Honible.
"By Lieut. Colonel Gratian
Executive Council, Hongkong
of the 18th March 1856. "In my opinion all the prisoners are guilty, and I see nothing in the evidence to alter that opinion.
As it appears in evidence that
the shot which led to the death
of the Policeman was fired while the prisoners
were in the house, and subsequently he did not come to his death by their hands, although in the eye of the law guilty of murder, I am of opinion that the sentence
should be commuted to transportation
for life".
(Signed) Hope Gratian, Lt. Col. 59th Regt.
Commanding Troops!
By The Honible. The Colonial Secretary
"I must first premise that though the course taken by the
Executive Council on this occasion is
unusual, I conceive His Excellency
was fully justified under the circumstances
in adopting it - various petitions having been presented on behalf of the prisoners, and public report being strong in support of
their innocence.
"I mention this lest it should be thought by any that the Council is overstepping a power not properly belonging to it in trying anew a case
already solemnly decided
by the Supreme Court of Judicature. The matter concerns human
life, and every Member of the Council
is bound to use every means,
however unusual, to arrive at a correct
P
स
Homible.
"By Le
Lient. Colmel Gratian_
"Exxcentive Comeil, Henghing
of the March 1856. "In my opinion all the primers are quilty, and I see nothing in the evidence to alter that ofunin.
As it appears in evidence that
the shot which led to the death
1
the Policeman was fired while the priemers
were in the house, and souvequently he did not come to his death by their leands, _ although in the eye of the bour guilty of smorder, Some of opinion that the bentonce
lam
should be commited to transfertatione
for life".
(Signed) Hope Gratiam, Lt. br. 59th Reg Coon to Troops!
hey?
95
By The Horible. The Colonial Secretary "I must first premise that through the emise taken by the
Exxcentive Comcil on this recasion is
sumonal, Jonceive How Exellency
on bet
fully justified under the eiremestances
in adopting it _ various petitions having been presented m the primers, and public report being strong in support of
behalf of
their innocene
"I mention this best it should be thought by any that the Comert is seversing a fiover, not properlyn belonging to it in trying anew i already solemnly des
Cowe
a
determined
by the Supreme Court of Judicature. The matter Encerns humane.
life, and every Member of the Council. is bound to we toery mucous, havener
Means,
muusual, to arrive at a correct.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.