1929-04-04 — Page 4

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1A, CHATER BOAD,

THE HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 1929.

OUTBURST BY WITNESS AT FIRE

INQUIRY.

ABSOLUTELY CRIMINAL THAT SUCH A BUILDING SHOULD BE ALLOWED.”

CORONER'S ADDRESS TO THE JURY-

FINDING TO BE MADE KNOWN NEXT WEEK.

Something in the nature of a sensation occurred during yes terday's inquiry at the Central Magistracy into the King Edward Hotel are disaster in which slevan people lost their lives. This Coroner, Mr. E. W. Hamilton, who sat with a jury, had adjourned the Court after announcing that the evidence of Mr. Eric J. Wencz would not required, as it was doubtful if his story would add to the information already given by other witnesses.

1

Almost immediately, the Court reassembled and Mr. T. E. King (Captain Superintendent of Police), stated that Mr. Woner had ob lected to his not being given a hiaring and had described the pro- ceedings as an attempt to silence witnesses and whitewash the polies and fire brigade," Immediately, the Coroner ordered Mr. Wencz to enter the witness box and give his story, and any obser- vations which were relevant,

COTTON-WOOL AND NAPTHALINE

BALLS.

The first witness called' was Mr. Victor C. Branson, a Government Analyst, who said that certain articles from the fire were given him by Police Inspector Lane. Chief of these articles was a quantity of cotton-wool such as was used in

Coroner: You did not open them to see if any of the writers were un

Witness: No. accounted for ↑ ****

| Apparently," however, the person ..who was calling was endeavouring to attract the attention of the fire-

mea.

"It then got rather too warm for

added witness. "I climbed over

A LOSS TO THE POLICE

SENIOR CHINESE OFFICER

PASSES

FINE RECORD AS DETECTIYE.

me so I thought about shifting, The detective department of the the edge of the verandah and Hong Kong Police has sufored a elambered around two ornamental heavy loss, through the death, which pillars into the Savoy Hotel. I occurred on Monday, of Ng Chiu,

then went down into the street

where I assisted Mr. Witchell and Detective Crown Sergeant, who a number of others with a jumping had been twenty-seven years with sheet. A boy jumped from the top the Force, and had a fine record of floor, missed the sheet and fell four

or five feet away from us. This

unnerved me so I went away.'

I think it is absolutely criminal that much a building should be

able and faithful service.

A sad feature of the death of this

officer was that he was due to retire In November, 1909, Ng Chiu, then

allowed as an hotel," he declared. on pension on Monday next "I feel that it is absolutely criminal negligence that an hotel of that twenty-four years of age, joined the size, or any resident have one breqro aims to one of the best

any size, should only

escape and that in the remotest proved himself one of the ablest part of the building! My room was men in the Chinese section of the less than twenty feet away from the police and he was frequently en- fire escape and I could not make it! There should have been an

trusted with important and difficult alternative escape. If I could not work. get just that short distance, how could the Robsons and others have stood a chance when they had to go clean around a wooden staircase to reach the fire escape!

In 1912, Ng Chiu' was twice com- mended by the Captain Superinten dent of Police. In February that year he came to the notice of the Fire Equipment Criticised.

C.B.P. following his share in the "I say nothing about the per- arrest of four robbere. In Deven sonnel of the ûre brigade but I feel the equipment of the fire depart ber, the same year, he earned com ment is terrible! I don't think they mendation through pluckily arrest have a searchlight. If some of the ing two men in Stone Nullah Lane, people who jumped could have seen the ground and had a searchlight both of whom were armed with been turned on the jumping nets ed revolvers..... they could have made them and saved their lives.

Coroner: That will complete the l Then we come the question of evidence of this inquiry. I shall ladders. The extension ladder used now adjourn the Court for ten at the fire reached under the third minutes and then I shall address store the jury very briefly and adjourn

load-

In 1820, Constable Ng Chiu was promoted to the rank of Lonce Sergeant. In the last capacity ho proved extremely valuable to the detective department. In 1997, Ng Chin was again" commended, this time for clever detective work which

and murder, of Lap Sap Mei Chinese who had committed piracy (Chinese Waters). At the September Criminal Sessions in 1927, three of

Chinese bedquilts. Mixed with the until such day as the jury like to Wencz, that the ladder reached the resulted in bringing to justico four cotton wool were napthaline balls suggest. They want some little time

Coroner: We have evidence, Mr. which were probably for keeping in which to make careful and third storey which is 63 feet high, away moths. Adhering to some of liberate consideration of the evi. As you familar with fire brigades 7 the material were charred fragments of what might have been a wicker chair or rattan hold-all."

The Coronet: Did you thoroughly examine the stuff1

Witness: Yes, Supposing at any time the mate- rial bad been treated with kerosene, could you have detected it at the time of your examination Yes, but I found no trace of anything of that nature.

יד

dence that has been given.

"Mr. Wence Is In Court!" Mr. King Mr. Wenez is in Court, Your Worship, and will give

cvidence should you so desire..

Coroner: Does his story add to what we have already heard.

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SHOP.

Witness: Yes, in America Our the four men arrested were sen MURDER IN A RICE scrapers in many places. The fire was discharged at the preliminary ladders there vary. We have sky-tenced to death. The fourth man brigades in the States have a ladder Magisterial proceedings but was height of 60 feet.IN which I feel certain reaches to a later banished from Hong Kong for

life.

FOKI CHARGED. Mr. King: I have's written state.

Coroner: Are you aware that the

The news of the death came as ment here by Mr. Wenez. Your top floor of the King Edward Hotel great blow to the officers of the ARREST ON BOARD"CANTON- Worship. I do not think it adds any is about 90 feet high?.

Police Department as Ng Chiuy was

STEAMER. Hight upon the matter.

Witness: It must be, and I should'very greatly liked, being ne cour- There were a good number of; Coroner: Then the Court is aunot be surprised to hear that it teous, as he was able.

Before Mr. E. W. Hamilton at napthalins balls among the cotton-journed.

is 100 feet high. Again, although A large number of European, the Central Magistracy yesterday, a wool-I should say there were Before the stated time of the ad- we have so many floors to our build. Indian and Chinese police attended Chinese named Lam Hop more than we would use, Your journment was up, the Coroner reings in the States, they are not so the funeral of the deceased offer charged with armed robbery at No. Worship.

Could

appeared and the Court reassem-high by far as those of the hotels yesterday afternoon, the remains 81, First Street on March 14 last. spontaneous combustion bled. have occurred I do not think so, Mr. King: After you rose. Your the American average and our fire

but here.. About 100 feet high 15 conveyed from his house in The place in question is a rice shop Francis Street to the burial doing businers under the name of although there are authorities who Worship, a remark was addressed to brigades' water towers reach 8 or ground in Sookunpoo. The decease Ping Kee, and it was discover hold that it is possible for cotton me by somebody in Court who said, storeys. I have been up a laddered was a native of San Hing dised, after the robbers had left, that to smoulder for days unnoticed and This is a deliberate attempt to 30 feet high in the New York trict, and before joining the Police, the master of the shop, s man then burst into fame owing to the silence witnesses and strifle evi Central Fire Station. There is a was a shop foki in Hong Kong. action of a draught.

dence and a deliberate move to This stuff is very inflammable 7-whitewash the police and the fire Yea, in a way. It would burn fairly brigade." In view of that state fiercely once it caught fire but it ment, I went into Your Worship's is not easy to net it alight. I cer- ried oct personal experiments which nature of the remark.

room and acquainted you with the convinced me that a cigarette end Mr. Wence: No, you get me would not ignite it

wrongly.

No Spontaneous Combustion..

tion. The same person said," Your

CORONER'S SUMMING UP.

How long does it take to erect started.

The Value-Of-Life

Later, witness went

£

business.

smaller death by misadventure unless they paid out to different customers were prepared to find that death without the knowledge of the do was attributable to negligence on ¦ fendant

The on:

someone's part, also that the neg- •*. A Yellow Föki'a -Blory, ligence was so gross as to be That night, the defendant got, an

named Ho Ping, had been murdered ledge at the top of the ladder across

in the course of the zobbery, which the fireman can lean to get

Mr. T. Murphy, assistant Direc to work and a "skeleton" all the

tor of Criminal Intelligence, in out- Way down in case the man falls.

lining the case, said that the Ho When the ladder is 10 or 18 feet

Ping Kee shop was started last away from the wall it reaches to

When the Coroner resumed his December. The capital was provid- feet so its total length must be seat, be addressed the jury and said ed by Ho. Ping's father, who, con-. quite 100 feet.

he did not propose to delay themtributed 81,200 to the concern Are these napthaline balls "dan-

"Your Hotels Are Death Traps,"

Foreman of the Jury (Mr. N. s. by any detailed references to the Four fokia were employed in the gerous to use They will bura,

Brown): What is your profession 1 evidence given in the course of the shop originally, but only one was certainly, but I do not think they

Mr. King: I am open to correc-I am an importer.

inquiry for they had the evidence actually in Ha Ping's employ at, lowered the ignition point of the

Do you know anything about in their possession and bad had the time of the robbery. The defen- mixture under discussion. I think hotels here are death-traps." When machinery! Only automobiles, copies of the evidence forwarded to dant was taken on as a shop foki, the quilt must have caught alight on be said that I told him I would see (Laughter.)

them daily since the inquiry was fourteen days after the firm started the outside and burned, inwards. Your Worship about the matter."

Coroner: I am very glad you did, one of these ladders About five It was their duty to find the cause On the evening of March 14, saið Mr. King. I had the statement minutes should think. It took of the death of the deceased Mr. Mr. Murphy, the defendant was Would it be possible for anybody written my Mr. Wencz before me, the Hong Kong Fire Brigade only Woods. On this point, the medical present when the master of the shop to drop a cigarette-end on a quilt but I did not see that any more two or three minutes to erect their evidence would guide them. They counted about 8200 and put it into of this description and set fire to light was thrown upon the matter fadder but then it has to be remem- would further bring in a verdict of the counter. This money was later it I don't think so. It must have and I thought it would save time if bered that their's is come into contact with a flame. I did not call him merely to repeat, affair. lighted match would be more like in the main what others have. Hy to start the fire although I can already said. As it is, I would be give no theory as to how this came the last to obstruct any witness who building should never have been criminal. If they did so find, their advance of 84 from his master and about. All that I can say with wished to come forward. The jury termitted to be used as an hotel verdict would be one of manslaugh went out. The door of the shop was certainty is that spontaneous com were quite satisfied that they were bustion did not occur. Beyond that, aware of all the material facts of There should be a better value I cannot go. `·.

barred on the inside at 8 p.m. and the case and had informed me that placed on human life here. What ter

Beyond this, the scope of the in- it is not clear when the defendant. Continuing, witness said that they had already heard a great was the value, for instance, of the quiry granted them a wide field and returned." A foki of the shop would napthaline balls, providing they many witnesses, and more would lives of those poor souls who their findings should be recorded any that at 9 pm. he heard a creak- have sufficient air, are highly in hardly help them. flammable.

4ng on the ladder in the shop lead- He examined certain samples of police fall information but business it would be much better than having place of origin af the fire and the the defendant explain that he was

Mr. King: Mr. Wencz gave the of saving life is going to cost $25,000 in the form of riders.

They should find if possible, the ing to the cockloft and be also heard wood some of which had come from took him to Shanghai.

another heavy death-roll like that in the future. Tou should have cause of the are, adding whether going out for a while. MR. WENCZ'S EVIDENCE.

they were satisfied that it was of more regulations. for the protection an accidental nature or not. The same faks felt someone seizing him About twenty minutes later, the one surface with polish. According go into the boxz now

Coroner: Then Mr, Wencz will of human life here

Coroner: That does not come valve a verdict of murder."

latter Ending would, of course, in- by the neck. He saw two men in "I the cubicle 'but could not describe Witness said his full name was

into your evidence, Mr. Wencz. You

"Two Government Departments them owing to the darkness. He this polish did not go into teak to Eric Julius Wencz. On the morning have put your opinions before the are concerned, he went on "If, was bound and gagged and could

greater depth than one-fiftieth of of the fire, he was awakened from jury and they will take into con an inch although this polish was sleep by a noise in the borridor cut sideration what you have said. Can you think either or both of them not say if other robbers were at deserve blame, your duty is to say work in the front part of the shop. inclined to make the wood dry sad side his room. He occupied room you tell us any other point in con so. If you are not satisfied with Not hearing anything of the thus slightly more

inflammable. 309 on the third floor, between the nection with the actoal fire 7- The polish on the surface would two staircases, and only one room

Witness: I saw that the iron door the equipment of the fire brigade, robbers alter a few minutes, the

you should say so.. prevent the wood from becoming removed from the Savoy Hotel, leading out was locked.

Safari joki imanaged to free himself and mojst again."

Coroner That has been gone atate of the law which deals with he saw his master covered with a Finally, if you consider that the run out of the shop. On his way Coroner: Do you think this polish Opening his door, he saw fire on into very fully.

the stairs leading to the fire escape is dangerous ?

Mr. King: I have no desire to the legal relations between property quilt, but he did not stop and went and half-landing between the second- Witness: I see no harm in the and third floors. There was a good put any questions to the witness, P., and fire brigade, or the to the Police Station where be made use of it on floors.

P.W.D., and if you consider that a report. S Your Worship, but I gather that he the powers of these two Depart! When the police arrived, they deal of amoke and he could not see complained about delay in arrival ments are unsatisfactory, you faust found the unformate master of the into the hall after a moment

the staircase of the King Edward

Hotel and some from another build.

ing. The wood had been treated on

to experiments witness had made,

Coroner: I trust that will relieve somebody's feelings!

ar

perished in the fire? If the mesus

„

He knew where the fire escape on the part of the fire brigade! was but decided it was impossible

Praise For, Brigade.

Bay so and it is open to you to shop dead. A piece of cloth had The Hotel Letter Box.

suggest on what lines amendments been stuffed into his mouth, and the Inspector Lane said he examined to reach it so he went through his Witness No, I was very much should be made.

man was completely wrapped up in debris which was being removed room and on the verandah over impressed by what they did. I will now adjourn the inquiry in Chinese quilt. Medical examina from the hotel and found the relooking Ice House Street. He ex-Chief ** Brookes helped me to until 12.15 p.m. on Wednesday next, tion showed death' to be due' ta mains of what had evidently been pected the fire brigade to put up recover some papers before the fire as that is the time most convenient | suffocation. luggage. He handed samples to theindders.

was out. I think. the fire brigade to you. The proceedings will not It is not certain how much was previous witness and, a few days There were a number of people in were splendid but their appliances last more than half-an-hour and I stolen from the shop, but according later, also gave him a piece of wood the street below. Returning to his were useless,

shall expect you to make known to the books, there ought to have Coroner The jury desire me to your findings and to return your ver-beon 842 in the safe, which sum from the stairs and & fragment of room, witness noticed the glare of wood from the dining room floor of the flames reflected over the top|thank you very much, Mr. Wencz, diet."

was missing. The reeused did not. the hotel for test purposes.

of the door. The staircase was for your evidence and I am glad The Court then adjourned.

turn up at the shop after the Coroner: What did you do with ablaze and the only place for him you came forward to express your Mr. Wright, of the P.W.D., and robbery and, the police started a the letters that were in the letter to go to was the verandah. Grab views awarded

Mr. Brookes, the Superintendent of search for him. They found him on. box fa

bing some clothes, he dressed him. Witnent; I should like to say, the Fire Brigade, were present but board a stesiner bound for Canton Witness: They are still in police self hastily and waited for a moment Your Worship, that

were not caled upon to give further on March 1 and tool him into. custody, I believe, Your Worship. or two on the verandah. He heard Coroner: There is nothing more evidence,

custody Mr. King:: Mom of the addresses somebody calling from the floor for you to say, thank you. The The jury consist of Mr. N. 8. After formal evidence had been have been found and the letters sent above and thought at first that the Court is now adjourned to the Brown (foreman), Mr. O, Little, and given the bearing was adjourned

remarka were addressed to him.l (Continued, on next Column), Mr. W. Bellamy.

until to-day.