1929-08-14 — Page 5

MERCHANTS IN CONCLAVE.

GOVERNMENT LAXITY

"IN KWANGTUNG,

OPPRESSION BY TAX

AUTHORITIES.:

[FROM OCH OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

CANTON, Aug. 13.

The Second Annual Conference

of the merchants of Kwangtung le now being held in the General, Chamber of Commerce. Nearly

900 delegati, sro present; griov. anges against the Government are being aired, trade conditions are being discussed and plans for the promotion of business are being. Considered.

+

THE HONG KONG DAILY PRESS. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14, 1929.

NOVEL POINTS IN WILL DISPUTE.

CHINESE MARRIAGE CUSTOMS AND

CONCUBINE'S RIGHTS.

ALLEGATION. THAT DOCTOR'S SIGNATURE WAS FORGED.

FAMILY DISPUTE LEADS TO LITIGATION.

An allegation that the testator's signature was forged and a dispute between seven sons and a concubins were the salient points. of a cass opened before the Chief Justice (Sir Henry Gollan) in the". Supreme Court yesterday.. ́

The dispute centres around the will of Dr. Hung Kwai Cheong, alias Kung sing. The plaintiff, Dr. Kung Sal" Ohnan, of 350, Queen's Road Central, claims that a will dated February 22, 1999, Lis the true one. The defendants are Hung El Shi (concubine of testator), and Hung Sai Kat and Hung Sai Man (sons of tuia- tor) who deny the claim and require plaintiff to prove the will. They declare that the signature to the will is a forgery.

The chief causes of stagnation of trade in the Province for the past year, according to the delogatca, has been the oppression of the tax farmers, and liken collectära, labour troubles and banditry. The tax collectors have time sɛd again transgressed the limits of their power and overtaxed the people,

Mr. F. C. Jenkin, instructed by J and the delegata trom Ying Ta District complained bitterly that Mr. D. H. Blake, of Mesara, Wilkin. the taxes on pigs and cows have on & Grist, is for the plaintiff, been inflicting untold lowes on and Mr. H. G. Sheldon, instructed stock farmers. The delegate from

COUNSEL FAILS TO EFFECT COMPROMISE.

On the morning of February 22, Ewan called at testator's house to obtain a prescription, and when ^he was told that the old man was ill,

THE SINCERE CO.

BURGLARY.

TWO MEN CHARGED AT

MAGISTRACY,

THIEVES' THOROUGH

METHODS,

Mr. T. M. Haselrigg yesterday discharged the two Chines women who had been detained for two weeks on a charge of possession of, a quantity of jewellery stolen from Memra. Sincero's.

Two men were arraigned before. his Worship at the same time, one charged with, burglary and with breaking out of the premises and

the other with receiving stolen, pro

perty,

**Filmay ** Locks,

The jewellery stolen, ssid Inspec- toy Shannoa, was all jade and caÍDA from the jade department. The (burglars" did, not touch any other department. The locks on the show' cases, which were described nå "Rimsy arrangements" vera open ed by the burglars and several trays were emptied of their con- tents. In making their exit the burglars forced a shatter behind one of the doors, using an auger of a' size which corresponded with one discovered later by the Police Among the first defendant's pro- perty.

"As regards the actual exit of the burglars Inspector Shannon stated that there were two possibilities. They either got out by the fire escape on the Praya side of the

QUALITY WITH SERVICE

SOLID SILVER

CIGARETTE BOXES & CASES

building, or else climbed from roof $25.00 To $65.00

At the outset of proceedings, Do tective Inspector Shannon applied for leave to withdraw the charges against the two women and hisen to believe that the thieves got Worship accordingly discharged out by the escape. these defendants.

the boarding houses in to roof until they reached one of that vicinity. The Inspector was inclia,

Polts on the Move.

Pakhai similarly complained that by Mr. H. J. Armstrong, is for the ed. There were then four people. Sincere's had been broken into dur- found the two defendants from]

),

low voice and produced a piece of Testator spoke to Sai Lan in

paper bearing Chinese writing on it and asked Sai Lan to read through it. It was the rough draft of a will in testator's handwriting. After Sai Lan bad read it, testator which he did.

The following day, said Inspector Shannon, Detective Sergeant Flat- tery received information which led him to raid No. 40 Gage! Street. In the

rear cubicle he

whom however, he was not able to get any information. The Sergeant the name of the Mei Chow Hotel came across an envelope bearing

and marked room No. 14. He took the two defendants there and the employees of the Hotal identifi-

the Government litin collectors defendants. there have been very arbitrary in "An alternative ples by defend- inposing duties on bamboo ware, They collected what they pleased, ants is, that on February 22, and the merchant had to pay or testator did not know and approve ele his goods were held up. The of the contents of the will upheld delegate from Ling District com- plained of the "protection fees by plaintiff. They allege that on demanded by bandits on vessels February 20, by reason of illness, passing through certain parts of that district. Stories of the ba testator became unconscious and asked him to make a clean copy, tion that one of the doors inside ed them ai the occupants of room haviour of the tax farmers and remained unconscious until Febr- likin collectors and of the bandits uary 23, when he died. and pirates occupied a large part of the session.

The defence further allege that testator made his last will on The delegates pointed out ex-February 18, 1999; which was proved plicitly that until the Government before & Court of competent juris in willing remove these obstacles diction, the local Court of Canton, to commerce it is no us hoping on February 21, 1929, and it was for better trade in the Province.

registered as the last will of testa- General Chea 3ing Shu accepted tor. Finally, the defendants ask na invitation to address the open leave to nie a counter-claim. ing session of the, Conference. He said that the Government would Sorry State of Affairs.!! do what it could to encourage trade

Opening the case for the plaintiff, and improve the conditions of the Mr. Jenkin said it would be clear people throughout the Province. He stressed the necessity of closer from a perusal of the statements of co-operation between capital and claim and defence that there was a

very sorry state of affairs in the

Here, counsel remarked, it was interesting to note that the ether will produced by the defendants was in the handwriting of another son.

Outlining the case against the men, Inspector Shannon stated that at 1.30 am. on July 28 the Folies received information that the he went into the bedroom and talk-jewellery department of Mesars present, in addition to testator, Kwan, Sai Chuen, Sai Lan and Li in the night Detective Sergeant Chun Chung.

Murphy was sent down and found third Boor, facing the Sun Com that the verandah door on the

pany had been forced and entrance apparently was gained that way. It was found on further examine

the jewellery department, leading No. 14. In the room the Police to the general exit had also been found two suitcases; both of which on the were locked. The first defendant forced and the lock was floor.

produced the necessary keys and *(Coatinued on next Columa)...

on opening the cases it was found Continuing, he said testator took

that one of them contained the the clean copy from Sai Lan and asked Kwan and Li to`sign as

stolen jade done up in a neat par Mr. Jenkin said his instructions witnesses to his signature, which

were that that was entirely untrue.

cel of Chinese newspaper and tied they did. Sai Lat and Li then left, If Sai Lan had been so adopted, up in a handkerchief. The other na did Kwan, after he had been prehis surname of Hung would have bag contained a complete burglar's scribed for by Si Chuen. All this accurred on February 22, at about 60k and he would not be a member outfit including a fountain-pen- eleven o'clock in the morning.

of the Hung family.

torch, a piece of wire which could Status of doncubines,

We used as a pick-lock, small files the tiffin adjournment, and a five-in-one, a handy arrange

ment easily concealed dad con- whether his father had ever taken 4 tin fong wife He replied that sisting of hammer, hatchet, pair aware that his father had kept many cutter. The auger which was used he did not know although he was of pincers, turn-screw, and wire

concubines. No members of the family had been asked to attend a for boring holes was also discover marriage between his father and så ed...

in fong wife as was customary Inspector Shannon stated that among the Chinese.

the defendants were taken back to No. 40 Gage Street and there an

custody and the next morning an- other woman was arrested. These were the two women who were

Testatori Doctor.

Alter

labour and between the Govern- family. He had done everything. Li Fung Chi, would be called. He Plaintiff was asked by Mr. Sheldon!

ment and the merchants, »

AN IMPROVED CURRENCY,

NEW NOTES AND MORE BULLION FOR CANTON.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] CANTON, Aug. 13.

possible until the very last moment to effect a settlement, but he had not succeeded.

His Lordship remarked that it seemed rather tragic.

At the date of his death, sald Mr. Jenkin, testator bad founded and was sole proprietor of five medicine shops, in Hong Kong,

and Macno.

A very old friend of testator, Dr. would speak of having seen testator the afternoon at about four or five o'clock His evidence would be that testator was anything but un- conscious.

Counsel went on to deal with the burial on March 1 and the reading of the will afterwards when Do objection was taken to it. He add-

Pending the approval of the Pre. Canton City, Honam, Kongmoon, ed that the grandson, Wing Cheng, examination, plaintiff agreed that amab was found and taken into

vincial Council, the Cantos branch of the Central Bank of China ie In all, he had seven sons. The going to make another issue of plaintiff was the fifth son, the third $3,000,000 in notes.

The issue is and sixth sons were the last two expected to appear in the course defendants, the first defendant was of the next two or three days but a concubine. The first six sons were to prevent the market being food by testator's kit fat wife, but the ed with notes, the Bank will remove other, Sai Fook, was born of the from its vaults old banknotes to a first defendant. The eldest son, Sai corresponding total value and de- Yuc, predeceased testator, leaving stroy them. The issue merely a son named Wing Chong (testator's

took an important part in the funeral rites.

Afterwards, the people went away and Sai Chuen returned to Hong Kong on the next day. As he was appointed executor in the will, he applied for and was granted probate of the will by the Hong Kong Sup- reme Court, and on March 26, the defendants entered a caveat which cate" as a bombshell, no objec tion having been raised at the read ing of the will.

After dealing with correspondence which passed, counsel said it was

In the course of further cross

it was also customary to consult the senior female member of the family before a Chinese took a wife. He was certain that no female re lative had been consulted at any time in connection with an affair of this description.

discharged at the outset of the day's proceedings.

Later, acting on information sup- plied by the first defendant, the Fisiatiff said that Hang Sai Kat Police recovered further jewellery had several sons who married after stolen at the same burglary. the death of the kit fat wife but he Charged at the Police Station, the did not know if any woman of the first defendant admitted taking family had been consulted about part in the burglary. The second the marriages Plaintiff also had defendant who is only charged married daughters but the only per with receiving stated that be mision obtained was from plain would certainly have gone to the Police had he known that the jewel- obtained from any woman relativé.lery given to him by the first de- In reply to further questions put fendant was stolen. by counsel, plaintiff said that it was customary for the concubine highest in raak among the concubines to be considered the head female mem- bar of the family but he could not remember who filled that position when his daughter got married.

means, therefore, the replacement grandson). of old notes by new ones.

The second son, who was now the Since the exchange of notes of surviving oldest son, went into one and five dollar denominations ordinary commercial life and for for eilver has been operating con- some years. he had been the pro- not until three months after plaintiff's father. No permission was fidence in the notes has returned. prictor of a pageantry shop in Cantiff's petition, two and a half Practically every shop in the city)ton, where he provided parapher- months after the caveat and over is accepting Government noten at aalia for ceremonial purposes. All par value and it is expected that the other sous fallowed their father's notes of all denominations will be footstepa with varying degrees of redeemable at the Central Bank inability and success. the future. Mr. Chow Min Chu,

Counsel said his instructions were Manager of the Bank, in a state- ment to the local Prena, stated that that the fifth son, Hung Bai Chuen, this would be arranged before the was the most competent in the end of the month.

two months after the first letter asking for details of the objection, that the other side disclosed the will dated February 16, for the first time,

***Process of Vilification," medical profession and was regard-wills and to compare them. The Mr. Jenkin went on to read the The second batch of siver bul-ed by his father as the mainstay plaintiff's will laid it down that the ber, tumcunting to about $4,000,000, of the businesses. He took my this businesses should continue to be has arrived ifely at the Mint. Hong Kong business, eventually, his managed in the ame way they had The orignment reached Hong father returning to Honam where been managed to the date of testa Kong from Shanghai last Saturday, he had a house sud a hope's death, tor's death, the only exception being from whenes it was brought up to

At the date of testator's death, that Sai Man (the accountant) was Canton this morning. Mr. So Fan continued counsel, Hung Bai

transferred from Hong Kong to Nins Managing Director of the Chuan was in charge of Hong Kong Honam to take his father's place Mint, personally went to the British Sai Kat was in charge of Canton, The profits from the business were Colony to fetch it. The bullion will Sai Fook was in charge of Honam, to be equally divided between the

silver pieces.

and the grandson, Wing Chong, was auce for an ancestors' fand, in charge at Macao.

It gave no preference at all in Up to and just prior to the the shares and Sai Chuen was ap father's death, the other son, Sei pointed executor. It lay with him Nam, was engaged in Hong Kong to direct changes, if he so chase, As an accountant and in selling in the managements, extend the medicine across the counter with business and employ members of the Bai Chuen, and had been so assist family, standar ing for about 25 years.

CHIANG KAL SHEK RECEIVES

CANTON OFFICIALS.

"

Wife for 20 YeAIN? Plaintiff reiterated that, at that

Members of the firm of Messrs. Sinceres then went into the witness box and identified the jewellery as the property of their firm.

-W* The Scene at Sincere's,

Sergeant Murphy then described his visit to Messrs. Sincere's follow- ing the burglary.

He said that in answer to a call,

time, he did not nak his father if he proceeded to Bincere Co. at. 7.15 he had a tin fong wife, nor did ha a.m. and went up to the third put it to plaintiff that he knew and after further investigations, make any inquiries Mr. Sheldon boor. He found a broken door perfectly well that Hang Chen Hi he was convinced that entry was was testator's kit fat wife for over made by this door. 20 years but plaintiff denied all knowledge of this fact, wood and explained to his Wor- He produced several pieces of be made injo ten and twenty ceit Sai Luk was in charge of Kongmoon seven sons, after making an allow into the family, he said,'' she was |

When the woman was admitted ship how he came to that theory.

Referring to the method of addressed as Ah Lo, which was escape, Sgt. Murphy was of the nams or expression often applied to opinion that there could have been concubines Plaintiff said he knew two ways as already described. that Hung Li Shi was his father's

Continuing his evidence, witness concubine and was treated very well said that together with Sgt. Flat by him. As a matter of fact, histery, he went to the first floor of father and this defendent had lived No. 40. Gage Street, and in a rear together in Honam for about ten cubicle he found the first and the years. A second defendants aitting together. Plaintiff went on to say that The first defendant could not an- when he first say the draft of the derstand Cantonese but the second will on February 3 he at once re Was more conversant with the cognised the handwriting as that of dialect, his father. Later, a clean copy was made and his father, who was it ting up in bed moking a pipe eighteen hours before his death, burned the old copy.

¿Wak Tez Tat Pão)·

SHANGHAI, Aug. 13.

Chiang Kai Sbek received Gen.

Died in His Sleep, eral Chen Tsai Tong and Admiralt Chen-Chak on Monday morning, On about February 14, 1929, news and discussed with them the dis was received in Hong Kong that bandment and reorganisation of the the father was ill, and plaintiff at troops and the naval affas in once went to Canton, arriving there Kwangtunga

on the morning of February 15. Sai Man followed the next day. Plaintiff found his father weakening physically and remained, tending him until the early hours of Febr uary 23, when he died in his sleep. He died of senile decar

REPORTED DERAILMENT ON K CAR.

On the contrary, the defendants' will took away from the fifth son the management of the Kongmoon business and took the Macso busi- nas away from the grandson,

By a process of vilification of a very extraordinary nature, the will was all in favour of the encubine, the third, sixth and twelfth sons, | gad the eldest surviving mot, Bai Lan, was wholly barred,

Reading the defendants will, Mr. Jenkin said it stated that Sai Chuen NO CASUALTIES. :

had been unprincipled and if he Mr. Jenkin went on to refer to wis allowed to stay in the Hong An unconfirmed report last night two other people, unrelated to the Kong shop he would ruin the basi was to the effect that an accom family, Kwan Ka Lun and Li Chum ness. It asked two of the defend modation train from Canton was Chung. Kwan, the first witness of note to manage that business, derailed at Shumchi st 4.45 pm the will, was a boarding house With regard to Eat Lan, the willgeries "On the other hand, another yesterday (Tuesday) afternoon. keeper and was the son of an old stated it was on record that be was There were no casualtion, friend of testator. Li was at one adopted by some other family and The train arrived in Bowloon at time an employed of Sai Lan, and the matter had already been tried solclock last night, being about about a year ago became a partner by Government department. three hours later than usual.

with him in the pageantry shop. (Continued minext Column)...

In searching the room, witness saw an envelope with the name of the Mei Chow Hotel marked on it. With this clue, anid : 8gt. Murphy, he, together with the other Police officers looking after the case, was able to locate the missing property,

S

Replying to Mr. Bheldon, plain til mid he did not agree that the handwriting on two envelopes pro duced in Court was that of his ** In answer to the second accused, father. His father's handwriting witness admitted that none of the was more neat. The envelopes were stolen property was found on him. certainly not very skilfully for Witness denied that the second ac ensed explained anything at all to document, written 28 years ago, him when he entered the cubicle might possibly be in his father's but he told his Worship, that the handwriting Meta

second accused might have explain. The case was adjourned until thired something to a Chinese detec morning

tive.

SOME NEW

DESIGNS HAVE JUST ARRIVED.

THE CHEAPEST

IN

THE COLONY.

INSPECTION CORDIALLY INVITED.

AT

*CRAWFORD'S"

SOMETHING NEW

IN BOXES.

THE "NEW." 'FLAT' DESIGNS IN THE LATEST

"' ENGINE-TURNINGS,”

$25.00 To $150.00

THE FINEST SELECTION IN THE COLONY

AT

LANE, CRAWFORD, LTD.

MAGIC METER

The Viva-tonal Columbia

POPULAR TABLE GRAND

BRITISH MADE

DOUBLE SPRING

MOTOR

NEW COLUMBIA

PIANO-REFLEX

· TONE" ARM

NEW "COLUMBIA" No. 8 SOUND BOX ·

IN OAK *** $110 — IN MAHOGANY ... $125 Less 10% Discount for Cash.

The Anderson Music Co., Ltd.

ESTABLISHED 1888.

TAK

CHEONG

50/2, QUEEN'S ROAD CENTRAL.

The Neverbreak Wardrobe Trunks are the best known. trunks in the world and offer the utmost value,

Fall-Size...

$150.00 Cabin Size $115.00

Also just received an entirely new line of Hand Wardrobes

(a short trip requires just such luggage). Note below the Packing List -

Extra Pr. Trousers 12 Collar Fr. Gelf Kalckers 12 Pr. Hose

1 Fair Golf Hose 12 Handkerch'res

Laungo Raba79 2 Pr. Shown Butts Underwear 1 Tollet Case 3 Fr. Pyjamas 6 Shirts

Price: $55.00,

[8211