329
Chairman, Where is Beaver now?
(6)
It was accordingly proposed by Mr Lyall, seconded by Mr Fletcher, and unanimously agreed to.
Mr Lyons,—I believe he has gone to Sydney as an ordinary seaman.
Chairman, Do you know who Samkwei is?
Mr Lyons,—Yes.
Chairman,—Have you ever seen Mr Caldwell in any of his cruizes?
Mr Lyons, No.
Chairman, Do you know anything of the Convoy business?
Mr Lyons, Only by repute—by conversation with Beaver and others.
The Public were then informed of the above resolution, and of the postponement of the meeting until 11 o'clock on Tuesday.
Chairman,—Can you specify any one besides Beaver with whom you have conversed?
Mr Lyons, Yes; but I cannot give the names of persons who have witnessed anything.
Chairman, Do you know the Eaglet?
Mr Lyons,—Yes.
Chairman, Do you know what was done with any of her prizes?
Mr Lyons,—Only from hearsay I have had no conversations with any who witnessed anything done with them. I do not know whether Ma-chow Wong had any share in the Eaglet.
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.
Chairman, Do you know the inmates of Mr Caldwell's house?
Mr Lyons, No.
Mr Dixson's evidence.
Chairman,—Can you inform the Commission, Mr Dixson, of anything concerning Ma-chow Wong?
Mr Dixson,—I am ready to answer any question that may be put to me.
Mr Anstey, said that perhaps the best mode would be, for him to recite all he had learnt from Mr Dixson, who could point out any part of the narrative which he did not approve.
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 community, but particularly to the Chinese portion of it.
Chairman,—Are you aware that Mr Caldwell is intimate with Ma-chow Wong?
Mr Lyons, I do not know except from hear-say; I do not 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 impression of what took place at the trial concerning Mr Caldwell, although he did not vouch for its correctness.]
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.
SECOND DAY,
short time ago, all he could to get Ma-chow Wong pardoned. I would suggest that Mr Dixson be asked whether these circumstances have or have not materially altered his former opinion that Mr Caldwell was only a dupe, not an accomplice, of the criminal.
The only difficulty which I had in comprehending Mr Dixson's views, consisted in his belief that Mr Caldwell was the dupe and not the accomplice of Ma-chow Wong in the incidents which he mentioned to me. However, I, being a stranger in the colony, for some time continued to hope that this might be so, and that my contrary judgment might be wrong. That hope has been completely dissipated, as far as I am concerned, during the year and-a-half in which Mr Caldwell has held the offices of Registrar General and Justice of the Peace.
ANDREW S. DIXSON,—Called and examined.
Chairman,—Will you tell the Commission what you know about Ma-chow Wong?
Mr Dixson, The man had been a notoriously bad character, and I have known him as such almost from my first arrival in this colony. What Mr Anstey has stated of my conversations with him regarding Ma-chow Wong, is perfectly correct.
Mr Dixson, I intend to quote one instance of extortion, in a case in which Ma-chow Wong professed to act as agent for a Procuress, who had compelled a Chinese woman to acknowledge a debt of $71, out of which Ma-chow Wong levied $30, to raise which sum the woman had sold herself to a brothel-keeper for two years.
Chairman, Can you hand in to the Commission the names of any of your informants?
ESE
329
Chairman, Where is Beaver now?
(6)
It was accordingly proposed by Mr Lyall, seconded by Mr Lyons,---I believe he has gone to Sydney as an ordi- Mr 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.
Chairman, Do you know anything of the Convoy busi-
ness?
Mr Lyons, Ouly by repute-by conversation with
Beaver and others.
The Public were then informed of the above resolution, and of the postponement of the meeting until 11 o'clock on Tuesday.
Mr Anstey said that Mr Dixson, who had some im- portant evidence to give, intended going to Ningpo in two Chairman,--Can you specify any one besides Beaver days; upon which the Commission determined to hear
with whom you have conversed?
Mr Lyons, Yes; but I cannot give the names of per- sons who have witnessed anything.
Chairman, Do you know the Eaglet?
Mr Lyons,-Yes.
Chairman, Do you know what was done with any of
her prizes?
Mr Lyons,-Only from hearsay I have had no conver- sations with any who witnessed anything done with them. I do not know whether Ma-chow Wong had any share in the Eaglet.
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.
Chairman, Do you know the inmates of Mr Caldwell's house?
Mr Lyons, No.
Mr Dixson's evidence.
Chairman,-Can you inform the Commission, Mr Dix. son, of anything concerning Ma-chow Wong?
Mr Dixson,-I am ready to answer any question that may be put to me.
Mr Anstey, said that perhaps the best mode would be, for him to recite all he had learnt from Mr Dixson, who could point out any part of the narrative which he did not
approve.
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 exorted, 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. kly said that the Chinese were in terror of their lives and fortunes because of a man, or monster, who had the police of the colony almost at his disposal through the blind trust that Mr Caldwell reposed in hun. Not one of them, he said,
Chairman,—Are you aware that Mr Caldwell is inti- dared to lay informations against him, or to appear in sup- mate with Ma-chow Wong?
Mr Lyons, I do not know except from hear-say; I do not 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 Cald- well, although he did not vouch for its correctness.]
port of one another when wrongfully accused by him. He was the Jonathan Wild of the place; people were taken up, boats seized, and the one and the other liberated, almost as he 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 So- ciety or Clan, that served his purposes afloat and ashore as informers and as pirates. Of the date I am quite sure, be- cause Mr Dixson mentioned a scowling look and threat- ening gesture which Ma-chow Wong had used to him, at the time of a recent fire at Ty-ping-shan. From that time until my unfortunate 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 range, of as- Friday, 28th May, 1858, at 12 Noon.
certaning some tangible fact which should force the Exe- cutive into action against him; because these statements Present,-All the Members of Commission.
of Mr Dixson appeared to be so well supported that they The Public being requested to withdraw, a discussion made on me a much stronger impression than that which took place as to the mode of proceeding with the inquiry, in
was afterwards made by the corroborative statement of Eli consequence of the reception of various documents from Boggs. I may be permitted to say what that impression was. the Colonial Secretary's Office, which rendered it absolute-
[Read extract from letter to the Acting Colonial Secre- ly necessary to obtain legal assistance in arranging the evi-tary of 13th instant (C), commencing "surprising volubi-
lity" and ending "all false."]
dence therein,
SECOND DAY,
short time ago, all he could to get Ma-chow Wong pardoned. I would suggest that Mr Dixson be asked whether these circumstances have or have not materially altered his former opinion that Mr Caldwell was only a dupe, not an accomplice, of the criminal.
The only difficulty which I had in comprehending Mr Dixson's views, consisted in his belief that Mr Cald well was the dupe and not the accomplice of Ma-chow Wong in the incidents which he mentioned to me. However, I, being a stranger in the colony, for some time continued to hope that this might be so, and that my contrary judg On other matters referred to this Commission-I no ment might be wrong. That hope has been completely that Mr Dixson is able either to give, or to maine those dissipated, as far as I am concerned, during the year and-a- who can give, very important testimony. These are for half in which Mr Caldwell has held the offices of Regis instance those relating to the wife, Chinese relatives by trar General and Justice of the Peace. That I might blood, adoption, or usage, and the Chinese associates, of not forget my determination to bring Ma-chow Wong to Mr Caldwell-matters which his Excellency has referred justice if possible, I desired Mr Dixson to write me his to this Commission, but certainly not at my suggestion, name and alias correctly, which he did thus: "Wong and against my opinion. I, not wishing to encumber your Akee alias Ma-chow Wong," and I kept that paper always minutes with these painful details, will only say, that there is not one of those matters stated in what Sir John Bowring calls the list of charges," on which I have not at some time or other heard from the lips of Mr Dixson himself the averment of their truth.
ANDREW S. DIXSON,-Called and examined. Chairman,-Will you tell the Commission what you know about Ma-chow Wong?
Mr Dixson, The man had been a notoriously bad character, and I have known him as such almost from my first arrival in this colony. What Mr Anstey has stated of my conversations with him regarding Ma-chow Wong, is perfectly correct. I had heard from many Chinese that he was a notorious extortioner, owner of pirate vessels, and fitter out of piratical expeditions; that occasionally he gave information of piracies to Mr Cald- and chiefly well, but only when it suited his own in cases in which he had not received hush-money. I frequently received complaints of extortion, but on no occasion could I induce the complainants to appear against hun, except in one case, as they said they were in terror of their lives on account of him.
purposes,
before my eyes in my private residence, fastened to the wall, where it remained until he was brought to justice in the month of July 1857. My report of the Criminal Sessions of June 1857, contained in my Letter of the 8th of July, 1857, to the Acting Colonial Secretary, and the consequent reports of Mr May, then Acting Sheriff and Assistant Police Magistrate, and Mr Inglis, then and now Governor of the Gaol, will shew the Commission what steps were considered by myself and those two gentlemen necessary to the bringing of this powerful criminal before the bar of public justice. It is noticeable, that the first and weaker of the two charges against the pirate was in fact brought in about a week after those reports came in; and that the second and stronger charge, which for some very mysterious reason was not, as it ought to have been, brought forward at the Supreme Court, was laid by other Chinamen about 4 days afterwards. The cases had nearly gone through the Police Court, when I was obliged by sickness to sail for Calcutta ; and I have heard that Ma- chow Wong said that, now that I was gone, he was sure of getting off. The Governor stated in Council, on the 10th instant, (as appears by my letter of the 13th,) that, in my absence, Mr Kingsmill, the Acting Attorney Gene ral, afterwards, and before Mr Caldwell's application for the scoundrel's pardon had been decided on, had entered
Mr Dixson, I intend to quote one instance of extor- a nolle prosequi on the stronger charge upon which he had not been tried, and this in obedience to orders. His tion, in a case in which Ma-chow Wong professed to act Excellency also stated that Mr Caldwell's application for as agent for a Procuress, who had compelled a China- woman to acknowledge a debt of $71, out of which Ma- his pardon was sent up, and purported to come from a number of Chinamen, and that Mr Dixson and others had chow Wong levied $30), to raise which sum the woman opposed the application. This was of course after his had sold herself to a brothel-keeper for two years. The conviction, on the first charge of piracy; and the unseemly balance being demanded by Ma-chow Wong, the woman spectacle was exhibited in the Executive Council, of had expressed her determination to commit suicide, as she trying over again, without oath, the guilt or innocence of a could not raise the money. The circumstance coming to convicted culprit. I am informed--I think by Mr Dixson, my ears, I induced the woman to have a summons taken but certainly by some of the witnesses--that every effort | out against Ma-chow Wong for extorting money. The was made by the Governor in Council to get the criminal case was tried before Mr Hillier, the Chief Magistrate, off-the impression having been produced on their minds and the money and expenses ordered to be repaid-the by Mr Caldwell, and his Chinese evidence above, why, I more serious charges of extortion failing, from the plea of know not, to the prejudice of the sworn testimony taken Ma-chow Wong that he was merely acting as agent, and in the Court below. The result, however, was the signal had no direct interest in the matter. The only connection discomfiture of the application, and the man remains a that Mr Caldwell had with this case was, that he told convict. But I have understood and again I think from me, when I mentioned the circustance to him at the time, Mr Dixson-that Mr Caldwell is doing now, or was a that Ma -chow Wong had spoken to him about it, and that
Chairman, Can you hand in to the Commission the names of any of your informants ?
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.