CO129-074 - Lieut. Governor Caine & Sir Robinson - 1859 [6-12] — Page 335

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Mr Dixson,--I believe she was then a keeper of a bro- thel, but I am not certain. I do not think that she is any

relation of Ma-chow Wong.

Chairman, Have you ever heard that either Mr or Mrs Caldwell have been adopted by Ma-chow Wong?

Mr Gilmour,—Yes. Paid by Mr Caldwell on account of another man-not in his own name : D. R. Caldwell on account of Lum Ateen, &c., for Lots 179, 241 B, 241, C, 242 B, and 262, £8. 14s. 7jd; on account of Cheu Alai, £2, 2s. 5d., for Lots 238 C, 240, 250; on account of Chun

Mr Dixson, I have heard that Mrs Caldwell was. I Atsew, £7, 17s. 6d., for Lots 204, 381, and 382. cannot produce any one who had told me.

Chairman, Do you believe that the brothel was kept by his supposed sister-in-law, or by a person of her name?

Mr Dixson--I believe it was kept by herself. Chairman,- -Will you give her name?

Mr Dixson,--I do not know the name. I do not know her as Shaplok. Chun is the family name; Chun Atai, I think.

It was proposed by Mr Lyall, seconded by Mr Scarth, and carried unanimously, That the Chairman do com- municate with Mr Day on the subject of the first resolution, and do make such arrangements wilt him as he may think

necessary.

The Commission then adjourned.

Present,

THIRD DAY,

Tuesday, 1st June, 1858, at 11 A.M.

All the members.

Mr Day,-When made?

Mr Gilmour,-All made on 26th February, 1858. Mr Day,-On respect of Crown-rents due on 31st De- cember, 1857 ?

Mr Gilmour-Yes. There are some lots paid for on 18th February, on account of Mr F. Woods by Mr Caldwell, on Inland Lots 206, 263, 264, 551, amount £4, 11s. 34d.; on account of Sin On Wo, 5th March, £9, 16s. 2 d., for Marine Lot 33 D; and D. R. Caldwell on account of

-4d. for Lot 552. Those are all I know of.

JANUARIO A. DE CARVALHO,-Called and examined. Mr Day,--What is your situation?

Mr Carvalho,-I am employed in the Treasury Office as Accountant,

Mr Day, Will you look at that book-payments on 26th February, 1858?

Mr Carvalho, I received one amount on 5th March, on account Sin On Wo £9, 16s. 2d. On the 4th the Chi- naman came himself, and on the 5th came accompanied

The Chairman opened the Proceedings by stating that by Mr Caldwell. He could not understand me regarding

Mr Day had been engaged by the Commission as their Legal Adviser that he had been instructed to conduct the in- quiry neither for nor against Mr Cald well, but with a view to elicit the truth. Mr Day would be happy to receive suggestions from any person at his Chambers as to the parties it might be desirable to summon, and the evidence they could produce. And further, that no person but Mr Caldwell would be allowed to make any remark except in answer to questions put to him as a witness. It was also proposed to investigate those charges only which referred to Brothels and Brothel Licenses, &c., comprised in Nos. 2. 5, 14, 15, 16, and 17.

J. SCOTT,--Called and examined.

I am Acting Clerk of Deeds Registry. This return (M)

is made by me from Books in Land Office, and I verify it

as a correct return of the items found in those books.

[The correctness of the return admitted by Mr Caldwell.]

DAVID GILMOUR.-Called and examined.

Mr Day, What situation do you hold?

encroachments made on his Marine Lot; he therefore came next day with Mr Caldwell, and paid the money.

Mr Day,--Did Mr Caldwell have any conversation with you respecting the lot?

Mr Carvalho, I told Mr Caldwell the reason why for this half year an additional sum was wanted, which Mr Caldwell explained to the man.

Mr Day, Was the money then paid? Mr Carvalho,-Yes by the Chinaman. Mr Day--Is this entry "received from Mr Caldwell on account of Sin On Wo" correct?

Mr Carvalho,-Yes.

Mr Day, Were you present when Mr Caldwell made any other payments to Mr Gilmour?

Mr Carvalho,-I think I was.

passed on the subject?

Mr Day, Do you remember any conversation that

merely as agent. I can't recollect what number he referred Mr Carvalho, I do. Mr Caldwell said that he paid

to.

Mr Day,-Did he say for whom?

Mr Carvalho,--He gave the names of Chinamen which

Mr Gilmour, I am employed as temporary Clerk in the [on reference to memo.] are I think Lum Ateen, Chun- Treasury Office,

Mr Day,—Do you produce any books from that Office? Mr Gilmour,-1 produce the counterfoils of the receipts

of Ground rent.

Mr Day,-Do you see any entry of payments made by

Mr Caldwell, n account of Ground-rents?

C

Alai, and Chun Atsew.

Mr Day,-Did he make any request as to whose names the receipts should be made out in?

Mr Carvalho,-He desired they should be made out in

the names of those parties. I did not hear him say any. thing else.

C

Cross examined,—

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Mr Day,--Regarding the payment of 5th March, for lot 552-at that time did Mr Caldwell not say that he did not know the name of the party to whom it belonged?

Mr Carvalho,--Yes. It was paid for balance of rent

up to 25th December last.

Mr GILMOUR,-Recalled.

LUM ATEEN,-Called and examined.

My name is Lum Ateen; I live at the Toong Hap shop. in the Sheong Wang-am a doctor, and keep a Druggist's shop at the entrance of the Western Market; have lived there since the third moon of last year. The medicine shop has only been open for a few months; have practised as a physician before that, and had a shop near Lee Kip- tye's house; have practised here as a physician for about

Mr Day, Can you find any further receipts of payment 12 years amongst my friends. Have attended Mr Cald- well's children, principally the children and the servants, by Mr Caldwell?

also Mrs Caldwell. About seven years ago went to California, Mr Gilmour,--No.

names.

Mr Day,-When the payments were made on 26th and was away eight months employed as a Ship's doctor; took medicines with me to sell-they cost about $300; February, by Mr Caldwell, did he state anything?

took no money beyond a few dollars. While in California practised as a physician. The result in a pecuniary point of view was good,-I made upwards of $2000; brought back the money in Gold Dust which I sold in Canton 170 taels at $20 per tael, (say $3, 400.) On my return I renewed my acquaintance with Mr Caldwell. Two years ago i had some transactions with Mr Caldwell regarding the stainer Eaglet. I acted as a sort of agent between some of my relations and Mr Caldwell; I had no share in the steamer. I left the money earned in California at interest with friends in Canton, in the first moon of the second year of Hienfung, and got it back in about a year afterwards. 1 bought a

lot of clothes, ear-rings, &c, to send to California by my young brother, who was coming and going from and to that country. My brother came back sick. I heard that the speculation had been a good one, but only got back $1,000. Invested only about $1,000. With the remaining money I lent out some at interest, and with some I bought shops from Mr Caldwell. I remember when Mr Caldwell became embarrassed. He owed me $2,000 for which I was getting interest. $1,500 was lent by me (as agent for a friend) to Mr Caldwell without in-

Mr Gilmour, He told me to make them out as in certain I don't recollect that he give any reason for so doing, he spoke to Mr Carvalho before he came to me.

Mr Day,--Did he say in what capacity he made the payinent?

Mr Gilmour,-No; not to me.

Mr Day,With reference to the payment on 18th Feb- ruary, on account of Mr Woods. Does the same remark apply to it?

Mr Gilmour, I don't recollect about that payment. I should not have put in Mr Woods' name unless desired to do so. Mr Woods was not present.

Cross Examined,-Did you overhear what Mr Caldwell said to Mr Carvalho?

Mr Gilmour,I fancy that I heard him, on the 26th Feb- ritary, say that those lots were not his: that they were to be transferred, or had been transferred.

[Mr Caldwell was asked to produce his Register of Brothels.]

Mr Caldwell,--This is the Register of Brothels, and is sent into the Colonial Secretary when required. I acknow-terest. The $2,000 were lent at the rate of $50 per month. ledge that I have been neglectful in keeping up this book. It has been impossible to keep the book up on account of the numerous changes in the Brothels, which would take up all my time to note.

[It appears on reference to the book, that Brothel No 38 is on the ground floor of lot 206, and that the keeper's name is Wong Angun; Brothel 76 is on the upper floor of lot 206, keeper's name IIo Amoy; No 77, is on lot 206, keeper's name Leu Ayee: 78, Lee Wing Wo; 79 Lew Yee.

There are a great many deficiencies in the Registry, the number of the lots, the name of the landlord or lessor, and the name of the Crown lessee being inserted in very few instances.

In the 1st Registry of Brothel 48 there is an entry,— "Brothel 48;

Number of house, 203; locality, Lower Lascar's Row; name of the keeper Chun Wun Yow; Number of Prostitutes, 6; Number of Lot, 249 B." In the column of Remarks this license is stated to be cancelled. There is an interlineation above it of another License, Number 48, House 515;locality, upper street ; name of keeper, Sow Atseen; no entry of Nun ber of Lot.]

I was told last year by Mr Caldwell, that he was going to sell off all his property, for the benefit of his creditors. He sent for me in the fourth month of last year, and told me that all the creditors were willing to arrange; that the interest of the money was to cease at the end of the pre- vious month, and that I was to go to Siemssen & Co., to I was asked to sign get my proceeds of property sold. a paper stating that I was agreeable to the arrangement. Mr Caldwell informed me of the value of the property, and that the houses had been valued. The value stated was $4,700, and I was told the value of each house. I wanted to take ten houses, and set off the value against the money due to me; but Mr Caldwell said that the creditors would not agree to that; I afterwards bought ten of the houses for $2,200. The lots were bought, but I do not know the numbers of the lots, but can find it I paid the money to Mr out by their receipts for rent. Caldwell. I afterwards bought four houses in Tai-ping- shan from Siemssen & Co., assignees for Mr Caldwell, for $300. I paid the $2,200 to Mr Caldwell, at his house in Gough Street. Of the $300 I paid $150 to Mr Caldwell,