CO129-114 - MacDonnell - 1866 [7-8] — Page 332

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All AI Reviewed

Robbery

2.

on Chinese territory.

In the correspondence then-carried on between this Government and the Vice Roy of Granting through the Mediation of Consul Robertson, I had been extremely careful before surrendering the Criminal to insist on his having a fair trial and that neither before, during, nor after his trial was he to undergo any torture whether legal or not according to Chinese Custom.

I am still awaiting the result of enquiries regarding the trial and I now enclose all Robertson's reply.

1.

The result is singular - for it appears that despite the clearest evidence of the Prisoner's guilt, which there never was a point of doubt, no punishment can be inflicted on him - because the prisoner refuses to confess, and without some previous confession, no punishment can be inflicted.

3.

This pledge the Vice Roy finally gave in as complete a manner as possible, and not having heard for nearly two months anything further from the Consul on the subject, I caused a Communication to be made.

Under Ordinary Circumstances, the prisoner would have been forced to confess by torture, but the guarantee given to me by the Vice Roy precludes the application of any torture, and the criminal remains unmolested in China.

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Robbery 2. on Chinese territory. In the correspondence then-carried on between this Government and the Vice Roy of Granting through the Mediation of Consul Robertson, I had been extremely careful before surrendering the Criminal to insist on his having a fair trial and that neither before, during, nor after his trial was he to undergo any torture whether legal or not according to Chinese Custom. I am still awaiting the result of enquiries regarding the trial and I now enclose all Robertson's reply. 1. The result is singular - for it appears that despite the clearest evidence of the Prisoner's guilt, which there never was a point of doubt, no punishment can be inflicted on him - because the prisoner refuses to confess, and without some previous confession, no punishment can be inflicted. 3. This pledge the Vice Roy finally gave in as complete a manner as possible, and not having heard for nearly two months anything further from the Consul on the subject, I caused a Communication to be made. Under Ordinary Circumstances, the prisoner would have been forced to confess by torture, but the guarantee given to me by the Vice Roy precludes the application of any torture, and the criminal remains unmolested in China.
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Robbery 2. on Chinese territory. In the correspondence then- Carried on between this Government and the Vice Roy of Granting through the Medrions of Consul Robertson, I had been extremely careful before surrendering the Criminal to insist on his having a fair aw trial and that neither before, during, nor after his trial was he to undergo any torturo whether legal not according to Chinese Custom.. to be made to the latter result of 328 inquiring the the trial and I now enclose all Robertson's reply. 1. The result is singulav- for it appears that despite the dearest evidence of the Prisoner's guilt which there never was a point doubt. No any punishment can be inflicted on hime- because the prisona refuses to confefs ~ and without some previous confession. No punishment 3. This pledge the Nice Roy 5. finally gave Complete a manner as possible ~ in as and not having heard for nearly two months any things further from the Consul on the- subject, I caused a Communication: Can be ed in Chinn inflided Under Ordinary Circumstances the prisona would have been forced to confes by torture, but the given ta me guaranke by the Vice Roy precendes the application of any. torture and the criminal remains unmolested in
2026-05-19 10:48:02 · Baseline
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Robbery

2.

on Chinese territory.

In the correspondence then-

Carried on between this Government and the Vice Roy of Granting through the Medrions of Consul Robertson, I had been extremely careful before surrendering the Criminal to insist on his having

a

fair

aw trial

and that neither before,

during, nor after his trial was he to

undergo any

torturo whether legal

not according to Chinese Custom..

to be made to the latter

result

of

328

inquiring

the

the trial and I now enclose all Robertson's reply.

1.

The result is singulav- for it

appears that despite the dearest evidence

of the Prisoner's

guilt which there never was

a point

doubt. No

any

punishment can be inflicted on hime- because the prisona refuses to confefs ~

and without some previous confession.

No

punishment

3.

This

pledge

the Nice Roy

5.

finally gave

Complete a manner

as

possible ~

in as

and not having heard

for nearly two months any things

further from the Consul on the-

subject,

I caused

a Communication:

Can

be

ed in Chinn

inflided

Under Ordinary Circumstances

the prisona would have been forced to

confes by torture, but the

given

ta

me

guaranke

by the Vice Roy precendes

the application of any.

torture and

the criminal remains unmolested in

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