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OPIUM SMUGGLING

THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF SHIPOWNERS.

MESSES, JARDINE, MATHESON & CO.

SUMMONED,

יד

THE

The Magistrate to Mr. Davidson: Will you alinit the value of the opium as $7,250 - don't know. I can't say what is the value.

Mr. Lloyd gave evidence on this point, He said that the opium had been valued ut the figure stated. It was prepared opit, known as "No. 1 from Macao

understood the prior in. Macao to the ordinary public to be $11 per tael. The value in Hongkong would be $14.50 per

The responsibilities of local shipping owners in preventing their strangers from being used for the purpose of conveying opium. forined the subject of ag interest ing case heard at the Magistracy yoster-¦ tart, - day afternoon before Mr. J. R. Wood. Mr. Davidson: I suppose you are pre- The defendants were Mears, Jardine, parval to admit that there is no suggestion Matheson & Co. Ltd., and the charge that Messrs. Jardine, Matheson & Co. are preferred against them was that of fail- concerned in any way in this smuggling? ing to take precautions to prevent 500-Oh, most certainly. taels of prepared opium belig conveyed And that you might suspect that que on the Indo-China stramer Long Sang, of the crew was involved, and that the for the purpose of export.

defendants are not involved -Yes"

HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, WEDNESDAY, MAY 25, 1918.

CRIMINAL SESSIONS.

(BEFORE TAX CHIEF JUSTICE (AIR WILLIAM REEN DAFIES))

PRISONER WHO BIT.

JAPANESE STEAMER ASHORE “

OFF WAGLAN. NEWS WIRELESSED TO HONGKONG BY THE S.S. * PRESIDENT MADDISON,""

RENDER ASSISTANCE.

Worked up to a frenzy of fright in his NAVAL AUTHORITIES PREPARE TO struggle with a Chinese constable, a Chinese named Fung Hoi Shan buried his tooth in the officer's fingers, biting the tops of two of them clean off.

He was indicted yesterday morning for stealing property from a house in Yumati to this yalue of over 8000, and further for receiving stolen goods, and assaulting the constable. According to Mr. Dyer Ball who prosecuted for the crown, the con- stable saw the accused" carrying a cash box. and asked him what it contained The mai replied that he was an eye Mr. Davidson: Supposing the defend- derior, and that the box contrived eye- Ans or someone on board found this glasses. When further pressed he said, be opium and handed it over „ld your De- | had left the key of the box behind him. Mr. E. Pavidsen appeared for the department would this prosention have The constable accompanied him part of fendants Mr. R. Sutherland, Shipping been brought -No. Manager for the defendant Firm, was present in Court during the hearing of

Mr. J. D. Lloyd, Superintendent of Imports and Imports, prosecutul, and

the case.

When the case was first mentioned và May 10th evidence was given by Revenue) Officer Lanigan as to the finding of the opium on April 27th in a number of packages concealed in the crank shaft pit in the engine-mom.

Revenue Officers as a rule and this opium they had not gone far when the prisoner Well, now, as a matter of fact, your the way to his home to get the keys. but through the medium of informers-Yes, throw the box down and straggled with sometunes, but I can't say for curtain as the constable "in an I have only been in the Depnetinent for! Iwo months.

The Magistrate: But you admit that informers are used? Yes.

attempt to escape. The it was that be committed the assault,

For receiving stoles property prisoner was sentenced to five years hand labour, Mr. Lloyd added that quite a gumberį

discoveries had beca made by far and for assaulting the constable a further formers.

two years He was dismissed on the first const.

Mr. Davidson: So that the difference between prosecuting and not prosecuting depends entirely upon the finding or not! finding of the opium-If they had found the opium and brought it to the office the matter would have been left there

Yesterday corroborative evidence was given by Chinese Revenue Officer who Accompanied 10. Lanizan when the search was made. Directly the discovery

And you will agree that a ship on the was made Mr. Tastor, the Government Hongkong-Manila xun would be extremely Opium Analyst, and the Chief Preventive ingy in port-Yes. Officer (Mr. Clark) were sent for and they Do you suggest that no precautions arrived on the steamer some three-quar were taken to prevent the opium being brought on board-What precautions would you suggest 1

ters of an hour later.

Mr. Lloyd replied that the chief pre Caution he would suggest would be the general attitude of the officers on board

Re-the ship as to smuggling. If all Chinese

In answer to questions by Mr. Lloyd, the witness said that a Chinese fireman was in the stokehold at the time. garding the place of concealment, he said it was not a place of easy access. Wit Bese, in removing the drug, had to go down into a dirty sume amidst a quan- tity of waste oil and dirty water.

Mr. Lloyd: Cauhi you just throw the opium in or would it take some time)

The witness: It would take about half. an-hour to put the opium there.

DANGEROUS CHARACTERS.

The Seamen's Union asked me to assault the members of the Hung Hoi Navigation Guild."

This was the ingenuous excuse given by IL Chinese to the police officer who arrested him for carrying a dagger.

The man was indicted for bring in un- lawful possession of the weapon,

After bearing the stateront of the Crown Soliciter (Mr. H. K. Holmes) and knew that the officers would not encourage considering the evidence, his Lordship jilaer, but if there was sickness on the muggling no smuggling would take remarked to the prisoner that he was part of the officers, anal if it looked as presumably carrying the knife for the if it was a good gamble, then soaggling purpose of committing a time on the would take place.

members of the Hung Hoi Guild., At this prisoner modified his statement. I was get instructed to stab these people," he said, "but merely to threaten them with my knife."

To this his Lordship replied: "There are a great bumber of cases in Hongkong at the present time where men of your class are going but with dangerous weapon and committing crime. You will go to geal for two. years with har Inbour.

Then your suggestion is that the officers must have been slack in suppressing opium smuggling -Yes, if one does not

ggest any worst conclusions, You really suggest that "not caring" is going to encourage smuggling 1-Un- In reply to the Magistrate, the witness doubtedly, if there is an atmosphere of said that the inside of the biding placer, it will be stopped.

Are you aware that the ships of the was very clean and the opinn was pro-defendants are searched twice on every tected by two piress of tin (prishureol in | voyage 7—Yes. Court). The place could not be seen from the outside.

prosecution would prove,

A THREADHÁRE EXCUSE.

That a senfaring man asks one to take excuse becoming too threadbare for use in cass of unlawful posession of arms, as another mas found out when sentenced to two years' hard labour for the offence.

possession A when arrested this prisoner had in his revolver and forty-four rounds of ammunition.

And that slips on the Hongkong. Manila run have spreial printed instruc ticns from the Company -Well, is on's! Mr. Davidson, at this stage, "puinted ears out my point. It depends on the ont that the case for the prosecution had search. Now offers for gertain timet not been opened, and the defence was will take great care, but as time goes a revolver to the entry for him is an

absolutely in the dark as to what then it becomes a routine job and purely

perfanstory

Me Davidson: We are talking about At the request of his Worship, Mr. Lloyd this Company and not generally. These briefly outlined the chief points for theirches are made and logged on every prosecution. The opium, he said, wasį After further questioning. Mr. Lloyd found placed on the ship, which was said that this was his opinion and not ai

fact. under the control of the crew. The opium

Mr. Davidson: Do you know that was a valuable consignment. It had Messrs. Jarding, Matheson & Co. bad fourt been valued at 87,200 in Hongkong and detectives. paid for by themselves, to put from the position in which it was found, it was quite clear that someone on board was responsible for, allowing it to be placed there, if not for actually placing it there..

voyage.

THE SECOND ENGINEER'S EVIDENCE.

The Second Engineer,

Mr. James

He

Asked what precautions were taken to prevent opium being brought on to the hip while she was in port, witness said that if he saw a stranger he would ask him what he wanted, but there was no thing to prevent the engin-room staff or the firemen from snuggling.

At 12.15 p.m. yesterday a wireless messagd was received at the Royal Naval from tho RA. President Dockyard Maddison that a Japanese steamer had been sighted ashore an the group of islands known as the Nine Pius, which are about eight or nine miles from Waglan Island. The wiresless message stated that

immediate assistance

was requirol ** The information was passed along to the Harbour Office awl it was deened advisable to make preparations for saving they crew of the stranded steamer if One of the Naval tugs was ordered to prepare to leave for Nine Ping

receipt of orders.

HEDOSYLVY,

For some time it remained a mystery as to what line the steamer belonged nud ler name could not be gathered. Early the same afternoon the mystery was dispelled when a Japanese shipping officer walked into the Mitsui Bussan Kaisha Offices in Lee House Street and reported that the steamer to which he belonged had gone ashore in close proximity to Hongkong. Contrary to the message received at the Naval Yard, he reported that the ship, for the time being, was in n immediate, danger.

The stranded ship proved to be the Yei

bound from Keelung.. Mara No. 2 Formosa, to Hongkong with 3,500 tors of sual, masigned to the M. B. K., who are now also awaiting coufirmatory instruc tions from the owners to act as agents for She is owned by the Murao the vessel.

Kisen Kaisha, whose headquarters age in Japan. The gross tonnage of the strauzer is 2007, her nett tonnage 1,624, and she is commanded by Captain Yoshioka. The M-B.K. at once got in touch with tho Taikoo Dockyard had asked them to supply the necessary salvage boat, but not to despatch same until they received con- firmation of their instructions from the

Wers in Japan.

•

As to how the officer of the ship. managed to reach Hongkong from the vessel does not appear to be quite clear. According to the shipping office he came ashore in a sampan. This is quite likely, but whether he made the journey from the Xine Pius right to Elongkong in a sampak fs doubtful, as we gather that a very strong current runs in the vicinity of the group of islands, making it unsafe for small craft to sail round about there. This is also borne out by a lator message received from the ship stating that the crow is busy jettisoning the cargo, owing to the fact that the current is go strong for lightering junks to go alongside.

The vessel it appears went ashore at one o'clock in the morning and judging from, the position on the charte she was same distance out of her course. Tho reason for the stranding is not yet known in Hongkong. The sea at the time was quite calm and the Waginn Light onn be seen from the Sine Pins quite distinctly.

The stranded steamer was built in 1890.

INPUDENT CASE OF

SNATCHING.

· EUROPEAN LADY'S HANDBAG'

STOLEN.

A sentence of one year's hard labour and 12 strokes of the birch was passed on a santeher, aged 24 years by Mr. Lindsell at the Magytracy, yesterday morning, on

charge of stealing a silver mesh bag, valued at 815 and containing 84.07, from Mrs. Ford, wife of Mr. Ford, of the Cosmopolitan Dock.

a stop to snuggling, and they were Valentine Barron, said that he was by obliged to give it up as things got worse? duty when the seizure was made.

was not in the engine-room alt the time don't know that This was the case for the prosecution. but he could are the whole of the room The first witness for the defence was from the door as it was a small room. the master of the vessel. Captain Percy When the search was made for opium by The Magistrate: And you are asking Jowett, He said that when the seizure the ship's officers the bilges, dry tanks for a penalty under the Ordinance I

Mr. Lloyd: Yes, but I am not asking was made the vessel had been in Hong and other likely places were locked into. for an overwhelming penalty, but just kong for four days. During that time He had never sarched under the crank Futleient to show that ships in Ilongkong they had been charging cargo, bunker shaft pit as it was very dangerous to de cannot do this sort of thing with iming coal lending water and the other so when the ship was in motion. It was punity and that slips longing to well- usual business of a ship in port. There possible to search there but the shaft WAS constant communication between would be working within three inches of know Companies are just as liable as any other ships. This is an important the ship and the shore, which made it the searcher's head. Since the opium had control the bern found none of the crew had been case, mere especially in view of the fact Practically impossible to that the Opium Conference is to be held People going to and from the ship in the missing from the ship, shortly of which Bishop Brent of Manila course of their business

Mr. Davidson: Would it be any good 8 the AmericanTM delegate,

Mr. Davidson asked for more exact

as mens of preventing snuggling to information on what ground his friend arch the ship while she is at her buoy

Absolutely useless. asked the Court to decide the case- whether he was asking for a fine of $1 haard, day or night

Why Because anybody could come on

The complainant said she was out shop. I have no means of

ping on Monday and when walking in or of $1,000.

Queen's Rand Central, near the Eastern The Magistrato said he thought the fino stopping them. The ship is surrounded

Bazaar ber bag was snatched from ber was limited to 85.000, but Mr. Davidson by lighters, bunkering and discharging There is a constant stream of

hand from behind by a Chinese who was pointed out that the penalty had been

kople all the time,

later identified. The snatcher rau away increased by the Ordinnings of 1922 to ten

When do you search the ship then?-

and as she came up with him in D'Aguilar times the value of the opium discovered. He We enrgh the morning after we leave,

Street he had been caught by an Indian emphasised the point that the Company Hongkong.

constable of the Royal Naval Yard was not a party to the conveyance of the You have heard what Mr. Lloyd hans y The 31agistrate: How many Chinese Police, The bag was found in the pris- opera; they were the victims more than said. Tell the Court what you do have you -Three greasers, six firemen, oner's pocket at the Police Station. It anything else,

Witness said that they went through three coal passers and two donkey-men. was also said by the complainant that the Cross-examining the witness, Mr. David the crew's quarters, searched their luggage. They have one or two cooks hat they are tag given to the bag caused her to drop Bon asked if the spot was a good hiding and examined the ventilators and store seldom in the engine roon.

one of her parcels and ber gold wrist place to which the witness replied in rooms. They paid particular attention Do you think it is pessible for someone watch also fell off. These articles wern to the fore peaks and aft peaks and the without the connivanen of the officers recovered by a friend, who was with com treasure room: while the Chief Engineer, to have got the opium en board-Quite plainant at the time who had control of the engine room staff, possible. searched the engineers and firemen

the affirmative. Continuing in answer to further questions, he said that the opium could be reached with some dif. ficulty from the side, but it could not be reached from underneath.

And there were people watching the steamer to prevent it being put on board 1

that

In reply to the Magistrate, witness said the coal coolies would not have ocasion to go in the engine-room at all It was not the practice to lock the engine room while the ship was in port. Thers would always be somebody below to keep

stvam up.

Why Well, there is always some mem- You have received certain instructionsber of the crew below, Mr. Davidson said that he was in from the owners about this 7-Yes,

Witness said that the Long Seng xa8 position to prove that there, was a hole

Mr. Davidson here banded a printed last in dock in January. She was alea underneath. This prompted the witness circular into Court and the witness ex-in- dick for overhaul Inst, Jane," during to say that in order to get at the hiding plained that they had to fill in a form which time lots of dock bands were on place from underneath one would have regarding opium. This was handed in to board. They would have plenty of time to creep in with great difficulty: The the agents at Manila.

to secret the opium., pieces of tin covering the opium were Is that form signed by anybody 1-Yes, Mr. Robert Sutherland, Shipping Man placed at the side.

by myself, the Chief Engineer and the ager of Mesers. Jardine, Matheson & Co., It was known that this opium was Chief Officer.

in the witness-box, was asked by Mr. going to be pat on board-Ye

Witness added that the search was Davidson: What preecutions have been also logged. The Chinese crew, he said taken in the past by Messrs. Jardine, was quite aware that the smuggling of Matheson & Co. opium on the boat was not allowed. If Witness said that four détectites were Mr. Lloyd: I don't think the witness a Chinese was found in Manila in posses uerd while the ships lay in port. They can say that

sion-orea of Hongkong Government were paid for by the Company. Mr. Davidson: Wait, wait, he can opium-he would be put in gaol for two Why was the practice discontinued f speak for himself.

or three weeks On several occasions he Because they were not found to be Witness replied that he heard people had found opium pipes on board and deterrent to smuggling. were watching the steamer.

Mr. Davidson: so informed that these he had thrown overboard before That is the result of your experience

reaching Manila. they were Revenue Officers, but the last witniem CMr. Lanigan) said they were informers. Addressing witor, Mr. David Honaked: Were people watching the steamer that night 1-1 don't know,

Mr. Lloyd said that he had no ques- This was all the evidence called and tions to put to the Captain as he was after some little legal argument it was not responsible for the engine room at decided to remand the chas to this mom

ing in order to obtain the evidenco of (Continued at foot of next column.). the Chinese engine room staff.

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