CO129-068 - Sir Bowring - 1858 [5-12] — Page 474

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All

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1 do not recollect any more of the contents of the memo-worth of gold dust was found in the possession of differegistrate a Chinese petition. This was interpreted to me, and while the struggle was going on between the Constable randa; I consider that what I have mentioned gives but a prisoners, and remained in the hands of the police. It

W

I believe, Tong Akü, to the effect that the petitioner was and Ma-chow Wong, the thief jumped out of the window and ne of the emigrants who had been plundered at the gold escaped. I directed Ma-chow Wong's apprehension, and he ust robbery,—that neither he nor any of the real emigrants was brought to the Station, and, I think, locked up. I went ad ever received one fraction of the gold dust, which he to the market to make personal inquiry and examine the place, understood had been recovered from the pirates-that he had and on my way back to the Station met Mr Caldwell coming He imme- en told that certain men had falsely represented themselves down the hill in great haste and visible anger. be the emigrants, that these men had been obtained diately accosted me with exclamations of the shame of the Ma-chow Wong each of them had received a small arrest of Ma-chow Wong, and saying, "You think you've got mount, but that the bulk of the gold dust went to him safe now." I recollect telling him that I had nothing

meagre account of what was contained in them.

a very difficult and complicated case; the Chinese concerned Many of the items as written on my memo, bore dates, it were men of considerable influence and wealth, and but fo but I have not the slightest recollection as to what they were.

the zealous assistance given to me by Tong Akü, I am certat As evidence of Mr Caldwell's intimacy with Ma-chow the case would not have arrived at a successful termination Wong: I have seen Ma-chow Wong seven or eight times I had great difficulty in getting witnesses to speak as to th within Mr Caldwell's house, and I have seen him very many identity of certain prisoners, and the actual losers of the times entering or departing from Mr Caldwell's house. I dust--the returned emigrants-although repeatedly writter gel may instance, on one occasion, I saw him in a room used to, and the case remanded from time to time in order as an office in Mr Caldwell's house in Gough Street. I went obtain their evidence if possible, persisted in non-attendane la-chow Wong, Mr Caldwell's servant, and Mr Caldwell. more to do with Ma-chow Wong than any one else, and that

there early in 1857, about a case then under inquiry, in

by

asked the petitioner whether he had been deputed he must be arrested if he hindered the police in the execu-

It was stated to me during the progress of the case, and has connection with the conspiracy to carry off Colonel Caine been stated to me since, and I think Assow the Police Con by the other emigrants to make this representation. He tion of their duty. Mr Caldwell said, "I suppose you will

Interpreter can say more, shewing that there was sonie cons nection between some of the prisoners in the gold dust robs bery and Ma-chow Wong. The $1,000 worth of gold dust in the hands of the police taken from the prisoners remained i the same custody after the conviction, until some month subsequently I got an intimation from the Acting Colonial Secretary, that a petition had been presented through M Caldwell, for its delivery to certain of the returned Emigrant from whom it had been plundered. I immediately waited upon the Acting Colonial Secretary, and told him that I cor sidered that as these men had in no way rendered assistance

and Mr Caldwell. Ma-chow Wong was then seated in Mr Caldwell's office. Mrs Caldwell was there seated, and Mr Caldwell, We had some conversation referring to the case. Upon another occasion I saw Wong Akee in Mr Caldwell's house, some time after he-Wong Akee-returned from Shanghae, I think in 1855. I cannot recall any particular times, but those two. I have never seen him there in the position of a friend-in the one case already men- tioned, he was there, I believe, on business connected with the prosecution, and on the other occasion he did not appear to be there as a friend. I know that in 1855, when he came back from Shanghae, he brought some silks within the conviction of the prisoners, in fact had purposely stayed him; Mr Caldwell told me so. I purchased one of the pieces of silk from Mr Caldwell. Ma-chow Wong's manner and bearing when I have seen him with Mr Caldwell were dif- ferent from those usually exhibited by a Chinaman in an Englishman's house. I have not observed any other signs of intimacy when I have seen him in Mr Caldwell's house.

away after their presence had been demanded, that in reaseg they ought not to receive the gold dust, and secondly that they had no legal right to it. Much more was said, but this wa purport of it. I urged strongly that the property should not be given up, as it would be a dangerous precedent. I was over-ruled, and I then asked permission to deliver the gold

the

said that he had, and that they had given him a letter stating let me bail him." I assented to this, and Mr Caldwell Ma-chow Wong ap- hat he had represented in his petition. I asked him to did bail him, giving his personal bail. troduce this letter; he said he had not got it with him, but peared next morning at the Police Court. Mr Mitchell was could get it. I then told the man that there could be no the sitting Magistrate. I heard at the time that Mr Cald- fficulty as to ascertaining whether the men who had re-well was present at the investigation. I was not there. Ma- Lived the gold dust were the real emigrants or not, be- chow Wong was discharged.

use I was aware security had been taken for them. I said, You go to Mr Caldwell with this note," which I then gave , "and if you are not satisfied with what is stated to you Mr Caldwell, come back to me with the letter you speak and when I have that, an investigation shall be made. The man went away with my note; he returned bringing me note (S) from Mr Caldwell, which stated that Mr Caldwell ould not satisfy the man, because the security papers which je had taken were in the office of the Superintendent of Police. Owing to the security papers not being found in the fice of the Superintendent of Police, I directed the man to me again on a subsequent day, being careful to bring the

I have for very many years known Ma-chow Wong; I should say since 1849. I knew for years before that, of the existence of some man whom I afterwards knew by name to be Ma-chow Wong, and I knew that that mau afterwards known as Ma-chow Wong was Mr Caldwell's principal and most relied-upon informant. During the whole of that time,' whenever reference was made to Ma-chow Wong either by subordinate officers of Police, by old European residents, or by Chinese, they always coupled his name with some epithet having reference to his bad character. As a matter of re- pute and notoriety, I know that Ma-chow Wong has for years been considered an extortioner, a

recipient of bribes

Early in 1857, Mr Schaeffer, of Victoria, came to me, and dust to Mr Caldwell, so that upon his shoulders should restter with him; but he did not again make his appearance. from gambling-house keepers, a confederate of pirates, and a

Jy belief is that the security papers were not deposited in he office of the Superintendent of Police; they were not ven to me, and to the best of my recollection I never saw them.

receiver of stolen goods. I also knew that because of his well known position with regard to Mr Caldwell, which every Chinaman in the colony very well knew, Ma-chow Wong was supposed to be in possession of great power, and was held in great dread. Of the extent of the dread I became fully aware, when it was my duty to investigate the cases against gave one of the instances before, and now wish to give the him. I spoke to very many Chinese of standing and property, pther. When Mr Caldwell was in command of the Eaglet, I and they all exhibited a knowledge of his evil character, but think the latter part of 1856, a peculiar case occurred of a man

a reluctance to do more than own it. As an instance, at the being seized in a brothel by the aid of a Police Constable, time that an appeal was made to His Excellency for the who said he was under the impression he was seizing a thief pardon of Ma-chow Wong, I knew that a Chinese petition A man who duped the Constable, and one or two confederates numerously signed had been presented in his favour. Late grobbed the man of more than $100, and the thieves made one evening, one of the wealthiest, perhaps the wealthiest, their escape with the booty, leaving the Constable with Chinaman in the colony came to me, and said that he also the victim. That led to my knowing the affair, and also to represented the feelings of another wealthy Chinaman, The y obtaining information as to the plunderers. About a man said in broken English, "I am almost afraid to come to week after the robbery, a Constable got information that you, I come all same thief, but I want you to tell the Gover- the man who had taken the principal part in the duping nor, that the Chinese who signed the petition dared not and robbery, a well-known bad character, was in the refuse to do so; but if the Governor really wants to know pper part of the house of Ma-chow Wong in the Central what those people mean, who signed it, let him give each of darket. The Constable went into the house with the inten- them one black ball, and one white one, and there won't be on of seizing the man, but was met by Ma-chow Wong at very many in favour of Ma-chow Wong." I told him, “I he top of the stairs, who forcibly prevented his going further, can't tell the Governor any

said that he believed that his lorcha called the Alma, which had the entire responsibility of its rendition to the claimants been taken by pirates, was then lying off the Seamen's Hospital, This was assented to, and I subsequently delivered to Mr and he wanted Police assistance. I directed Inspector Roberts, Caldwell at the Central Police Station the whole of the gold and a party of police, to seize the supposed Alma. In due dust excepting a very small quantity-7 taels,—which was time Mr Roberts returned and reported to me that he had reserved for certain of the boat people who had had it in On the first day of my examination I stated, that I had seized the vessel, although he knew that it was not the Alma, their custody, and been actually witnesses in the case. Whenly on two occasions had differences with Mr Caldwell. I because he found about 36 cannon on board that he had I so delivered the gold dust to Mr Caldwell, I observed to left constables in charge of the boat-that from what the him, "I am indignant at this proceeding—there is the gold people on board told him he had been induced to call at dust; I wash my hands of it altogether; I think you will Mr Caldwell's office, and that Mr Caldwell told him that have very great difficulty in finding out whether they are the forcha belonged to him, and I believe Ma-chow Wong; emigrants or not, but it rests upon your shoulders." Mr and that he wanted then my orders as to the further disposal Caldwell replied, "I'll take very good care to obtain good of the boat. Seeing no cause of suspicion, and that Mr Cald-security, but at all events Jack will take care of me." By well claimed the boat, I directed that the Police should be Jack, I knew he meant Ma-chow Wong. At that time I was withdrawn from her, without any further inquiry. I am standing in the Registration office at the Central Police Station, not quite certain, but I think Mr Roberts said, Ma-chow and saw Ma-chow Wong come into the office with five or six Wong was with Mr Caldwell at the time he went to him. Chinamen, whom I understood to be the recipients of the Another instance is that connected with the Gold Dust gold dust. Some short time afterwards, I got a note (1) Robbery, a piracy committed in the vicinity of Hongkong, in from Mr Caldwell, asking me to give him the remaining 1856, in which about $5,000 or $6,000 worth of gold dust seven taels of gold dust, and I did so.

I sent an order I was plundered from some returned emigrants. There were think to Mr Grand-Pré, to deliver the seven tuels to Mr some European, and some Chinese prisoners in the case; they Caldwell. About a month subsequent to the apprehension were tried in the Supreme Court and convicted. About $1,000 of Ma-chow Wong, a Chinaman presented to me as sitting

such nonsense,

it

you are a race

321

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