CO129-075 - Public Offices - 1859 — Page 256

'state chat the

Jam desired &'

tried at Hong Kong Tarrant recently

Circumstances

will catre such stefes in the matter are reserved they that when these

Her Majesty's government but Zet fully before

this case are not

are

may appear to be

regressed.

goz

To the

Queen's Most Excellent Majesty

in Council

263

The humble Petition of the Inhabitants of Tynemouth in Public Meeting assembled.

Humbly Sheweih-

That, in the month of November, last, an Information against William Tarrant, publisher of the Hong Kong newspaper called the Friend of China, was filed in the Supreme Court of Hong Kong, by the Government of that Colony.

That the Information charged the suid Hiliam Farrant with faiseiy

and maliciously printing and publishing a certain scandalous and malicious libel of and concerning the said "Government of Hong Kong, to the effect that the said Government had destroyed certain public papers and Records, for the purpose of screening one of the Officers of the Government Daniel Richard Caldwelt, Registrar-General of the colony from conviction on a "grave and sandalow charge" which had been preferred against him, lo the effect that he had been a partner with one Nachow Wong in a lorcha, and had participated in his acts of piracy.

That the said William Tarrant pleaded not guilty and a jushjication to the

effect that William Thomas Bridges, the acting Colonial-Secretary by connivance with Sir John Bowring, usurped the said Government, and during such usurpation did cause certain public papers and Records to be burnt to prevent the truth or falsehood of the criminal charges against the said Zaniel Richard Caldwell being established, and that the publication was for the public benefit. in order the tacpt punishment of the said William Thomas Bridges and others.

That the Jury impanelled to try the said Information, after hearing t

the evidence/

for the prosecution only, rehirned a veredict for the defendant on both pleas, thus establishing the truth of the charges brought against the said Government of Iong Kong, and that it was,

•for the "public benejit”

that those charges had been printed and published.

That the presiding Judge awarded costs against the said Government. Your Petitioners therefore humbly pray

Your Majesty

to take such means as may be necessary to vindicate. Your Majesty's honour and to do Justice: And Your Petitioners will ever play &1:81:

Signed on behalf of the Public Neeting held

on the day of March. 1859.

Jela Vellen

Thayer of Tyres se auth

Cha