462
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on the 9th September 1857, of the sum of $300 for houses requested the Magistrate to put such questions to Mr Cald on lot 262 on account of Caldwell's estate; also a bill of sale well as would elicit these facts, which I intended to bring in Chinese dated 16th December 1857 of three lots--238 C, the notice of the Governor. The Magistrate did put 240, and 250, by Mr Caldwell to Chew Alai, for $450, and question; the facts were elicited; and also the belief of bill of sale by Mr Caldwell to Lum Ateen dated 16th Caldwell that the woman living in the brothel had December 1857, of lots 179, 241 B, 241 C, 242 B, and 262 therefrom into the house frequented by Mr May. On t for the sum of $2,050.
following day a letter was received by me, being also
last.
escape
dressed to the Attorney General and Chief Magistrate, makin WILLIAM THOMAS BRIDGES, Acting Colonial Secre- a violent attack upon Mr Caldwell for the insufficiency tary, Called and examined.
the grounds upon which he had supposed that the woman I was Acting Colonial Secretary in the month of November could escape into the house already referred to, and als I remember the sale of the Western Market property.attacking the motives from which the statement had bee I attended the sale. Mr Caldwell was also present. During made. I wrote in consequence to Mr May either on that the progress of the sale I saw a China boy come up and for the following day, explained the circumstances under speak to Mr Caldwell, who was standing by my side I think which Mr Caldwell had given his evidence, and laid the at the time. Mr Caldwell turned round to me and said he whole matter before the Governor. This letter was written had an authority or commission to bid. I asked him for on the 11th March, and entirely exculpated Mr Caldwell which house and he pointed to one, but I do not know its from having brought the matter forward, and shewing that number. He did bid after that, and I think I remember what he did was on my action. him signing the paper as purchaser. I think that the con- My report to the Governor bringing certain charge versation referred to between Mr May and myself took place against Mr May, and Mr May's charges against Mr Caldwel about three or four months ago. To the best of my belief I were referred by His Excellency to the Chief Magistrate, who was remonstrating with Mr May as to the objections made two reports, the first blaming both Mr May and M he invariably made to any suggestion which originated, or Caldwell, the second being on reconsideration of the blare which he supposed to originate, with Mr Caldwell. Then upon Mr Caldwell, an exculpation of him. Letters were Mr May said he would have no objection to take Mr Cald-written by order of His Excellency, conveying his decision both well's place, and that Mr Caldwell should take his. I do to Mr May and Mr Caldwell. The letter from His Excellence not recollect Mr May's saying anything about such arrange-to Mr May was in the nature of a very severe reprimand ment benefitting Her Majesty's Government. When Ma-chow There were two letters to Mr Caldwell; the first on the Wong was first apprehended, Mr May disavowed having occasion of the Chief Magistrate's report was also a severe any hostility toward Mr Caldwell, but not I think upon reprimand, and that upon the reconsidered report was in this occasion. I am certain that the remark as to Mr exculpation of him. Caldwell's hatred towards Mr May was not made to me on that or any other occasion.
I omitted to state that the woman Atai was convicted by the Magistrate.
I remember an inquiry concerning a charge against Cross-examined,-I took considerable part as a friend in Mr May of not putting down a notorious brothel. In the arrangement of Mr Caldwell's affairs, at the suggestion March last one Atai was charged before the Magistrate of His Excellency the Governor. I went round to the with keeping an unlicensed brothel out of the brothel various creditors who appeared favourably disposed towards district under the following circumstances: Having had him, and the arrangement was in a great measure, I think, my attention drawn by a person in no way connected effected through my instrumentality. I did not undertake with the government to the fact that certain brothels were this professionally, only' as a friend. I have no recollection allowed out of the district, and in particular to one-in the of preparing documents connected with the settlement neighbourhood of Mr Murray's house-I saw Mr May, and I advised him to make a declaration to the effect that a requested him to cause this brothel to be put down. We part of the property standing in his name was not in fact had some conversation on the subject, and about a week afterwards finding that nothing had been done, I desired Mr Caldwell to do what I had requested Mr May to do. Mr Caldwell took certain steps which led to the keeper of the house being brought up before the Chief Magistrate. I had also certains reason to believe that Mr May was in the habit of frequenting a house in the immediate vicinity of this brothel, and I was determined that the fact should be elicited
I think it very probable that the objection made by Mr if possible, at the investigation before the Magistrate. I attend May to which I have referred was as to the appointment of a ed as a spectator, and as Mr Caldwell gave his evidence distinct party of the Police to act under the Brothels' Ordi- without in any way referring to Mr May or to such house, Inance under Mr May's superintendence, The reason assign-
his, but was held by him as trustee for another person- having been bought with money belonging to another person. This I did in consequence of a statement to that effect made to me by Mr Caldwell.
I do not know whether.
that declaration was ever made, nor can I recollect ever having seen the draft; I may have drawn it myself, but have no recollection of so doing.
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With reference to what
ed by him was, that such employment of the Police would Caldwell told me he intended. ad to their corruption. I have an impression that I have I said of the inherent character of the Chinese, I mean en this remark of Mr May in writing. Before the exami- to apply that generally to Chinese, not to Mrs Caldwell ation at the Police Court, Mr Caldwell communicated to particularly. I received from the Governor a letter direct- me that Mr May's name was likely to be called in question. ing me to give special orders to the Police, that they were Mr Caldwell expressed his unwillingness to be brought into to pay the same respect to Mr Caldwell's orders as to mine
ilision with Mr May, but I insisted on Mr May's conduct in matters relating to the Registration Ordinance, and as ing brought forward, as I thought it a matter of public to matters concerning the Chinese within the limits defined importance. I did not inform Mr May of the communication in that letter.
With reference to charges 4 and 16 I would suggest that had received from Mr Caldwell. Mr May could not have
a Chinese female Assow can give evidence, and also Mr informed me that he was unwilling to interfere with Mr Caldwell in the carrying out of the Brothels' Ordinance, Inglis, governor of the Gaol. because it was part of the duty of the Police to do so. net remember any such occasion when I in reply to Mr May aid, "I suppose if it is my wish that you and the Police should assist in carrying out the Ordinance, it will be done." I am convinced no such conversation could ever have taken place.
I do
Personally I have notascertained the exact relative positions tai's house, and the house said to have been frequented by Mr May, but I believe the one is two or three doors from the other. I do not know the houses by sight, and do not know whether they are in the same street. The Brothel Ordinance is as to part under the special Superintendence of the Superintendent of Police, and as to part under that of the Registrar General. The Registrar General has had much more to say to it than he would have had, but for the positive resistance offered by Mr May. Finding that I could not get anything done by one officer, I was obliged to resort to an- ther. It is the sole duty of the Registrar General to license the brothels, and it is the duty of both Registrar General and Superintendent of Police to prevent any violation of the law; but it is the special duty of the Superintendent of Police and the Police force, to confine the brothels to the proper district, and take care that none exist out of it. I do not mean that this duty is expressly defined by the Ordinance, but it arises out of the general duty on the part of the Police to prevent any violation of any existing law. There are special duties assigned to the Registrar General by the Or- dinance, such as Registration, licensing, receiving money, and sending women to Hospital. The only special duty assigned by the Ordinance to the Superintendent, is having charge of constables under the Ordinance, if such should be ap- pointed.
Re-examined, I heard Mr Grand Pré's evidence. I saw his
letter of appointment. He was therein appointed as second in rank in the Registration Office, to have special charge of the Collection of Police Rate, and to assist when not so employed in the business of the Registration Office. I know of my own knowledge, that the houses let by Mr Grand Pré to Atsoo were not occupied by her till about or after the passing of the Brothel Ordinance. I am speaking from my recollection of a cursory reading of the letter. There was no connection between Mr Caldwell and Mr Rienaecker to my knowledge, except that they were jointly interested in the Eaglet.
CHARLES MAY, Superintendent of Police,--Recalled. I know that the houses which I stated to be brothels were in fact so, from seeing prostitutes in the windows and door- ways. I was Acting Assistant Magistrate from November 1856, to February 1857, and from June to November 1857. During those times I had no opportunity of seeing the houses. At the other times I am certain that 2 or 3 houses on lot 206 were brothels. With reference to the corner house of which I spoke, I do not know whether it has been in fact reconstructed in the manner in which Mr
On the 9th or 10th of March last my name had been mentioned at the Police Court, and been brought into question during the progress of the investigation of a charge brought by the Registrar General against a brothel keeper. I had not received any intimation from the Acting Colonial Secretary or from the Registrar General that my name or conduct was in any way connected with the inquiry. The reference to my name was that certain women were stated by the Registrar General to have escaped from the house of a brothel keeper, into a house in which I was said to have an interest. I positively disclaimed having any interest at all in any house in any way connected with the brothel keeper prosecuted by the Registrar General; and having examined a particular house said to be the house alluded to, I found it utterly impossible for women to have got from one house into the other. I thereupon wrote to the three Justices of the Peace who sat on the Bench at the time of the investiga- tion, viz., the Chief Magistrate, the Attorney General, and the Acting Colonial Secretary, complaining of the untruthfulness of the charge as against the owner of the house, and begging that they would remove from the case any evidence sup- posed to connect one with the other. I also complained of the use made of my name wantonly, unnecessarily, and I enclosed in that when not pertaining to the case at issue. letter a report from Inspector Jarman, stating, as the result of his examination of the premises, that it was impossible women I got an answer could have got from one house to the other. from the three Justices of the Peace: two of them expressing their conviction that the alleged escape from one house to the other was incorrect, and I got a letter from the 3d Justice, the Acting Colonial Secretary, making no reference to my special
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