on the morning of March 8, whilst the Police were in pursuit of an alleged offeader, was concluded at the Kowloon Magistracy on Thursday afternoon. Mr. T. S. Whyte-Smith was Coroner and the jury comprised Bessrs. J. A. Plummer (foreman) Wong Kam fuk. and Cheng Shou-yan. Me. T. Murphy, A.S.P., watched the proceedings on behalf of the

Police.

a

Sub-Inspector Michael Murphy of No. 2 Police Station, Wanchai, gave evidence as to the theft of revolver and holster from his chest of drawers of the subse- quent events leading up to the pursuit of the wanted man in Yaumati. Ile was about six or seven yards behind Sergeant Henderson all the time. He saw ne pods in the late except the fugitive and Sergeant Henderson. The latter was about 30 or 40 yards from the fugitive when he fired his two shots and about 65 yards from the street fountain. He did not see anybody as he passed the strect fountain.

Asked why he retraced his steps to the scene of the shoot ing in the lane, witness said that at the time he had suspicions that the fugitive was in possession of the revolver and they retraced their steps to see if he had drop- ped or thrown it away.

Mr. T Murphy, A.S.P., hand. ell to the Coroner and Jury copies of the existing Police regulations governing the use of firearms by Police officers,

In summing up the Coroner said he would ask the jury to give a finding as to who they consider- ed fired the fatal shot.

The jury found that the girl was killed by one of the two shots fired in the scavenging lane by Sergeant Henderson.

The Coroner: Your next duty is to say whether or not Sergeant Henderson was to blame for the death of the girl. The Coroner then laid before the jury the general principle of the law of shooting.

No Random Shooting The Coroner: In what sort of manner did Sergeant. Henderson fre? Deliberately or carelessly? Witness: He did not fire care- lessly.

The Coroner: Do you know which shot hit the girl-One of the two shots fired in the lanc.

Would you say that one of the shots must have hit her? No, not that, but only two shots were fired in the lane.

The jury asked witness if he thought the fugitive was going to fire at the Police when he turn- ed around.--Witness replied that

he did.

HOTEL FIRE

was usual to

dent of the Fire Brigade, said notice by

-form.

THE CHINA MAIL,

INDIAN MERCHANT HONG KONG MAN HONOUR

ED IN KARACHI

MR. G. P. DASWANI

The "Daily Gazette," Karachi, recently reported:-

Not Satisfactory. Witness: I have no powers at Mr. Gagandas Partabrai Das- all. It is not a satisfactory state wani, the Managing Proprietor of affairs but I am not prepared of Messrs. Lalchand and Gagan- to say what responsibility rests das, of Hong Kong and Canton, upon the Government or owners., and the late honorary editor and The Coroner: If we went into founder of Swatantra was the some of the old buildings in the guest of honour at the Free- city now, such as Prince's Build- masons Hall, Hyderabad (Sind); ing and Alexandra Building, and at a dinner given in his honour saw that they were dangerous, on the eve of his departure for we would be powerless to enforce China by Seth Lalchand Watan- any fire hydrants being installed? mal, the Managing Proprietor of Quite. As a matter of fact, Messra. Watanmaal Boolchand. Your Worship, the Alexandra

Mr. Lalchand in introducing Building did catch fire. It was the guest of the evening spoke only a tiny outbreak and was im- highly of his qualities, to which

With Mr. Daswani suitably replied. mediately extinguished. places of public entertainment, it Mr. Tejamal of Hyderabad on is different. We have powers to behalf of the guests proposed the deal with them under Ordinance toast of the host with an appro- 22 of 1919. The City Hall is gov-priate reference to his qualifica- erned by Ordinance 2 of 1870. tions.

Origin of Fire

Fire Brigade did not inspect pri- officer only as a Police officer. vate fire hydrants and fire ap- He had no legal power to insist pliances unless the building was upon any fire precautions to be SUPERINTENDENT OF

"licensed." The Fire Brigade installed but he could have gone BRIGADE EXAMINED

had recommended. the fre so far as to recommend to the hydrants to be installed with Licensing Board that a licence be "HOOKED" LADDERS NOT USED

which the Savoy Hotel was equip-not issued if he was not satisfied W. Hamilton, the ped. These were inspected at with existing arrangemente. Mr. E.

least once a year before renewal of the licence. In the case of Coroner, and the jury resumed inquiry, at the Central Magis-buildings in which inspection of tracy on Thursday afternoon into fire appliances was carried out, it the King Edward Hotel fire.'

give 24 hours Mr. H. T. Brook Superinten-

means of a printed that the fire escapes were able to

Office Blocks be.ased with safety up to a height

"The ordinary property owners of 60 feet. In November, 1923, could keep us out if they liked, when the original ladders of the he said, "but a theatre could not turntable escape were fully ex refuse access. Office blocks tended with a man at the top, should be treated with as much they swayed sideways and the care as an hotel. During the last ladder crashed to the ground two years we have carried out The fireman was kilied. The ac-inspection wherever fire hydrant cident happened through no ap appliances are kept, both in Hong parent cause. The replaced lad-Kong, and Kowloon.

"There are no appliances in ders also had an inclination to the, left when it was extended and this Prince's or Alexandra Buildings. defect could not be remedied. He An owner of an office block, how took steps to see it should never be extended above 70 feet and ever dangerous, need install no

a "stop limit at that hydrants unless he chooses."

Witness thought that another placed height. When the ladder was good life-saving appliance was a broken, he recommended that the canvas chute which could be kept machine's scope remain at three rolled up on a verandah and drop sections with 4 63-feet limit in-ped over a parapet in the event of stead of 4 sections.

Coroner: Lo you think this a fire. It required only one per son to hold it at the bottom but step is wise to-day?

even that was quite unnecessary because one could check one'a descent by using one's elbows as

Witness: Yes.

What was the width of the lad- der at the top-the original lad-brakes. der, I mean?Not more than one foot.

In any case, he declared, the It was made of Oregon Fire Brigade were satisfied that pine and was intended for a fire- they had done all possible and he man to stand on with a hose and was quite satisfied with all that not for life-saving purposes. It the firemen had done. was not constructed to rest

C.S.P.'s Evidence against a building.

The Hon. Mr. T. H. King, Cap- What is the higheat machine in tain Superintendent of Police, Hong Kong?-One which reaches said he was ex-officio Chief Officer 61 feet when it is in position at of the Fire Brigade. He was call- an angle or 55 feet vertically.ed about 3.10 or 3.15 on the There are no ladders higher than morning of the fire and arrived that in use by the London Fire on the scene between 3.40 and Brigade.

Turntable Ladder

3.45. The top storey of the Savoy Hotel and the whole of the In the King Edward Hotel fire, King Edward Hotel were ablaze. the ladders did not reach higher He received reports as to casual- than the third floor-about 63 ties which bad occurred but the feet from the ground. The dead and injured, had been re- length of the turntable ladder be-moved. Two parties of blue- fore the accident he had mention jackets arrived between 4 and 5 ed was 85 feet vertical and it was o'clock and they performed possible to reach a height of 80 duties at the request of Mr. feet with it. The fourth floor of Brooks and witness and gayc ex- the King Edward Hotel was hotellent assistance. He was entire- feet 3 inches.

ly satisfied with the work done by the Fire Brigade and with the ap- pliances at their disposal before and during the fire.

It would be extremely danger ous for two men simultaneously to descend the type of top-span

He had never inspected or ladder under discussion. Danger would come from side sway, that visited the King Edward Hotel was why firemen were allowed and therefore could not express only 10 degrees in which to swing an authoritative opinion as to a hose at a height of 60 feet. A whether the building was fit for great angle would cause sway use as an hotel. He had no legal and, to prevent that, the turn right of entry as fire brigade

would have to be moved table round in the direction in which the hose was required to play. When the floors were over 75 feet anywhere, it was not practicable to save life with ladders.

The Coroner: What is the height of the top floor of the

hotel?

Witness: About 91 feet.

How do you propose to save life at that height-or don't you?"

The jury: Do you think Ser- geant Henderson fired because of the fugitive's suspicious move

There are no fire appliances in ment? Might I say that if you were front you would probably existence which could guarantee We have done the same thing?—Yes. saving life at that height.

Would you have fired under should have to resort to the jump- In 17 years with the the circumstances merely to stop ing sheet. the fugitive?-Yes, but I would London Fire Brigade I only met not have fired under any circum- with one case where a life was stances had the two spots been saved by the jumping sheet. As crowded. There was no doubt a rule, to jump from a great the girl was hit where she was height into a jumping sheet re- found lying-against the street | sults in terrible injury or death. hydrant in the roadway.

Two Chinese cooks who were drawing water from the hydrant at the time of the shooting said that the girl was standing be tween them and she fell after the second report.

Sympathy With Father The father, Wong Kwai, was called to give formal evidence of his daughter's death, and baying done so the Coroner offered his deepest sympathy to him in his bereavement. •

The Coroner asked the jury to give their answer to the follow- ing two questions. (a) Did Ser geant Henderson fire in self- defence? (b) Did he or did he not show gross want of care for bystanders or people drawing water from the street fountain? The jury retired and on return ing gave their verdict of "Yes" to the first question, but "No" to the second. They expressed their sympathy to the parents of the deceased child and asked if the Police could not make a small compensation to the parents,

Mr. Murphy promised to bring the matter before the Police aythorities and he had every hope that something would be done."

The Coroner recorded a verdict of death by misadventure.

Ladders Too Short The Coroner: What other ar- rangements have you?

Witness: We have twelve "hooked" ladders 7 in Hong Kong and 5 in Kowloon. It was not possible to use them in this fire because the distance between was 18 the floors of the hotel feet 6 inches and our ladders are. only 12 feet long.

Foreman of Jury: Why cannot you get longer ladders?

Witness: We never have occa sion to use them,

The Coroner: That is not good enough. Why could you not get 20 feet ladders? Because they would be too heavy for one man to handle. The ladders we have at present are the heaviest that can be used. They are made of ash.

•

Could you not get them longer and made of bamboo or alumi- fam?I have never heard of aluminium ladders being on the market. We did approach, several makers but they do not manu- facture them.

We have already discussed the turntable ladders; can you tell the jury of any better type?- Yes, the Morris Magirus ladders as used in Manchester would probably be safe at 80 feet.

No Place to Keep It Have you ever applied for one of this type? -- No, because we At the request of the foreign have never had occasion to use artists intending to exhibit pic one. Besides, we have no places fures in the National Arts Ex-in which to keep it. A machine hibition, which is to be held at of this description would cost at Nantao (Shanghai) in April, the least £4,000 and it would "be General Committee has decided to cheaper if iron staircases were postpone the date of receiving fitted outside every large residen- pictures and other objects should tial building. Yet a machine of be brought to the Shanghai Arts the Morris Magirus type would Club, 390 Avenue Fon at this have been able to tackle the time.

fourth floor of the hotel The

Witness could not say how, the fire started, but he was certain that it was not through defective electric wiring. He had no sus- picions of arson, neither had he received any report giving vent to that suspicion." He considered that the fire was either accidental

or caused by carelessness..

The inquiry was adjourned until Wednesday at 2.15 p.m.

-----“;

Mr. and Mrs. Mungo Park have returned to Shanghai from leave.

Mr. Daswani, accompanied by his wife and two sons, is on his way to Hong Kong via Calcutta.

The Irish community of Kuala

Lumpur and district celebrated. St. Patrick's Day with the customary fancy dress dance of the Selangor St. Patrick's Society at the Selangor

Club.

A gathering estimated at over 500, the great majority of whom were in costume, attended and a liberal distribution of car- nival novelties was a stimulus to enjoyment.

Vilma Banky in "The Awakening" with Louis Wolheim and Walter Byron, at the Queen's Theatre, April 4 and 6.

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SATURDAY, MARCH 30, 1929.

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