254
[22nd witness
Reginald Robert Helbert.]
56
[16th witness Philip Francis Shelsley Court (recalled).] [23rd witness Victor Cecil Branson.]
1419. Mr. Whyatt: If it were part and parcel of the water-bottle equipment that would
be unique as an equipment? Using that for the purpose they do, yes.
44
1420. I want you to assume once again that you were cruising off the South China Coast and that you saw a submarine, say light grey in colour, figure 7 in Arabic numerals on the hull, three bands running round the conning tower—that is to say, one white, one black, and then one white-with two guns, one forward and one abaft the conning tower, and a number of sailors on her deck who were wearing equipment either like this or that (demonstrating as to way straps would be worn); assuming that you saw all that and nothing more could you express an opinion with any degree of certainty as to the nationality of that submarine? I should feel morally certain that that submarine was a Japanese submarine. 1421. Chairman: Have you yourself ever seen a Japanese submarine in these waters bearing figure No. 7? No, I have seen Japanese submarines at Kobe which were being refitted at the time, so they would not be in their right rig, so to speak. 1422. In the Japanese Navy is there a submarine No. 7? I should imagine there would
be they go by figures and they range from I 1 to 5 and 5 to 80.
1423. Have you any idea what the armament on a submarine numbered 7 actually is?
Yes-two 5.5" guns.
(Witness left the witness box.)
1424. Sixteenth Witness. Philip Francis Shelsley Court (recalled), (on former oath). 1425. Mr. Whyatt: Dr. Court, you told us yesterday that you were going to perform a
post-mortem examination on Leung Hong who had been under your care? Yes. 1426. Have you since performed that post-mortem examination ? Yes.
1427.
What in your opinion was the cause of Leung Hong's death? The cause of death is pyæmia following upon septic wounds in the leg.
1428. Those are the wounds that you described to us the other day? Yes.
1429. Was the body identified to you in the mortuary at the Queen Mary Hospital?
Yes.
1430. (Fung Chan-ho recalled for Dr. Court to identify as being the man who identified
the body of Leung Hong),
1431. Dr. Court: He is one of the fokis who identified the body.
(Witness left the witness box.)
Inquiry adjourned.
Inquiry resumed.
10.00 a.m., 22nd October, 1937.
1432. Mr. Whyatt: You will remember, sir, Sergeant Mackay told us yesterday that he had taken photographs of the bullet but the prints were not ready. These prints have now been handed to me; perhaps I could hand them up to you?
1433. Chairman: Thank you these are the photographs? [Exhibits T.G.M. 5 and
T.G.M. 6].
1434. Mr. Whyatt: Yes. The rule is in millimetres. I propose to call Mr. Branson,
the Government Analyst, sir.
1435. Twenty-third Witness. Victor Cecil Branson, duly sworn, states:- 1436. Mr. Whyatt: You are a Fellow of the Institute of Chemists? Chemistry. 1437. And you hold the appointment of Government Analyst? Yes. 1438. An appointment which you have held for the last five years? Yes.
1439. Did you receive a fragment of a bullet from Inspector Hopkins two days ago?
Yes.
1440. Will you just look at that? (Fragment of bullet handed to witness).
―
57 [23rd witness Victor Cecil Branson.] [24th witness Albert Leslie Hopkins.]
1441. That is what you received from Inspector Hopkins? Yes. [442. Did you with the assistance of Inspector Hopkins remove that envelope on the
outside? Yes.
1443. And after removing the envelope what did you find inside? Inside a copper tube,
and inside that I found a whitish substance.
1444. Did you extract that whitish substance from the tube? Some of it, yes. 1445. Then I think you analysed it? Yes.
1446. Will you please tell us what it consisted of? Individual analysis gave contents as
barium, magnesium, carbonate, and hydrate.
1447. Can you express any opinion as to how that substance in its present state has been formed? It can be formed, and would be the end product from the inter- action of barium peroxide and magnesium after being exposed to air.
1448. Will you assume that the original mixture was inside that copper tube, and that the copper tube was part of a bullet, and that that bullet was fired, and that the firing caused a certain type of inter-action. What type of inter-action would you describe that as? That would be fast combustion.
1449. If, on the other hand, that mixture was inside the copper tube before firing in the state in which you found it to be on analysis, what kind of inter-action would that be? That could be described as slow combustion or deterioration.
1450. So it comes to this that that substance which you have analysed is the result
of either fast combustion, or slow combustion or deterioration ?
Yes.
145. Can you express any opinion as to the probability as to which of the two kinds of combustion may have been responsible for the present residue? No, I cannot say which type of combustion it was.
1452. At all events in your opinion the original substance consisted of barium peroxide
and magnesium? Yes.
1453. Can you tell us what that substance is used for?
tracer and incendiary bullets.
It is a standard product for
1454. What is the primary function of this mixture irrespective of whether it is in
a bullet or not? It is used for causing heat or flame.
1455. Can you express any opinion as to the heat which might be generated by igniting this mixture? I cannot tell the exact temperature, but know this substance is used for igniting thermite which requires a high temperature to ignite it.
1456. What do you think would be the minimum temperature that would be required to ignite thermite? In round figures I should say at least 1,000 degrees centigrade
that is my opinion,
1457. You have no precise or exact figures to go on?
(Witness left the witness box.)
No.
1458. Twenty-fourth Witness. Albert Leslie Hopkins, duly sworn, states:- 1459. Mr. Whyatt: Inspector Hopkins, what is your present appointment?
Inspector in charge of arms and ammunition.
I am
1460. Of the Hong Kong Police Force?
Yes.
1461. You have held that appointment for the last year? During the past year. 1462. And before that you were Musketry Instructor of the Hong Kong Police?
four years.
For
1463. I think even before that you had had considerable experience of firearms? 1464. In what way did you gain your experience? For 20 years I have studied firearms
and ammunition.
Yes.
Both. I 1465. Are you speaking of theoretical or practical experience in firearms?
have read much literature on the subject, and have also fired many kinds of arms and all sorts of ammunition.
255
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.