THE CHINA MAIL, JANUARY 23, 1941
Suffocation By False Teeth: Murder Trial Opens
A SET OF FALSE upper teeth was one of the
several exhibits produced before the Chief Justice, CHUNGKING
Sir Atholl MacGregor, at the Criminal Sessions
this morning in the course of a murder trial. BOMBED
From the Crown's point of view, the false teeth
were an important piece of evidence in fact, it (SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL") Over 20 Japanese air- was alleged, they caused the suffocation of an
amah, Tsoi Kuen, for whose death three men, Lui craft visited Chungking Shek, Tam Wang-kit and Chan Fei, were charged yesterday, dropping bombs on the industrial
with murder.
First accused was represented by Mr. H. C. Macnamara (instruct- ed by Mr. M. A. da Silva); second, by Mr. George She (instructed by Mr. F. X. D'Almada); and third by Mr. H. Somerset Fitzroy (in- structed by Mr. Kan Yuet-keong).
Luk
ASSASSINATION IN SOOCHOW
were
The gates of Soochow
search closed yesterday when a was in progress for the assassin of a Nanking "official" who was
area.
Rescue work went on late into the night: Details of damage and casualties are not yet avail- able.
Kunming was also bombed, high explosives and incendiary bombs falling in the south part of the city.
Thirteen buildings were burned
The jury empanelled was com- posed of Messrs. E. C. Xavier (Foreman). E. Humphrey. Man-lok, Ho Shau-fook, W. Humurdered at Soochow railwayout but the casualties only num- Ching-kong. L. Mercado and station, according to a Shanghai bered about 15.--Our Own Cor- Chan Kam-shing.
report. - Central News.
Mr. J. P. Murphy. Assistant Crown Solicitor, alleged that first and second accused committed the crime, third accused being present and therefore was aiding and abetting first and second accused.
The deceased amali was CR- ployed by a Mr. Chan Sheung- nam on the first floor of No. 60, Argyle Street, were he conduct-
ed a small school.
November 24, last year, being a Sunday, Mr. and Mrs. Chan and their family went to Church This was their habit and was known to
ne of the accused.
Amah Found Dead
at
The family left the house 11.30 am and at 130 p.m. Mrs. Chan returned and found the front door open. In the rear cubicle she found the amab on a bed face downwards. She was dead. cubicle was in disorder and some clothing and money were missing. The amah's hands and ankles were tied and she was gugged.
The
the
The police found that the woman had been suffocated by her false teeth which had forced the tongue backwards into the mouth.
Mr. Murphy added that Crown alleged that third accused was a relative of Mr. Chan and had at one time stayed in the 1. He knew the general routin» of the family and of their habit of going to Church every Sunday, leaving an amah behind to do the housework
Accused all lived in a hut on the roof of No. 226, Temple Street and they gained entrance to the flat by pretending to have a par- el containing a gift for Mr. Chan, Prepared For Violence
The Crown's case, declared Mr. Murphy, was that accused went to the flat prepared to use vio- lence.
"First and second accused did, in fact, use violence which caused, the death of the deceased, while third accused waited outside to prevent first and second accused from being surprised and to assist in the escape.
"Third accused knew that first and second accrised would usc violence," alleged the As- sistant Crown Solicitor,
The wire and cord, which were not in the flat previously, clearly showed that it was the intention to use violence, and it was in evidence that all three accused admitted going there to rob. Some of the stolen articles were re- covered from various pawnshops. In statements made when charged and also at the Magis- tracy, accused incriminated one another.
Doctor's Evidence
In evidence this morning, Dr. Tai said that the upper false teeth forced the tongue backwards ob- structing the respiratory passage and caused suffocation,
In reply to Mr. Macnamara and Mr. George She, Dr. Tai said that suffocation would not have re- sulted had deceased had a na- tural set of upper teeth.
The case is continuing this. afternoon.
WEATHER REPORT
respondent.
SEE AND TRY THE
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