CO129-456 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1919 [10-12] — Page 498

No

404

RE-

10095

Rt 25.B 20

479

GOVERNMENT HOUSE.

HONGKONG. 31st December, 1919.

My Lord,

I have the honour to forward for Your Lordship's information a copy of the verdict of the Jury in the Coroner's Inquiry hold concerning the deaths of Mr. J. L. Speed and Mr. Harnan Singh, late Warders in Victoria Gaol.

2.

It would appear that during the night of the 14th December, 1919, one of the prisoners lodged in the Grol succeeded in escaping from his cell by cutting out the lock of the door. Having done so, he proceeded to open by means of a roughly made key the cells of three other prisoners whom

he released. The escaped prisoners thereupon attacked with

knives Varder Spend who was on duty in the Chief Warder's

Office and Warder Harnam Singh who was on guard outside the

condemned prisoners' call. Warder Speed appears to have made

a resolute fight but he was eventually overpowered and stabbed

in numerous places.

3.

then

The prisoners appear to have escaped by means of a rope thrown over the prison wall but whether with assistance from outside the Gaol or not it is impossible to say. Evidence is howover clear that the escape was only made possible by collusion on the part of persons inside the Gool and a strict investigation is being made by the Superintendent.

A reward of $500 has been offered for

information leading to the arrest of any of the escaped

prisoners

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

4.

VISCOUNT MILNER, G.C.B.,

&C..

&c.,

&C...

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