CO129-074 - Lieut. Governor Caine & Sir Robinson - 1859 [6-12] — Page 341

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making no reference to my special cause of complaint, that is to say, the wrongful evidence, but stating his intention to prefer a complaint to the Government that I knew of the existence of the brothel, because I visited a house in the vicinity, and had not prosecuted the brothel. I thereupon wrote a letter of complaint to the Government against the Registrar General, for bringing my name into a question when urging a wrongful accusa- tion, and against the Acting Colonial Secretary for the part he took in the matter. I received a letter from the Acting Colonial Secretary by direction of the Governor, stating that a charge had been brought against me by the Acting Colonial Secretary for not carrying out the Brothels' Ordinance, and censuring me for such misconduct. I dis- tinctly state, that the cause of my opposition to the Police being employed in carrying out the Brothel Ordinance, as I several times verbally expressed to the Acting Colonial Secretary, was, that it would open a floodgate for the inundation of the Police department with bribery, extor- tion, and corruption, and that I thought it advisable to keep the temptation from the Police. I also considered, as I several times verbally expressed, that the Registrar Gene- ral was the person appointed by the ordinance to carry out its provisions, and I was loath to interfere in his management in any way.

CHING LIN-HEE,-Called and examined.

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house occupied by Pang-nga Koi, in which Mrs Caldwell lived, was not used as a brothel, but was an undertaker's shop. I have never been a Procuress. If Lyons said I told him Shaplok was a god-sister of Mrs Caldwell he has spoken falsely. The conversation with him was in English. Cross-examined, --I have been in Hongkong about 18 or 19 years. In the beginning of the colony I kept a brothel in the centre of Victoria. I am now a married woman, and supported by my husband, who keeps a shop. I ceased to keep a brothel 14 years ago. I have seen Mrs Caldwell's mother, but do not know her name, nor what her occupa- tion was I have not seen Shaplok since last year. There is a person called Mangtai Po. I have not seen her at Pang-nga Koi's house. I do not know if she is any relation

or connection by blood or usage of Mrs Caldwell. I do not know Mrs Coldwell's surname,

Adjourned till Friday at 12.

ed,

EIGHTH DAY,

Friday, 11th June, 1858, at 12 o'clock Noon.

Present,All the Members, except Mr Scarth. ANDREW LYSAGHT INGLIS,-Called and examin-

I hold the officers of Governor of the Gaol, Acting Har- bour Master, and Acting Emigration Officer. I have know Mr Caldwell since 1844, and Mrs Caldwell since about the same time.

With reference to charge 2 I can say nothing of my own knowledge, neither can I say anything with respect to charges 5, 14, 15, and 17.

I decline to answer whether of my own knowledge I know that Mrs Caldwell was a Chinese girl from a brothel.

I reside in Tai-ping-shan West Street. I knew Mrs Caldwell 10 or more years ago, when she was 12 or 13 years old. She was then living in the central part of the town, in a house occupied by Pang-nga Koi, who kept an undertaker's shop, but is long since dead. I cannot tell whether Pang-uga Koi was any relation to Mrs Caldwell. Pang-nga Koi had at that time one son who lived in the house, and was a child at the time. She had no daughter, I do not know why Mrs Caldwell was residing there; II knew a female whom I at one time believed to be Mrs only saw her there. I do not know Mrs Caldwell's mother. Caldwell's sister, but whether by blood or usage, I do not She lived in the same house, as also did Shaplok. I do know. I do not know whether she is dead or alive at the not know if Shaplok is related to Mrs Caldwell, her mother, present moment. I have no knowledge of this female or to Ping-nga Koi. Mrs Caldwell was called Ayow when keeping a brothel in the years 1856-7. I do not recollect she was a child. I do not know whether Ayow and her name and do not think I have seen her since 1845 or Shaplok were sworn-sisters, or god-sisters, according to any 1846, I may have heard the name Shaplok, but I do not Chinese habit or usage; and I do not know whether Ayow recollect any one of that name, and do not know if the had any adopted, sworn, or god-sister. I recollect speak- female mentioned above was called Shaplok. I do not ing with a foreigner [Lyons] about 10 days ago, about the know Chun Aisoo.

I do not recollect any other female repair of the roof of my house. I do not know his name. whom I believed to be a sister or a sister-in-law, by blood This European asked me if I knew Samkwei's (Mr Caldor usage, of Mrs Caldwell. I did not know a person of well's) woman, and I said that I did when she was a child, but not since. I have seen Mrs Caldwell at Mr Caldwell's house when I have been there on business, but I have not spoken to her. I never told Lyons that Shaplok was a sort of god-sister to Mrs Caldwell. He asked me if I knew Shaplok, whether she had a house for singing. I said 1 knew Shaplok, but that I did not know that she had a house for singing. I told him Shaplok used to lived near Achong's, the P. & O. Comprador. I do not know whether Shaplok had a brothel in the years 1856 or 1857. The

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the name of Ping-nga Koi. I cannot tell the femily name of Mrs Caldwell. I do not know her mother's name. knew also a little boy whom I believed to be her brother, but whether by blood or usage I do not know. I do not remember his name, and I have not seen him since 1845-6.

Cross-examined,—It most decidedly does not necessarily follow that all Chinese women, either married to, or living with, Europeans, must previously have been inmates of brothels. I have known several instances of women who had never been inside of a brothel living with Europeans.

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devided between two parties she would not. I asked her then, if the other party who had the deed of sale, would sell his part also, whether she would buy both. She said "I won't talk so much about it; if you produces the deed I'll buy it, but if you don't I will not." I then advanced $400 for my mistress, for which I am to be answerable. My mistress said, if I could obtain the deed she would buy it, but if not I should take the lot. The deed has not been

[Mr Caldwell states it to be his wish that Mr Inglis should answer the question referring to Mrs Caldwell, that he had declined to answer.] Of my own knowledge I know that Mrs Caldwell was at one time an inmate of a brothel. I knew the house and have been in it myself; and from what I saw of the inmates I have no doubt it was a brothel. This must have been in April 1844. Mrs Cald- well was I think then about 15 years of age. I do not know if there was a man who taught singing and music produced, and she has not purchased it.

Cross-examined,-I never spoke to Mr Caldwell on this in the house. I never saw any act of prostitution com-

mitted there, nor am I aware of such having been commit-subject, and do not know whether Mrs Caldwell spoke to ted there. I was never in the house but once, and then Mr Caldwell concerning the arrangement. Between the in company with two Europeans. I do not know whether time I spoke to Mrs Caldwell and the payment of the the females I saw in the house were there as permanent money, a fortnight elapsed. I got the $400 from my inmates or for the purpose of prostitution, or only casual mistress. Mr Caldwell was not present at the time of the inmates for a particular purpose. Mrs Caldwell was at payment, nor at any time that I was speaking to Mrs. that time known by the name of Ayow. I do not know Caldwell about the purchase. I am the only security she has got for the $400; she was only to have one shop for who kept the house.

the $470. I never saw the owner of the other, and did not commence any negociation with him.

I recollect the removal of the houses from Choong Wan to Taipingshan, and think it must have been about the time above mentioned. I have never seen Mrs Caldwell in a brothel on any other occasion. At the time of my visit it was my impression, that Mrs Caldwell was not living with Mr Caldwell, but was promissed to him. There can be no mistake that the female who was pointed out to me was afterwards Mrs Caldwell. The women I saw there may have been singing women and not prostitutes, I am not certain.

LUM ALEEN,-Called and examined, On the 9th May, Mr May and his servant came to me and had a conversation with me. Mr May asked me through his servant, who was repairing my shop; I said it was being repaired by Yee Wo Fook, who was collector of the rent. He also asked who was the owner of the shop, and I said Sumkwei, meaning Mr Caldwell. I do not recollect Mr May saying that Mr Woods had bought the property. I have occupied the house since 20th August 1857; I took it from Yee Wo Fook, and have paid him rent ever since. I do not know of my own know- ledge that this property belongs to Mr Caldwell; I have only heard so from others when I first took the shop, I have never paid any of the rent to Mr Caldwell, nor have 1 spoken to him concerning repairs.

Cross-examined,--At the time of this conversation with

Re-examined, I do not know of my own knowledge that the female to whom I have referred as the one I believed to be Mrs Caldwell's sister, ever at any time kept a brothel At the time I went to this house Mr Caldwell was living with another woman called Aoon. I have seen Mrs Cald- well at different times while she was living with Mr Cald well, but before their marriage. It does not necessarily fol- low that because a Chinese woman is living with a Euro- pean she must have come from a brothel, or been brought to this colony by a procures for the purpose of prostitution. They may at any time be obtained from families on the mainland without the intervention of procuresses. Euro-front, and I said that I could not purchase bricks. I did peans frequently walk into Chinese family houses here without the introduction of the head of the family. I knew in 1846-7 a woman who was called "Queen of the Taiping- shan," who was a brothel-keeper at the time.

LAI SZE-KAI,--Recalled.

I know Leong Atai; he came to me at my shop about the 23d April last. He said that his relation had a house in Taipingshan, which he wanted to sell for $600. He said he had been to Mr May's mistress, who wishes to pur- chase the house, and that if I did not want it he would let her have it. About two or three days after this I went to Tong Wingcho, a relation, who said that he wanted some money to set up an Opium shop, and asked me to get somebody to buy the property, I asked my mistress, Mrs Caldwell, if she would buy it at $470.

My mistress said, that if there was a deed she would buy the house, but if the lot was

Mr May the shop was not under repair. The whole of the range except mine, had a new brick front. Mr May asked me through his servant, why I did not built up my

not mention Mr Caldwell's name in connection with the purchase of the bricks; I do not know to whom the newly repaired houses belonged, and I said so to Mr May. There is a small shop next to mine, and on the other side of this shop there is a brothel. Mr May did not speak to me concerning this brothel; nor did I say anything about it to him.

YOONG AYOONG,-Called and examined.

I am Mr May's servant; I went on the 9th May with Mr May to brothel 48. Upon asking who lived there a man 40 years of age presented himself. I asked him why he did not put a new front to the house, and he replied that he would do it by and by. I asked to whom the house belonged, and he said to Mr Caldwell. This was the only person who spoke to me, but there were some I said to the man females and others standing near.