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Chairman, Where is Beaver now?
It was accordingly proposed by Mr Lyall, seconded by Mr Mr Lyons, I believe he has gone to Sydney as an ordi- Fletcher, and unanimously agreed to,
nary seaman.
Chairman, Do you know who Samkwei is ?
Mr Lyons,-Yes. Mr Caldwell.
That the case to be inquired into by the Commission be placed in the hands of a Barrister to prepare, who shall receive his instructions from the Chairman, and assist the
Chairman, Have you ever seen Mr Caldwell in any of Commission in the inquiry. his cruizes?
Mr Lyons,-No.
The Public were then informed of the above resolution, and of the postponement of the meeting until 11 o'clock on
Chairman, Do you know anything of the Convoy Tuesday. business?
Mr Anstey said, that Mr Dixson, who had some important Mr Lyons, Only by repute by conversation with evidence to give, intended going to Ningpo in two days; upon which the Commission determined to hear Mr Dixson's evi-
Beaver and others,
Chairman, Can you specify any one besides Beaver with dence. whom you have conversed?
Chairman,--Can you inform the Commission, Mr Dixson,
Mr Lyons,-Yes; but I cannot give the names of per- of anything concerning Ma-chow Wong?
sons who have witnessed anything.
Chairman, Do you know the Eaglet?
Mr Lyons,-Yes.
be
Mr Dixson,-I am ready to answer any questions that may
put to me.
Mr Anstey said that perhaps the best mode would be,
Chairman, Do you know what was done with any of her for him to recite all he had learnt from Mr Dixson, whe prizes.
could point out any part of the narrative which he did not
Mr Lyons,-Only from hearsay. I have had no conver-approve. "sations with any who witnessed anything done with them. I do not know whether Ma-chow Wong had any share in the Eaglet.
Chairman,—Yes, I think that is the best course to pursue. Mr Anstey,I arrived in this colony on the 30th January, 1856. Within 3, certainly 4, months after, I was strongly exhorted again and again by Mr Dixson, to do what he said would be an act of the greatest benefit to the entire com- munity, but particularly to the Chinese portion of it. He said that the Chinese were in terror of their lives and fortunes because of a man, or monster, who had the police of Chairman, Do you know the inmates of Mr Caldwell's the colony almost at his disposal through the blind trust that house?
Chairman,-Do you know where Shap-lok lives. Mr Lyons,-Opposite Circular Buildings. Chairman,-Have you ever visited Mr Caldwell's house? Mr Lyons,--Never, except on business as Inspector of Nuisances with Mr Caldwell.
Mr Caldwell reposed in him. Not one of them, he said, dared Mr Lyons-No.
to lay informations against him, or to appear in support of Chairman, Are you aware that Mr Caldwell is intimate one another when wrongfully accused by him. He was the with Ma-chow Wong.
Jonathan Wild of the place; people were taken up, boats
Mr Lyons, I do not know except from hear-say; I do not seized, and the one and the other liberated, almost as he know Ma-chow Wong,
Chairman,-Were you present at Eli Boggs' trial?
Mr Lyons,-Yes.
[Extract of a letter from Attorney General of 13th May, regarding statement made by Boggs in his defence, read. Extract acknowledged by witness to agree with his impres- sion of what took place at the trial concerning Mr Caldwell, although he did not vouch for its correctness.]
SECOND DAY,
Friday, 28th May, 1858, at 12 Noon. Present,-All the Members of Commission.
The Public being requested to withdraw, a discussion took place as to the mode of proceeding with the inquiry, in consequence of the reception of various documents from the Colonial Secretary's Office, which rendered it absolutely necessary to obtain legal assistance in arranging the evidence
therein,→→→
thought fit. He was in league with the worst of the pirates who infested these waters, and with villains and robbers of all kinds. He was at the head of a Secret Society
or Clan, that served his purposes afloat and ashore as informers and as pirates. Of the date I am quite sure, because Mr Disson mentioned a scowling look and threatening gesture which Ma-chow Wong had used to him, at the time of a recent fire in Tai-ping-shan. From that time until my unfortu- nate illness obliged me to go away and abandon the prosecution of that miscreant in July last, I took all the means within my very limited
of ascertaining range, some tangible fact which should force the executive into action against him; because these statements of Mr Dixsou appeared to be so well supported, that they made on me a much stronger impression than that which was afterwards made by the corroborative statement of Eli Boggs. I may be permitted to say what that impression was.
[Read extract from letter to the Acting Colonial Secretary of 13th instant (C), commencing "surprising volubility," and ending "all false."]
The only difficulty which I had in comprehending Mr Caldwell is doing now, or was a short time ago, all he could Disson's views, consisted in his belief that Mr Caldwell was to get Ma-chow Wong pardoned. I would suggest that Mr the dupe and not the accomplice of Ma-chow Wong in Dixson be asked whether these circumstances have or have the incidents which he mentioned to me. However, I being not materially altered his former opinion that Mr Caldwell a stranger in the colony, for some time continued to hope was only a dupe, not an accomplice, of the criminal. that this might be so, and that my contrary judgment might On other matters referred to this Commission,-I know that be wrong. That hope has been completely dissipated as far Mr Dixson is able either to give, or to name those who can as I am concerned during the year and half in which Mr Cald-give, very important testimony. These are for instance those well bas held the offices of Registrar General and Justice of the relating to the wife, Chinese relatives by blood, adoption, or Peace. That I might not forget my determination to bring Ma- usage, and the Chinese associates, of Mr Caldwell-matters chow Wong to justice if possible, I desired Mr Dixson to write which his Excellency has referred to this Commission, but me his name and alias correctly, which he did thus: "Wong certainly not at my suggestion, and against my opinion. I, Akee alios Ma-chow Wong," and I kept that paper always not wishing to encumber your minutes with these painful before my eyes in my private residence, fastened to the wall, details, will only say, that there is not one of those matters where it remained until he was brought to justice in the stated in which Sir John Bowring calls the "list of charges," month of July 1857. My report of the Criminal Sessions on which I have not at some time or other heard from the of June 1857, contained in my Letter of the 8th of July, lips of Mr Dixson himself the averment of their truth, 1857, to the Acting Colonial Secretary, and the consequent reports of Mr May, then Acting Sheriff and Assistant l'olice Magistrate, and Mr Inglis, then and now Governor of the Gaol, will shew the Commission what steps were considered by myself and those two gentlenen necessary to the bring- Mr Dixson, The man had been a notoriously bad charac- ing of this powerful criminal before the bar of public justice.ter, and I have known him as such almost from my first
ANDREW S. DIXSON,-Called and examined. Chairman,---Will you tell the Commission what you know about Ma-chow Wong.
It is noticeable, that the first and weaker of the two charges arrival in this colony. What Mr Anstey has stated of my against the pirate was in fact brought in about a week after conversations with him regarding Ma-chow Wong, is those reports came in; and that the second and stronger perfectly correct. I had heard from many Chinese that charge, which for some very mysterious reason was not, as it he was a notorious extortioner, owner of pirate vessels, ought to have been, brought forward at the Supreme Court, and fitter out of piratical expeditions; that occasionally was laid by other Chinamen about 4 days afterwards. The be gave information of piracies to Mr Caldwell, but only cases had nearly gone through the Police Court, when I was when it suited his own purposes, and chiefly in cases in obliged by sickness to sail for Calcutta; and I have heard which he had not received hush-money. I frequently re- that Ma-chow Wong said that, now that I was gone, heceived complaints of extortion, but on no occasion could I was sure of getting off. The Governor stated in Council, on induce the complainants to appear against him, except in the 10th instant, (as appears by my letter of the 13th,) one case, as they said they were in terror of their lives on that in my absence, Mr Kingsmill, the Acting Attorney account of him. General, afterwards, and before Mr Caldwell's application for the scoundrel's pardon had been decided on, had entered a nolle prosequi on the stronger charge upon which he had not been tried, and this in ubedience to orders. His Excel- case in which Ma-chow Wong professed to act as agent for 7 lency also stated that Mr Caldwell's application for his a Procuress, who had compelled a Chinawoman to acknow pardon was sent up, and purported to come from a number ledge a debt of $71, out of which Ma-chow Wong levied of Chinamen, and that Mr Dixson and others had opposed $30, to raise which sum the woman had sold herself to a the application. This was of course after his conviction, brothel-keeper for two years. The balance being demanded
Chairman, Can you hand in to the Commission the names of any of your informants?
a
Mr Dixson,--I intend to quote one instance of extortion, in
on the first charge of piracy, and the unseemly spectacle by Ma-chow Wong, the woman had expressed her deter- was exhibited in the Executive Council, of trying over | mination to commit suicide, as she could not raise the money. again without oath the guilt or innocence of a convicted The circumstance coming to my ears, I induced the woman culprit. I am informed-I think by Mr Dixson, but certainly to have a summons taken out against Ma-chow Wong for by some of the witnesses-that every effort was made by the extorting money. The case was tried before Mr Hillier, the Governor in Council to get the criminal off-the impression Chief Magistrate, and the money and expenses ordered to be.. having been produced on their minds by Mr Caldwell and repaid—the more serious charge of extortion failing, from his Chinese evidence above, why, I know not, to the the plea of Ma-chow Wong that he was merely acting prejudice of the sworn testimony taken in the Court below. as agent, and had no direct interest in the matter. The The result, however, was the signal discomfiture of the only connection that Mr Caldwell had with this case was, application, and the man remains a convict. But I have that he told me, when I mentioned the circumstance to hing understood-and again I think from Mr Dixson--that Mr at the time, that Ma-chow Wong had spoken to hing
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