CO129-463 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1920 [10-12] — Page 142

No 355.

N°

THED' RE:

224

141

JANOVERNMENT HOUSE.

HONGKONG.

18th November, 1920.

Hey Cy

•

My Lord,

I have the honour to acknowledge the

receipt of Your Lordship's despatch No.324 of the 22nd September, 1920, enclosing a petition from J. M. Tulloch, now serving a sentence of five years hard labour for rape.

2. The case had received my careful considera- tion before Tulloch was sent to England and I had at first considerable doubts as to the justice of the conviction. Eventually, however, after discussion with the Chief Justice, who tried the case, I came to the conclusion that the verdict of the jury was correct, and that, while the girl had probably not been ravished by force, she had been terrorized into submission.

3. I think that the best thing that I can do is to transmit to Your Lordship (to be returned eventually) the original file of the Colonial Secretary's Office, which

contains all the papers in the case, for the consideration

of the legal adviser to the Colonial Office. If after

reference to Sir W. Rees Davies, who I believe will still

be in England when this despatch is received, Your Lordship

is advised that there is any serious doubt as to Tulloch's

guilt I am ready to agree to his release. It is not a

RIGHT HONOURABLE

&o..

VISCOUNT MILNER, G.C.B..

&c.,

&c.

case