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witnesses as to the estimation I am held in by this com- munity, could but little aid the cause of the Master of the Masonic Lodge of this Colony, for I could not hold that post, and be of even doubtful character. I hand in some testimonials for my past services as the evidence of absent superiors, and submit myself to the impartial justice of this Honourable Commission, upon the charges referred to them.
[Mr Caldwell handed in and read several letters received at various periods between the 11th December, 1846, and the 28th March, 1857, from the Naval, Colonial, and Home authorities, expressing their high appreciation of his services, especially in the suppression of piracy.]
Examined with reference to the arrest of A.
ssow, the Interpreter. With regard to the statement by Assow as to his arrest, I state to-day, that I was not aware of his arrest until I heard of it here. I had heard on the morning, of the fact of two men being apprehended for the robbery and posses- sion of a barometer; and about 2 o'clock that same day, while in Mr Lapraik's shop, I overheard a gentleman ex-: plaining to him that, besides the barometer which he had lost a few days before, he had that morning missed a clock. When he got that far, one of my servants came in and said that I was wanted immediately. On going home, Mrs Cald- well gave me a Chinese letter written "important" outside. I opened it, and found it was an anonymous letter to the effect that a man had been taken in custody for having stolen a barometer, and who had also on a previous occasion stolen a musical box; that both these articles had been sold to Assow the interpreter, (the document calling him by his common name of Pock-marked Sow,) the former for $4,
Cross-examined, on his defence.--As to Mr May getting up evidence by means of Lyons and Roberts, I refer to Mr May's own evidence, and also to that of Lyons and Roberts Lyons, who was formerly Sergeant of Police and Inspector of Nuisances, has been promoted to be Deputy Inspector of Police; and Roberts, from Deputy Inspector of Police to be Assistant or Deputy Inspector of Markets. Those promo- tions must have been approved of, but perhaps His Excel- lency is ignorant of what has transpired in this Commis- sion.
I should think that these promotions would certainly be made upon Mr May's recommendation, he being their immediate superior. I do not know how the Acting Colonial Secretary acted in the matter. I cannot say whether Lyons, who was a Sergeant of Police, and Acting as Inspector of Nuisances, could have been removed from the latter office. without the sanction of the Surveyor General. My impres sion is that he was only lent to the Surveyor General's Department, and could have been recalled by Mr May for other
purposes.
[The Chairman, as Surveyor General, here states, that the Inspector of Nuisances is attached to that department, and is entirely under the orders of the Surveyor General, and not directly under those of the Superintendent of Police; and is also on the pay-list of the Surveyor General's Department.]
The property sold to Lum Ateen has been transferred. Mr Stace told me so yesterday or the day before, and re- quested me to tell Lum Ateen that he could get the bills of sale endorsed upon application to him.
I was never in the employ of Akwai of the Lower Bazaar: On the contrary, Akwai was in the employ of the Conimis- sariat Department of the expeditionary force, of which I was head Assistant, and had the sole control.
At the time of Ma-chow Wong's trial, the lorcha Kee- and the latter for $16; and that if I made haste and search-loong-poo-on was not registered in my name in the Colonial sed the room of a prostitute kept by Assow, named Pat-mui,Secretary's Office. The lorcha was not in my possession on whose room in a registered brothel faced the top of the stair-his apprehension. I gave up my interest in the Kee-loong- case, I should find the musical box there. Knowing the poo-on lorcha in the latter end of October 1856, as men- speed with which all information from the Central Police tioned in my statement of to-day. At this time the lorcha Station and the Police Court flies through the city, I, with- was down in the Gulf of Tonquin, chartered. She did not out going to the Central Police Station for a Constable, return to Hongkong until some time in April, 1857, as can started off immediately to search this room. Finding neither be ascertained from the Harbour Master's list of arrivals. I the musical box nor the girl Pat-mui, I asked the mistress immediately procured the Register from the Harbour Mas- of the brothel where she was. She pointed to the house ter, and had it cancelled at the Colonial Secretary's Office. opposite and said she was there. I asked for Pat-mui, and I ar told her I wanted to search her room, which I did, but did not find the musical box; although when I mentioned about the musical box which Assow had brought there one of the women said, "He took it home two days ago." I did not consider it prudent to search the house where his wife lives, and I immediately went to the Central Station and informed Mr Jarman of all I knew of the matter, and advised him to be careful and listen to what the prisoner said when he was questioning him. I do not know from whom the anonymous letter came. I have it yet, and can produce it.
am aware that the two political prisoners in the treason case, who were interested in the apprehension of the mie derers at Stanley, were evidently trying to bring forward Ma- chow Wong in the matter; so much so that they suggested to me that Ma-chow Wong would go with me to Stanley, and point out the persons connected with the murder. Mr Inglis was present at every one of the interviews I had with these people, and I put the question to him, when he was here being examined the other day, whether I did not object to take Ma-chow Wong with me; and I did so for the very reason that I saw plainly they were trying to assist him as well as themselves and further, that Ma-chow Wong had
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never lived in Stanley before, and could not have pointed out | perfectly well, I discovered, under a point of land about six the people.
miles off, the mastheads of a number of Chinese vessels, and I did make particular reference to the Rebel chiefs, but I immediately steered for them. As we approached, two guns did not to the two men referred to by the Attorney General were fired at us from the junks, which was answered by a and Mr Cooper Turner as having been deported, because by rocket put on board the Eaglet from the Ordnance Depart- the Attorney General's own evidence, it will appear that the ment, on which the boats left the Eaglet and pulled in. men were only remanded upon my bringing a specific charge Another rocket and a shot fired from the Eaglet as the boats against them, and not committed under the Deportation were pulling in caused them to get up their anchors and Ordinance. I wish further to state, that having no handsails, and go farther up the lagoon into shallow water. in the matter of the deportation at all, was entirely igno- remained with the Eaglet to protect the entrance, the Rattler rant of who were or were not to be deported.
being then some seven miles off, and after a desperate re- Although I was in the habit of consulting Ma-chow Wong sistance, in which six men were killed and about a dozen in piracy cases, I did not consult him in the case of the 72 wounded on our side, 18 junks were captured and destroyed, pirates handed over at Kowloong. There was no necessity and seven trading vessels, including the three which I had for so doing, as the informants came to me direct.
originally seen in the hands of the pirates, were liberated, Some 16 officers in all were on board the Eaglet from day- light that morning, until about eight the same night, and about 150 sailors and marines. I was obliged to supply the whole of the wounded men with the mattrasses belonging to
I cannot say positively whether I presented the petition in the gold dust case, but it is very likely it came through me, because the Colonial Secretary refuses all Chinese peti fions unless they come through me.
I do not think that I have stated that Mr May knew of the saloon of the steamer, all of which were entirely destroy- Lyons's visit to the Gaol.
ed, being saturated with oil poured over the wounded men to keep their wounds cool; and as the officers came without any provision for the day, I had to supply them with two meals and refreshments, and from that time up to the pre- sent moment I have never received even a word of thanks for all that service from any body.
I am glad now to have the opportunity of giving publicity services rendered by me, and of which not the slightest otice was ever taken, Sometime in 1855, I think in the month of August, I was on my way in the Eaglet from Macao to Hongkong. I think the day previously I had parted from a convoy of 92 Chinese vessels, lorchas, junks,
I think this was the only occasion on which I gave such and others, from Hainan-and on nearing the South Western information to the Government, and I cannot recollect any point of Lantao, I saw 15 piratical vessels, which had just piracy cases in which I have appeared at the Police Court. aptured three of my convoy, and had them in custody at I certainly never appeared in any to give evidence either the time. I recognized three-one of them a lorcha; they for or against the prisoners.
held the English flag over the stern. I altered my course In the case of the Pawnbrokers, and the $400 said to towards them, thinking that the pirates might be intimidated have been paid to Shaplok: Wohang came to my office and let them go.
On the contrary, three of the largest junks
one day, and said that Mr Lane was in his house on one mediately altered their course, and bore down on the occasion, when he was asked to subscribe his share to the steamer, making every preparation for an attack. I imme-payment of $400 to Shaplok, and that Mr Lane advised diately altered my course for Hongkong, and reported the him not to do anything of the sort; that he was afterwards rcumstance to the Senior Naval Officer, Captain Fellowes, of sent for by Mr Anstey, who told him what Mr Lane had said H. M. S. Rattler. I consented to go with Captain Fellowes, to him, and asked him if it was true. I immediately said the next day myself-and went with him in the Rattler, What has that got to do with me?" And he then said, and after the 4th day, chased the pirates into Kulan, the "Oh, but she said the money would be paid to you," convoy junks being still with them. I informed Captain I laughed at it, and said, "This is the first I have heard of it Fellowes that they would consider themselves quite safe then;" and I said "Mind, I shall expect you to prove what from the shallowness of the water as we could not get near you now say;" he immediately turned round and said that it them, and I told him, if he liked, I would place the Eaglet
was not his affair, he could not prove it; that he did not pay this disposal. We immediately returned to Hongkong. I the money, that it was paid by one of the partners of the shop took in coal and provisions, took three of the American who had gone to Canton, and that he was merely asked to steamer Powhattan's boats astern, having all their crews contribute his share, being a partner. I told him I should numbering about 100 men on board the Eaglet, made fast certainly question Shaplok as soon as I could find her, and astern of the Rattler and proceeded down to Kulan. At that I supposed his partner could always be forthcoming if daylight the next morning, I took the three boats belonging wanted. I think he then remarked, that he considered to the Powhattan and the four belonging to the Rattler in tow it his duty to come and tell me this, and I said that I would of the Eaglet, the Rattler being anchored in deep water, not forget it. I have taken every means to find Shaplok,
and took the Eaglet into Kulan Bay myself. We found and I know the Police are doing the same, for they have the bay deserted, but knowing the land in that locality searched her house within the last three days. I inquired
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