CO129-074 - Lieut. Governor Caine & Sir Robinson - 1859 [6-12] — Page 366

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ridiculous manner, which would lead me to believe that something was meant. He did not suggest any particular points on which I should give evidence; he was only two minutes speaking to me altogether.

Re-examined, I went from here to Canton in a lorcha belonging to Ma-chow Wong, in Octoberor November 1856. About a week after I was evidence for a man named Leong Ahee, who was charged with piracy. Mr Anstey allowed me to be examined, and afterwards told the Court my evi- dence could not be taken. I was passenger on board this lorcha, belonging to Ma-chow Wong. I never sailed or served in any vessel which I knew to belong to Mr Cald-

Mr May who replaced it in the tin-box in which it was found. It was not handed to the Jury, but a piece of I gave Beaver calico with some Chinese figures on it was. an order to get it when he was discharged from Gaol. I gave him an order to get all the papers which I had when arrested, but do not know whether he got possession of this paper. I believe he did. I was told so by a short sentence prisoner. I got this paper from Beaver himself We were in --it was not his intention to give it to me. two separate boats, and I sent on board his boat for some cigars, and at the bottom of the box which he sent me I found this paper. I could not say in whose handwriting it was, aud that is all I know of it. I might have said in the Supreme Court that it was as likely to be in Mr Caldwell or Ma-chow Wong, or in any vessel in which to my well's handwriting as in any one else's, but I could not knowledge they had any interest or share. Beaver was in have said that it was in Mr Caldwell's handwriting, for I command of the lorcha at that time. The first time I saw Mr Caldwell was about three years ago in this place. I do not know Mr Caldwell's handwriting. The paper did not mention Mr Caldwell's name, nor do I recollect the have known Mr Grand-Pré for about the same time, 1 name Samkwei; it was addressed to "Charles Peapa." have never been intimate with either of them. I am better The paper I first alluded to is that which was produced acquainted with Mr Grand-Pré, because when I came down at the Supreme Conrt. There were several papers, but

from Shanghae I had a good deal to do with him at the the one I read in Court was that which I am speaking of Police Station. I know Mr Tarrant the Editor of the The one which I wished taken particular care of was one

Friend of China. I do not recollect his warning me two concerning my own business, nothing concerning Mr Cald- well that I know of. If any one stated that I said that I

or three years ago about Ma-chow Wong and the Eaglet, had a paper which was of the very greatest consequence,

I may have had some conversation with him on that sub- and could get me out of troubles, such statement is wrong.ject, but have forgotten it, it is so long since. There was a paper of great consequence but concerning only my own affairs. I don't think that the paper produced in Court recommended Ma-chow Wong to the notice of the pirates for the purchase of provisions and other articles from him. The paper did not mention Ma-chow Wong as being Mr Caldwell's brother.

I knew the Eaglet which Mr Caldwell used to com- mand. I was never in any way connected with her. I have only been on board once, when I went on board of her in Hongkong to see Mr Stone the Engineer. I have not sailed in her company, nor under her convoy. I have seen her several times outside, but I cannot say that she was engaged in any piratical expedition. I cannot say whether Ma-chow Wong was part owner of the Eaglet, or whether he was connected with her in any way.

Lyons was up in the Gaol one day, and asked me if I knew where the paper which I had read at the Supreme Court was. I told him I saw it put back in the box at the Supreme Court. I believe he asked me a few ques tions. He might have asked me who had written the pa- per, but I could not have told him that was written by Mr Caldwell, for I do not know, and cannot say that I have any reason for thinking that it was written by Mr Caldwell. I believe he said something to the effect that if he was brought up he would like to be able to produce this paper, to shew that Mr Caldwell was connected with that sort of people. I said that I had the paper at one time, that I did not know if I could produce it then, that I was in trouble myself, and did not wish to meddle with other people's

business.

Cross-examined,―This other paper which I wished taken particular care of was in English. Mr Caldwell's name was not mentioned in it. I cannot say that Lyons made any suggestions to me regarding the evidence I was to give. He put a great many questions to me, and in a

[Read a condensed report of what Eli Boggs said on his defence at the Supreme Court, concerning Mr Caldwell's and Ma-chow Wong's connection with the pirates.]

This is always what I understood to be the case, but I points is derived from what I have heard spoken by the could not swear positively to it. My knowledge on these

Chinese. If I mentioned the names of individuals who could give evidence on the subject, I don't think that you would be able to find them now. I remember going into Mr Scarth's office with a Chinaman. I wanted Mr Scarth to interest himself in the case of six men, who had been wrongfully taken up for piracy. Mr Scarth told me that the man I came with was one of the greatest rascals un- hung, and that I would do well to avoid his company. He had been brought to me by a Chinese merchant, to in- terpret about another person. I believe this man had very considerable dealings with Ma-chow Wong.

I saw the Eaglet outside several times myself. I un-

out by Mr Caldwell, derstood from the pirates there, that she had been sent

island of Taiwan, about eight miles from here. On these I saw her the last time out by the

occasions she did not hold any communication with them, or bring provisions. On the occasion at Taiwan, I did

island, and she on the other, not see what she was doing. We were on one side of the

fident that he levied black-mail on the pirates. My con- As far as Ma-chow Wong is concerned, I am pretty con

clusion that Mr Caldwell participated in this is drawn from what I have heard said. I have seen refreshments come on board, which the pirates said came from Mr Caldwell. they stated was going to Ma-chow Wong and Mr Caldwell; I have known money going away from the vessel, which

but I cannot say whether it was true. the pirates outside that they had to give Ma-chow Wong money to give Mr Caldwell, otherwise vessels would be sent out to take them. I know it to bee th case that per-

I understood from

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sons,

whether pirates or not, who offended Ma-chow Wong, or failed to comply with his terms, were denounced to the Police and brought to trial and conviction. In the instance of Leong Ahee, in which case I was a witness, I afterwards found out that Ma-chow Wong demanded $500 from him, and on his failing to give him this, had him taken up to the Court. There was a man of the name of 'Ng Tai-sin, from whom Ma-chow Wong wanted $500; and on his not pay- ing it he was arrested for something, I think as a suspicious character, and kept in Gaol for some time. He told me of the demand while in Gaol. My impression is, that those pirates who paid black mail sailed their ships on the sup- position that Mr Caldwell and Ma-chow Wong would as- sist them, and not act against them.

I believe that 'Ng Tai-sin's title was 'Ng Man-sui: he had another name, 'Ng Sing-ying.

[The two following witnesses were examined on the 2d and 3d June, because it was then doubtful whether they would be forthcoming at any future time; their evidence is however inserted here as referring to this branch of the inquiry.]

Wednesday, 2d June, 1858.

JOHN HAMILTON RANDALL,-Called and exa-

mined.

I know Mr Caldwell. I first knew him in 1851, and

In the year 1855, I was sent down from Ningpo to Hong-first had business relations with him in 1855 as Chief Officer of the Steamer Eaglet, which belonged to and was kong by Sir John Bowring, for the purpose of giving evi- dence relating to a fleet of pirates with whom I had been commanded by Mr Caldwell. I knew George Stone; who was Chief Engineer and brought the Steamer from Calcut- imprisoned for about four months and-a-half. I was told

ta, prior to my joining her. I remained on board the Eaglet His Excellency sent word up there, that he would give me a resonable remuneration for my lost time and expenses if as Chief Officer from July 1855 to September 1856. Mr I would come down. I left my situation, and came down | Caldwell commanded her himself from July 1855, till about accordingly. I remained here about 2 months. I came April 1856, in every trip she made. From April till Sep- up to the Government Office, occasionally to see Mr Mercer,tember, Captain Toms, at present of the Cama Family Re- and was up once to see His Excellency. I received $108 ceiving Ship, commanded her. The Eaglet was ostensibly or $110 altogether from the Government. Mr Rienaecker, who was Colonial Treasurer at the time, has the account. Mr Grand-Pré has visited me in Gaol. I sent for Mr Grand- Pié once, requesting him to come and see me, and he came. I have seen Mr Caldwell in Gaol, but he never spoke to me, except when once asking me if I had any complaints, and then he did not speak to me any more than to the others who were present at the time.

I have had no correspondence nor communication with Mr Caldwell on the subject of this inquiry. I spoke to Mr Grand-Pré when he came to see me about this inquiry. I asked him what he thought of it, and what I had best do if called on to give evidence. He said he had no advice to give either one way or the other; that u man would do best to act by his own conscience, and that he had nothing to do with it. When I say that the other papers found on me when arrested do not refer to this case, I mean that they do not refer to the present inquiry. I first learned what the enquiry was about from the newspapers. I believe that Lyons said something to the effect, that he wished to get the paper to be able to produce it, if brought up himself, against Mr Caldwell.

employed in the Convoy Trade, and in carrying passengers and cargo. She was in the habit of convoying sometimes lorchas and sometimes other Chinese vessels. When first I joined her, she had no guns on board; about the begin- ning of August, she took in 8 guns from 4 to 9 pounders. She was at times in the employment of the Government for the suppression of piracy, in connection with the naval forces. On one occasion coming from West Coast, she was asked by the mandarins to go and protect some junks, which had been attacked by a lorcha, and two other small Chinese craft. We had gone from here to Hoihow with convoy and cargo, and were requested by the mandarins of Mamee. I do not know whether the mandarins made any arrangement for remuneration. We went as request- ed in chase of these pirates, and we got as far as the Westward of St John's Island, where we saw the We steamed lorchas and junks steering in for Shatái. and made sail after them. They got into the bay first before we could get in: the lorcha got behind the rocks

and the two smaller vessels ran ashore. The lorcha com- menced firing at us as soon as we got into the harbour. The other two smaller boats, which had been before taken from Mamee by the pirates, ran ashore and were abandoned. We lowered the boats and brought them out, and anchor- ed them close to the ship--the lorcha still firing. We tried to take the lorcha, but she was too strong for us. One of their shots struck the hull of the vessel at the water's edge, and a great many passed over the steamer. We left the bay towing the two boats, and anchored for the night to the Westward of St John's. Next morning we got up steam, and in the afternoon arrived at Mamee, with the boats in company. The boats were identified by people of the place and given up to them. They contain- ed only damaged potato flour, and a trifling quantity of rice.

My reasons for believing the paper to have been written by Mr Caldwell, were that Ma-chow Wong being in con- nection with Mr Caldwell, it follows as a natural conclu- sion, that Mr Caldwell might write that paper for him. I have heard Beaver several times say, that the jorcha in which he was, belonged partly to Mr Caldwell, and partly to Ma-chow Wong. The conclusion 1 came to regarding the hame being spelt wrong, was that the person who wrote it had got the namd Pea-pa from Ma-chow Wong, The note was written well, and every other part of it properly spelt. It appeared to be written by a person who did not know the name of the person to whom he was writing; and the Chinese pronunciation of Beaver would be something like Pea-pa. For instance, they called me Alai for Eli.