1929-09-18 — Page 5

"

L

Is the

CANTON WORSHIPS THE MOON.

POPULACE AND THE "HIGHBROWS.”

FIERCE PROPAGANDA,"

TROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

CANTON, September 17.

In spite of the hostile attitude of the Canton Government in general and the Society for the Amelioration

DRIED FISH AND BEANS.

SANITARY BOARD

· DISCUSSION.

CONCESSION TO STALL. HOLDERS,

"Some discussion occurred at the meeting of the Sanitary Board yes-

of Customs and Manners in parti- | terday over the suggested abolition cular, the Moon Festival is being of sundrios" atalie from Reclama- celebrated to-day more or less në

tion Street Market. The Chair- usual by the populace. The firing of firecrackers was beard every man, Mr. T. W. Carrie, said that where this morning and «nerificing sites in the Market were originally of joss sticks, candles, sweetmeat let to dealers in "sundries" (prin- and other symbols, was in evidenco throughout the day. The city tem cipally dried fish and hean curd) ples are also doing brisk business, owing to the fact that there were but not so much as on former ac-insufficient eellers of fresh food- casions of this sort. The priests stuffs to fill all the vacant sites. got up very early to receive the worshippers, mostly women and girls, and invoke for them the bleas ings of the gods.

As the place developed, however, it had been found necessary to issue sundries" stallholders with notice to quit in order to mice But compared with last year way for fresh foodstuE stall. This celebrations are somewhat quieter. did hot mean, however, that the The Amelioration Society is staging" sundvies" merchants would be a big anti-superstition demonstra put right out of business because tion to-day at the Headquarters of they could still cell their wares out the Provincial Kuomintang. Hand-side the market. bills denouncing superstition, idel worship and the like are being dis-

Extension Granted,

the

The Chairman agreed to concede notice he given to expire on Dec. even more and suggested that

of this year,

THE HONG KONG DAILY PRESS. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1929.

INDIAN CONSTABLE MURDER CASE.

PRISONER'S CONFESSION AT SESSIONS TRIAL.

i

ADMITS THE CRIME AND ACCUSES THE WOMAN.

VERDICT OF MANSLAUGHTER.

A statement made by the prisoner shortly, after his arrest was emphasised by counsel for the defence at the second day's trial at” the Criminal Sessions yesterday of Lam Ling for the murder of an Indian constable, Sapuran Singh. In the witaess-box, the prisoner gave a story of the murderous attack having been mads by the woman in the case and her lover, but he broke down under cross-examination, and admitted that he killed the Indian himself, adding that it was done with the assistance of the woman.

14

The jury brought in a verdict that they found the prisoner guilty of manslaughter, and he was sentenced to ten years' im- prisonment with hard labour. On hearing the sentence, the prisoner remarked: "I prefer to be hanged than to serve ten years in gaol " Mr. H. Somerset Fitzroy pro- | girl and prisoner Later prisoner secuted for the Crown, and Mr. C. threw the revolver away and witness G. Alabaster, K.C., instructed by went in chase. Witness recovered Messrs. Deacons, appeared for the the revolver and kept it at his house defence, when the murder trial was

until another man suggested he resumed before the Chief Justice should hand it over to the British (Sir Henry Gollan) in a crowded Police. He chased the prisoner for about an hour, being himself armed with a revolver.

and all that she had to do was to give a direct answer to "any ques tions which might be asked.

tributed by the thousand to the The stallholdiers concerned were people on the streets. All the prin-accordingly given notice to quit by | Court room. cipal thoroughfares are placarded the end of June but, when the

Girl Continues Her Evidence. with "slogans, some of which are as speaker took over office, the notice follows: Eliminate religious and was extended to expire on Septem- The girl, Chan Kui, who created social Superstition": Banish 30. Thus they had received at a scene the previous day, re-entered Superstitious Thoughts and Harbour least six months' actual notice,

the witness-box for cross-examina- no Superstitious fears"; "Away Mr. M. K. Lo said that he sup- with the geomancers, fortune tellers, ported motion but " asked tion. She was assured by His Lord- Buddist priests, nuns, and all kinds whether the public would be pre-ship that she had nothing to fear, of Spiritual Crooks Demolish judiced by the Board grapting all Temple Gods, Idols and the further two months' extension." like To Eliminate Superstition is to cleanse Caston, the Birthplace of the National Revolution, "of Blasphemy "To do away with Superstition is to remove the Ob-heing adopted. stacles to Politica! Beconstruction"; "we want to make Canton into a Model City we must climinate'} A minute by the President as to superstition in whatever form or authorising Sanitary inspectors G. shape and the Elimination of D. Reid, J. T. Lacey, G. B. Frost, Superstition is essential social re- and W. E. Allen to eater premises construction based on Dr. Sun's and inspect and seize unwholesome San Min Chu I."

food in accordance with section 82 of the Public Health and Buildings Ordinance (1803) was the next bone of contention.

- WAR ON TEMPLES.

The Board agreed to this course

The Society is also taking steps to conoscate temple and monastary property and turn it into school, etc. It contends that in this pre- sent age of scientific enlightenment there is no need for such places It will ask the Provincial Govern ment to take action in this diree-day.

Sanitary Inspectors.

the number of Inspectors already Mr. M. K. Lo pointed out that totalled 60 or 70 and the Section referred to of the Ordnance gave them powers to enter premises at any time during the night or the This was likely to inconvenience The crusaders are also trying to large firms and the speaker sug force the Government to inercase gested that the powers given by the taxes op spirit money, red the Ordinance should only he grant candles, clothings and furniture fored to a very few Senior Inspectors. the dend, joss Sticks and other ancrificial materials, The Society

tion.

►

Minute Withdrawn.

Mr. Alabaster: Did not your mother sell you to the prisoner so that you could be his wife when you grew up i

Witness: That is not true. I was forcibly taken away by the prisoner.

Although, according to your own story, you were kidnapped, yet you went on living with him in the same He threatened to kill me. village - did not do no willingly.

But your mother and your aunt were in the same village, and so how can you-any-that 1-You must know that he is a robber. He was 89 fierce that my mother and my aunt feared him and he threatened to kill them all.

But your mother allowed you to hopes that the prohibitive cost of pointed out, that it would be a

The Chairman did not agree but live with him?-She knew, but after this paraphernalia will soon prevent. the populace from buying it and difficult matter for the Sanitary a month she asked me to return superstition gradunty he dispensed Department to work efficiently in home, and it was then the prisoner this respect if one man was author. In addition to all this the Societysed and another was not. I. for threatened to kill her.

instance, a junior inspector dis-

with.

will ask both the Provincial and the Municipal Government to issue an order barring all temples gods, idols and tablets from shrines. The Society, argues that so long as there objects remain they are bound to be worshipped and patronised by the ignorant and illiterate. The thing to do is to sweep them aside. The people,seeing all their gods des troyed, will naturally turn to seek an explanation of the supernatural through exact science!"

HIGH HOLIDAY!

announced that there will be no

A police interpreter stated in evi. dence that, he took down a state. ment made by the prisoner after he had been duly cautioned. The prisoner's answer in reply to the charge was "I know nothing about

it."

In answer to Mr. Alabaster, wit- ness agreed that before this state- ment was made by the prisoner he had asked five questions to which answers were given

Prisoner's Statement to Police:

How did Wong ŝight 1-I saw him pressing the Indian down and Chan Kui assisted him. Chan Kui used a chopper to cut the Indian. I interfered and got cuts in my hand, Both Chau Kui and Wong were using choppers. The two choppers in Court were "those used.

Did the Indian die instantly No.

Who took the revolver Í-Ah Wong, he handed it to Chan Kui.

What did you do 1-Ah Wong and

Chan Kui ran away. I followed and saw Wong board a bus for Kowloon City Chan Kui did not board the 'bus. I lost sight of her. Later I saw her at a theatre. We then went to Laichikok and spent the night there.

Where was the revolver 1-Chan Kui had it in her girdle,

,,

Did you fire at the two men who were following you Yes, because they accused me of kidnapping tha girl. Chan Kai suggested I should fire at them because we were in Chinese territory and the laws were more severe than in British teri ritory. The men accused me of kidnapping and I was linble to be shot.

Why did you not tell the police this story ?—I am obliged to tell everything in Court to-day as Chan Kui gave false evidence againat me. She wants to see me sentenced to death and I must prove to every body that I am innocent.

A Strange Confession, In the course of the severe cross- examination, the accused suddenly lost his temper and began to tell Mr. Fitzroy yet another story.

You struck the "Indian with the chopper 1-Yes, the smaller of the Mr. Alabaster proposed to put in had raped by wife.

two. I was in a rage because be He deserved to one of these questions and the an-die. He struck me with the trun- if he allowed it he would ask Mr. swer, but His Lordship said that

cheon.

Did you strike him several times i questions so that the jury would snatching the chopper from the Alabaster to go through all the-Naturally I did. I was quick in have the whole facts before them. Indian. Supposing he had killed me Counsel thien put the five questiona cuted

would the Indian have been prose. and answers to witness, who agreed they were correct,

The last question, and answer, which Mr. Alabaster said was the most important, rend as follows: How did you come by the cuts on

constable gave me 30 cents and told your person? Because the Indian

me to buy some wine to drink After I had left he then committed

You said before that Wong and Chan Kui cut the Indian 1-That is not true. What I said about them given faise evidence and I wanted was trumped up. Chan Kui had to do something in return.

Witness continuing said that it must be clear to the Judge and

commit the murder alone. tribunal that he alone could not "Who else but Chan Kui could be my assist ant -The Indian attacked me with the chopper, but I was too quick

You now say you and Chan Kui killed the Indian 1-Yes, and ther we ran away.

a rape on my wife. I came back for him. covered the slaughtering of pigs you and prisoner walked to Taipo?-doing. He then struck me with a You remember that night when and asked him what he has been mises and had to run about to find Yes. going on at right on certain pre-

the game would be up." some senior officer to take action,

Cases of this kind were not numerous, he added, and were few and far between.

י

/

Fight Between Prisoner and Indian,

Did you see a fight with bamboo

Speech for the Defence.

Alabaster said that he must confess In his concluding speech Mr. the case was a peculiar oac. Had the accused in the last few minutes not withdrawn the evidence given earlier. counsel would not be able to reconcile the two stories. The story the accused told Mr. Fitzroy, continued counsel, was substantially the same as he told the police in Ithose five questions. So far as they are able to test the answers to those questions, they stand unshaken. The story fits the position in which the body was found, and also bears out Dr. Valentine'a evidence,

truncheon on the head. I snatched Did you not ask him to shoot the the truncheon from him with my two men who were following you in hand. He then drew his revolver: order that you both could escape I also snatched the revolver from No.

hiu and throw it away. He then picked up a chopper and struck me three times with it. I again snatch ed the chopper from him and struck It was then him back with it. about 1 midnight. I did not know whether he was alive or dead. picked up the revolver, and with

asked the prisoner to return the 32.

What did the Indian do -He my wife I went to Shamsbuipo to sleep. On the morning of the fifth Yes, but what did he do when he day (July 11) I walked to Shatin was struck with the pole The where I took the train to Shum fudian snatched the bamboo pole Chun. from the prisoner and struck him back.

Mr. Lo was not satisfied, how. ever, and asked whether the Chair- man thought the case would be met by giving authority to each And every inspector of the Depart ment to enter ali slaughter houses? That was

a different matter and polen between the Indian constable The Government has definitely would possibly meet with public and the prisoner?-Yes. I saw the holiday to-day and that its offices approval. will remain open as usual. But the

But private shops-and the Ordi Prisoner use a bamboo pole and populare is disregarding the Goyance mentioned any premises" strike the Indian. ernment order and celebrating the make some limitation of the I

were another matter, "Why not Moon Festival with feasting and merry making. Every shop through- spectors' powers! Under the terms out the City and every boat on the of the Ordinance, he concluded, Inspectors could enter any pre. river is decorated in honour of mices and could knock up Sin. the Moon deities. The moon itselleere's after midnight, for instance, is supposed to be rounder to-night and ask whether a tin of sardines than at any other time-of-the-year was good

bad. The minute was withdrawn,

SUN FO'S CANTON VISIT.

EXPECTED NEXT WEEK.

[FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.].

How long did the fight last 1-I don't know. The prisoner asked me to help him while he was fight ing with the Indian. I said I did PROJECTED SOUTH CHINA not want, to and then the prisoner told me to go away.. I got frighten, RAILWAY.

ed and ran away.

Did you take the revolver with you 1-No.

CANTON TO YUNNANFC.

Nam Cung Pin

•

Before this fight began did the Indian send the prisoner away to buy something!--No.

He

Chau Kui and Her Lover. Questioned by Mr. Alabaster, the prisoner gave the following answers from the witness-box.

Mr. Alabaster: At what time on that day (July 10) did you see the Indian constable?

shelter where I lived.

Accused: About 11 p.m., at the

time I went out for a walk at 7. Where had you been up to that

p.m, and returned at 11 p.m.

When you arrived what was going

Did you hear anything -The Chiness was the lover of Chan Kui At that time he (the lover) had already attacked the Indian and the latter was dying.

the accused was knocked down. It It was clear, said counsel, that

was also clear that both men were armed with choppers, as the accus- ed had cuts on his hands. It was a severe fight. What other motive could be have than what the accused had already suggested about the

woman,

In conclusion Mr. Alabaster asked the jury to carefully consider the that was true then he was acting answer to the 6fth question. If

under grave provocation., If there accused should be given the benefit was any doubt in their minds the

of auch doubt.

Kui, the Indian, and a man (Chi-had been committed and prisoner Mr Fitzroy after reviewing the on -I saw three persona, Chan evidence submitted that a murder

was the guilty man.

His Lordship summed-up the evi dence and dealt with the legal as peete of the case.. He asked the jury to consider whether or no the In reply to other questions, wit.

accused acted in self defence, to pesa said she went for her brother How did you get the cuts on our

protect his own life, in which case and returned to the shelter with hapda l-It was in the dark. When the killing would be justified. On Her brother told the prisoner I saw all this I thought I would the other hand they had to consider that he was a robber and that he be involved in trouble.

the full facts of the case as present-

him.

1)

CANTON, September 17, Word has been recived in focal official circles that Mr. Sun Fo is leaving Shanghai for Canton on September 21, and expects to arrive here about next Tuesday. Accom- The Ministry of Railways is plan-

And when the defendant came panying him will be Mr. Wu Tehning the construction of a line Shing, Dr. Tai Chu Tau, Chan- between Canton and Yunnanfu, the back, you and the Indian were cellor of Sun Yat Sen University, capital of Yunnan. A group of together and the Indian was un and other prominent

певе). officials surveying offwers has been sent by dressed 7-That is not true. General Chen Ming Shu, chief of the Ministry to prospect likely never went to buy anything for the the civil administration of Kwang-routes and work was started on Indian and it was the prisoner who tung, Mr. Tang Yin Wa, Commis- the 13th inst. The authorities of told the Indian to take his clothes aioner of Reconstruction, and Mr. Kwangtung, Kwangsi and Yunnan off. Fan Ki Mo, Commissioner of have been instructed to afford pro- Finance, who went to Nanking tection and facilities to the officers, Bometime ago to confer with the The Minister of Railways, Mr. Central Government, are also said Sun Fo who is coming south short to be returning to Canton with Mr. ly, will negotiate with the Canton authorities with regard to the ly in the interest of higher educa-work as soon as possible. At pre Dr. Tai's trip to Canton is pure scheme and it is hoped to begin tion. Sun Yat Sen University, sent it takes over forty days to Government institution established travel from Canton to Yunnanfu by the late Dr. Sun himself, will rid Kwangsi. The journey by Farmer Retrieves the Revolver. begin its autumn term on Septem water is by way of Hong Kong Ler 19, and the Chancellor is return and Haiphong.

How the revolver came back to ing to see how things are going. According to plans of the Minis. Police Headquarters was related by The University is taxed to its

The Accused Oros-examined. try, the line will be from Cantona farmer living in the Chinese ter atmost capacity and at the last en vid Shishing, Samshui, Takhing, ritory. He said that be was tend In cross-examination by Mr. examination there were Fungchuen, Wuchow, Tonghaica, ing cattle in the fields when he Fitzroy, the accused said that Chan trance nearly 3,000 candidates. Out of Mongkiang, Pingnan, Kweiping, observed four persons on the rail- Kui's Jover was a man named Ah this number, less than 200 passed Wuting, Tungpin. Chienkiang, Tu- way line, He saw the girl throw Wong, The latter had visited the the tests and were duly admitted.an, Tunglon, Haingyi, Loping, Tze something to the prisoner and then hut several times to flirt with Chau The candidates were from all parts chung, Luling and then to Yunheard shots fired in the direction Kju, and accused had made reports of South China.

of two men who were following the to the police,

Sun Fo.

nenfu.

After an absence of ten minutės,

Indian so that he (prisoner) might by the lover. I thought I would unanimous in their finding that the had kidnapped his sister and that The Chief Justice: Saw whated by both sides. be wanted to hand her over to the I saw the murdering of the Indian the jury announced that they were get money for himself,

be involved as I lived in the accused was guilty of manslaughter. shelter. I went to separate them and in so doing Chan Kui and her lover cut my hand with a chopper.

jury had done wisely in returning His Lordship remarked that the

auch verdiet, owing to the state of the evidence. Still, the accused had killed a man and the circum- would be ten years' imprisonment stances were serious. The sentence with hard labour.

hysterical scene was enacted in the At the close of the trial another. corridor of the Court by the girl witness, Chan Kui..

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1929

Classified List of Manufacturers and Merchants in Japan,

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Hong Kong Daily Press Office.