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TRAFFIC IN WOMEN AND CHILDREN.
COMMISSION ARRIVES IN
HONG KONG.
The commission of enquiry into the traffic in women and children in the East arrived in Hong Kong
com-
Saturday. Any person or organisation wishing to meet the commission is requested to municate with the Secretary, Mr. W. von Schmieden at the Peninsula Hotel.
International collaboration in the combat against the traffic in women and children has only been in existence for about 30 years.
On several occasions the Assembly of the League of Nations has ex- pressed the hope that it would be possible to extend the enquiries to countries where no enquiry had yet taken place. In pursuance of this recommendation the Secretary- General of the League communicat- ed in the Near, Middle and Far East and asked whether they would be prepared to accept and co-operate in an enquiry of this nature, it being understood that enquiries would be strictly confined to the international aspect of the question.
China, France, Great Britain, India, Japan, the Netherlands, Per- sia, Portugal, Siam and the United States stated that they were prepar- ed to authorise such an enquiry in their territories.
Personnel of Commission.
The League of Nations has en- trusted this enquiry in the coun- tries of the East to a travelling commission of three members. They are:-Mr. Bascom Johnson, Ameri- can, Chairman; Dr. Alma Sund- quist, Swedish; and Mr. Karol Pindor, Polish. Mr. Bascom John- son carried out the previous en- quiry in Europe and America; Madame Sundquist is a well-known physician who has specially in trested herself in women's' social questions in her own country; and Mr. Pindor is a diplomat who has spent 25 years of his life in various Asiatic countries.
In each of the countries to be visited the Government has appoint- ed an official representative who will receive the commission and act as the channel through which all official information will be ob- tained.
The commission arrived in the East at the end of October where it intends to spend 18 months visit- ing the various countries and con- ducting its enquiry.
On its return to Geneva the com- mission will draw up a report for submission to the League of Nations giving the results of its enquiry.
THE HONG KONG WEEKLY PRESS &
ARSON TRIAL AT SESSIONS.
FATHER AND SON AMONG THE ACCUSED.
ALLEGED CONSPIRACY TO
DEFRAUD.
Allegations of an attempt to set fire to a building in order to de- fraud insurance companies were made when the trial opened at the Criminal Sessions on Monday of three men, including a father and his son.
The trial was before the Acting Chief Justice (Mr. Justice Wood) and a jury comprising Messrs. J. L. McPherson (foreman), S. Gidley, James Sloan, F. Wilkin- son, H. J. Howard, Louis Kai Hing and Ip Fook Ling.
Mr. Somerset Fitzroy, appearing for the Crown, stated that the pre- mises had been preserved exactly as found, with festoons of shavings and palm leaves, spread out for the purpose of burning the place down. In outlining the case for the Crown, Mr. Fitzroy said that three persons, of whom the second accus- ed was one, interviewed the owner of the premises on July 8 and they took the whole house. As soon as they took possession they set to work to prepare for the fire. A staircase on the ground floor was pulled down and altered. Cubicles and cooklofts were erected on the premises.
They obtained insurance on the premises and stock-in-trade with two companies to the value of $31,000-the larger part of which was the stock-in-trade, which con- sisted of Chinese medicines.
Petrol and Palm Leaves. Counsel went on to say that the accused secured other premises at 63, Connaught Road West, first accused taking it over, and describ- ed other incidents which he said went to show that the new place was to be used as a "bolt hole" when No. 77 burnt down. Fifteen bales of palm leaves, petrol and kerosene distributed about the place in jars were found. Counsel also exhibited some samples of the palm leaves and a camp bed burnt at one end.
Describing what took place about midnight, Mr. Fitzroy said that a policeman rushed to the house on hearing a whistle blown by a man in the street. The policeman succeeded in smothering the flames with a blanket which he found on the camp bed. While this was going on the third accused was seen in the street with account books under his arm in company with an- other man. They were chased, but only accused was caught.
The plan failed because there was a gap left in the chain of inflam- mable material, and the quick ac tion of the policeman also frustrat- ed it. Further the alarm was sounded before the place was well alight. Counsel explained that the Superintendent of the Fire Brigade had expressed the opinion that in a matter of a few minutes the pre-, mises would have been a seething mass of flames and adjoining houses would have been in serious danger.
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[January 1, 1931
Identification Difficulty.
The owner of the premises, who was called as a witness, said that three men called on him to rent the house. After a close look at thought the second accused was on the prisoners, witness said that he,
of the men.
Cross-examined by Mr. Jenkin, witness said that he attended an identification parade, but he could not recognise the second accused on that occasion.
At the second day's hearing, a witness named Leung Luk Tsun was subjected to a lengthy cross- examination on the subject of an alleged conversation which he stated took place between him and the first defendant.
Witness said that they met at a restaurant next to the Wing On Company on August 25 or 26, when the defendant asked him about the rules of insurance in Hong Kong. He replied that the rules were about the same in every case and that de- fendant could get them by applying to the companies. Later, the de- fendant asked if the commission of arson was a very serious crime. Witness replied that, it would mean ten years' imprisonment.
Witness concluded his evidence by saying that he had come forward as a voluntary witness, adding that first defendant owes him money.
Witness Cross-examined.
In cross-examination by Mr. Jenkin, witness said that he came to know defendant in connection with a small ship known as the Wah San which was sold to the defend- ant.
The purchase price was $7,500 in cash and $2,250 in addition, for which a promissory note was issued in favour of the seller, who was a friend of witness. It was agreed that defendant should pay witness $500 after completing the deal at the end of August. The money was payable on September 1, but wit- ness had not yet been paid. Wit- ness had a writ issued on September 7 or 8, but the defendant could not be found.
Mr. Jenkin: What light did you think you could throw on the path of justice ?—I wanted to assist in the arrest of the defendant, not because he owed me $500, but be- cause of the $2,500 owing to my friend on the promissory note of which I was a witness, and I was being blamed for defendant's de- fault.
Counsel reminded the witness that when he gave evidence in the Police Court he stated that the conver- sation about arson took place on September 20. Asked to explain why he should now say that the conversation took place on August 25 or 26, witness said that a mis- take was made in the Police Court in writing down the date which he gave according to the Chinese calen- dar.
The insurance was effected on September 5 and I put it to you that it is impossible for the defend- ant to ask you on September 20 about the methods of insurance?- No, the conversation took place in August as I could not find the de- fendant after September 1 on which date I was to get the $500.
I put it to you that having told the Magistrate this interview took place on September 20 you have
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