1931-02-03 — Page 7

MRS. XAVIER COMMITTED FOR TRIAL.

WANCHAI SHOOTING INCIDENT, RECALLED: MR. MANTON TELLS HOW HE WAS SHOT, .

PLEA THAT ACCUSED MEANT TO SHOOT HERSELF.

Mr. R. E, Lindsell yestördüy committed Mrs:' J, M. Xavier for trial at the next Criminal Sessions on a charge of shooting Mr. A. J. Manton at a Wanchai flat on December 27 Inst,

Mr. Manton said that he had been living with Mrs. Xavier for six years no man sad wile and that they were tolerably happy, though she neglected the home.

He had tried to break off the relationship many times but had always given way to bar pleading.

On the day of the shooting, they discussed the matter of separation over the tiffin table. Soon afterwards, Mr. Manton heard three shots and found he had been hit. He said that as he was leaving the house after, the shooting, Mrs. Xavier asked him to shoot her.

"MY_CONSCIENCE IS QUIET CLEAR."

HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1931.

I think that latterly when slo knew you weiß Renting her the was somewhat upset 1-Sho was not so bright as she was before.

The Magistrate: Did she appear to you as if she were brooding over the matter.

Manton: Sho may have been brooding over it. She was not so bright as before; she kept her house closed, sir.

Mr. Hodgson: You had, during your life with her, boen vory good

to her, I think ?—Yes. .

Mr. Hodgson: Have you any reason to suppose that the accused knew where you kept your revolver!

ND.

His Worship: But the letter states she did know it.

Mr. Hodgson: This letter states so, yes.

ANCIENT TOMBS IN

CANTON.

RECENT ARCHÆOLOGICAL DISCOVERIES.

[FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

After Dr. I. Nowton, of the Cor- erament Civil Hospital, had given ovidence of the injuries received

CANTON, Feb. 2. by Manton, Mrs. R. G. Xavier gave evidence, in the course of which she archeological interest were. recent- Several ancient tombs of great said that the accused was her sisterly discovered in the north-eastern I think you can anfoly say that On December 27 the accused called suburt of Canton in the course of you know, no reason why she should it witness' house and after a few

maloo construction, The tombs shoot you and do you any harm words of greeting witness told ac- No.

cused to sit down in her sitting and were radically different ia de- were all quits deep in the ground room while she went to have her sign and appearance from those of

Had you over auspected she might

do you any armi ?-Nover.

Can you say you had during your lives together, any real quarrel or tiffs other than a married couple usually have 1--No.

bath,

Missing Revolver, After she had had her bath ahe noticed that the accused was no langer in the house. In answer to a question by the Magistrate, wit-

recent date,

A number of historical objects, including ancient ceramics, bronzes, coins and gems, were unearthed and removed · to the Municipal Museum on the Hill of the Goddess of Mercy for display.

.. Mr. P. M. Hodgson, of Messrs. Manton, continuing, said that tion, holding this revolver in her Too & Hodgson, appeared for the even then he did not realise that sion of horror, surprise or fright ?—the revolver was kept). At about Trap Sun School for Girls was by

accused, Mr. D. L. Strellett, of Mesara, G. K. Hall Brutton, watch ed the case in the interest of Mr. Manton, and Mr. Somerset Fitzroy, the Public Prosecuter, appeared for the Police.

Opening the caso, Mr. Fitzroy said that Manton and the accused had been living together for some time at No. 375, Lockhart Road, Wanchal, and the incident from which the present proceedings re- sulted occurred on December 27, when the accused shot at Manton, firing three shots, all of which took oflect.

Counsel and that the parties had been living, together as man and wife for six years.

the first shots had also wounded him. At the Station he handed the revolver to Acting Sub-Inspector Hynes, and stayed there until the ambulance arrived, when he was

It was not until after he had been admitted thero that he knew he had been wounded in three places.. The Magistrate: Any reason accused should do this?

Manton: Not that I know of, Sir.

Horror, Surprise or Fright? You said that the accused, when said that she left her kors you turned around and saw her, was

sonicwhere before she went for her backing away, in a arouching posi, bath and later she discovered them. attached to her wardrobe (where 'left hand. Was there any expres-

I cannot say."

tiffin timo abe received a futter which was conveyed to her by Mrs. Getz's amah Mrs. Getz, said wit- no, was also her sister,

Of theso ancient tombs, the one discovered on the premises of the

far the most elaborats and com Why I asked you this is because

plote. The discovery, was made who can tell us what the real post. you were the only man in the room.

last week while workmen were tion was. My defense in this case,

levelling the mount just outside I may tell you, is one of accident

After receiving the lotter, witness the campus for a garden. The that is to say she had no inten-waited for her husband'a return taken to the Government Hospital. tion whatever of shooting you, and and they then went upstairs to tomb, which was found Ave foet that the possession of the gun and examine the drawer in the wardrobe doop, resembled a brick tunnel in the use she intended to make of it containing the revolter, but the appearance, and contained a stone was to kill herself in front of you

weapon was missing.

collin. Among the historical ob- 1 Mr. Hodgson: When you saw the when you were in the room. Bear whying that in mind, can you tell us revolver gone, did you know of any jorts found were two bronze dag- whether there was any expression reason why she should take it-gers, four coramic figures of war- mind to say she was horrified in on her face you can carry back to

Detective Sub-Inspector Murphy

riors, each wearing heavy armour: hitting you I cannot say.

of the No. 2 Police Station, said and carrying à lanes, and four Witness added that he made a that at about 118 p.m. on Decem- partially-broken wine cups. dive for the gun because he thought bor 27, accused walked into the she might shoot herself or him Charge Room of her own accord again.

and anid: "Where is my colli I have shot him." Witness told her to keep calm, gave her a chair and told her to sit down. Manton was in the Charge Room and she might have seen him or she might not. Witness escorted Manton to bos pital in an ambulance and on ro turning to Wanchai went to No. 375, Lockhart Road, second floor. He there found three cartridge eases and two live rounds and a ballot.

Mr. Fitzroy: What did you pro- pose doing at this time?

Manton: We proposed to supa rate. She said she had made her arrangements and was satisfied.

The Magistrate: I gather you had been living with hor-Yes.

But by this time, you had agreed to leave her 1-Yea. She seemed to bo quite satisfied with the arrange

Recently they came to the part ing of the ways, and in consequence, the woman was in a highly strung

She got the revolver,; with which she did the shooting ment. from a brother-in-law in Kowloon.

condition.

Alfred Joseph Manton, giving evidoncs, said he was a Traffic In- spector of the Hong Kong Tram ways, Ltd. He had been living with the accused on the second floor of No. 375, Lockhart Read, for twelve months. Another man, who stayed on the floor above, boarded

with them,

On December 27, Manton con tinued, he came home at Avè minutes to one o'clock in the after-

Accused's Husband,

Mr. Hodgson (cross-examining): Mr. Manton, I think that when you first took this lady to live with you, she was then living with her hus- band t-No,

Did she leave her husband I was given to understand that she had been living with him for quite

A number of years.

Mr. Hodgson: Everything you saw there, while in that room, is consistent with the possibility of an accident?

Accident Probable,

Manton: think myself that in the case of a person who has never handled one of these things before, anything could happen. As you can see yourself, anybody who had not received instructions in the use of this revolver is liable to cause an accident. I wouldn't like to be in the same room with my best friend if he was handling one of these things himself.

How for was the away from you when you turned around and grab bed her revolver t-Quite close to me, about three foot,

She could have, without your knowing it, come straight up to you Do you know whether he is still and fired it into your head-Ob in the Colony 1-Yes.

I take it she had nothing to gain The Magistrate: Ber husband is by shooting you 1-Nothing at all.

noon, and sat at the dining table.till living in the Colony.

Accused, who was in the kitchen, thon appeared and took a stat also I have never met him, nt the table. The floor was divided by two wardrobes into two rooms. Where they were sitting could be regarded as the living room,

Manton: She tells me so herself.

Describing the conversation which ensued, Manton said: Accused told me that she had been out to make her arrangements, remark- ing. My brother and sister are

Mr. Hodgson: During your time with this woman, have your two lives been tolerably happy ↑

viously,

What sort of state did you leave room 1-As far as I can recollect, her in when you went out of the

when I took the revolver away from her I threw her on the floor, picked up my hat and called for the amah,

The Magistrate: When you took the revolver from her, did she utter or say anything 1-Nothing, sir.

Mr. Hodgson: As you were go.

Manton: Tolerably happy, except that I have had to continually scolding out, did she not say something, her for neglecting the house and asking you to shoot her -Oh, yos, as I went out sho said "' Shoot me going out gambling.

before you go. Was that one of the reasons for

A female danrestic servant in the your eventually deciding to part employ of Mr. Manton stated that on the return to the house of the and served him. She later went into the kitchen and whilst there fieard three reports resembling the

No

"I Would Never Harm Him." Witness, continuing, said that when accused was charged with at: tompted murder, she stated I don't think I have anything to say, My conscience in quite clear, of any guilty set especially against Manton. I would never harm him."

Mr. Hodgson: When you came back after taking Manton to hoa pital and examined the house of Lockhart Road, did you examine the contents of any cupboards and drawers or anything like that 1-1

did not.

You merely made a superficial examination -That is so.

Do you know who supplied or sent a certain amount of bedding to- accused later1-I know the keys of the flat were sent by Mr. Getz later.

there to get bedding and clothes for Did you know that ho went up her?-I heard so.

Mr. Lindsell; How is that mate-

tial7

Mr. Hodgson: Mr. Getz in look- ing for the clothing came across a letter written by the accused. I am going to give you that letter and I am going to ask you to call Mr.

objects and the inscriptions there- the Ming Dynasty. Judging from on revealed that they belonged to the objects found it appeared that great warrior of ancient times. the tomb must have been that of

The stone coffin is being removed to the Municipal Museum for pre- aervation.

À carchil 'examination of these

north-eastern suburb of the city. During the past six months some 31 tombs were discovered in the

The discoveries were made accl- dentally by workmon constructing highways. Some of the tombs dated as far back as the Han Dynasty, more than one thousand years old. Many of the tombs were struck without the Government or of the discoveries. The workmen even the road foreman being aware pocketed some of the objects of value and sold them to antiquo donters in the city. The Govern- ment traced some of these valu-

ables and bought them back. It is belleved many of the valuable his. torical objects are still in the bands

of these dealers.

COINERS' DEN RAIDED.

PLANT, EQUIPMENT AND COINS SEIZED.,

[FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT:]'

CANTON, Feb. 2. Another counterfeit coiners' den was raided yesterday in Si Kiu, near Canton, through infórmation secretly furnished to Folice Head-

large number of detectives and sol Mr. Fitzroy and the police, but bediers under cover of darkness ap- cause the police did not find it, they pronched the dea, but the counter- refuse to accept it.

feiters fled upon the arrival of the police. The coining plant and all the equipment were seized and re- moved to Canton. Over tire crates of counterfeit coins, most of which were still unstamped, were also taken.

going to look after me.' Isaid: from hort-That was one of the complainant she prepared his moal Gete: I have shown the letter to quarters, Led by an informer, a

She reasons,

That is very kind of them.' then said she would not want the 850 monthly allowance I had agreed

to make over to her, and I said 'All right.'

"Accused next asked me: Do you want your tiffin now! 1 re- plied, 'Yea, please. She called the amah, who was in the kitchen, and at the same time she herself ran towards the kitchen, and presently turned back with a plate of fishị in her hand. She put the plate in front of me and turned away behind me towards the bedroom,

Three Shots.

'I pulled my ohair forward, and 'as I reached out for the knife and fork, I heard the report of two shots fired in 'quick succession be- hind me. A sight pause and I heard another one.

"I did not realise I had been hit

I think she was fond of you Sho seemed to be fond of me.

sound of fire-crackers. She went When did you first broach the to, the door and saw Mr. Manton

Important Letter. subject of your parting with hor 7-holding a revolver. Witness did

After calling further police ovi The first six months of our living not rep the accused, and, on her dence, the case for the Crown was master's instructions, she went into closed. Mr. Hodgson submitted together,

the street to summon a policeman. that the Crown should have called She could not find one and went to Mr. Getz. He said: "Is soema to the house of the accused's sister. me that this letter which your Wor later accused's sister arrived. Mrs. importance to this case. I hayo. alone, but ship has acen is a letter of some Xavier was present and witness shown it to. the police and to Mr. naked what had happened, the ac-Fitzroy and for some reason or other

used replying that she had shot they want to exclude it." Mr. Manton dead,

The Magistrate: You first broach ed the question of your parting during the first six months of your living together i

Manton: Yes. Mr. Hodgson: At other times you mentioned this matter to

Witness returned

have

Wanted Wagasi her t

Manton: At least once in everted my wages." (Laughter.)

Witness added: - I then demand- three.monthis,

His Worship: All you thought about! You didn't care about the master?

A

Mr. Fitzroy: I don't want to ex oludo it. You can put it in if you like,

Two suspects were 'strested Inter in a village nearby.

THE LATE MRS. SHAK.

FUNERAL AT HAPPY VALLEY YESTERDAY,

Mr. Hodgson: It is not for me

The remains of Mrs. Rebecca J. to put it. It was found on the promises and the Crown should have S. Shak were buried at the Catho put it in,

lic Cemetery, Happy Valloy, at 1.30 Mr. Lindsell: I can't see that.pm. yesterday. The Crown did not find it!

Rev. Fr. J. F. Shak officiated with Mr. Hodgson: They did not looie soven other priests, Rev. Ft. Spada, for it.

Fr. Noval, Fr. Paul, Tr. Terruzzi, Mr. Lindsell: There was no in-F Situ, Fr. Lam and Fr. Peter dication that it was there. There Ngal, was no evidence that there was a letter theta explaining what had Mr. Hodgson: If the loiter was shown to the police and there is evidence to show how it was ob tained, surely such evidence should

Woman's Entreaties. And the fact that she stayed with Witness: The master had gone you all the time was due to her to the Police Station;

In replying to Mr. Hodgson, wit entreaties not to leave her 1-Yes. noss said the accused had left the And every time it was on the con-house before the arrival of a police dition that she knocked off gambl-man.

Mr. R. G. Xavier, assistant man Press, and brother-in-law of the accused, identified the revolver pro- duced in Court and said it was kopt loaded in a locked drawer in his wardrobe, together with a baxt be called. of ammunition. He had bad it since 1994 and last saw it about a couple of months prior to the Mr. Hodgson: Between Decein- incident. bec And A 104 December 27 the 1 He Art know it was not in the you

Ho

by the first two, but the third ing and Hoked after the house in ager of the Hong Kong Printing happened.

a proper manner, t

Until you finally gave her to understand that you really intended to leave her tYou."

burned my right arm. I jumped up and turned around' and saw tho defendant in a crouching position, half turned away and backing towards the bed. I saw a revolver The Magistrate: When was that in her left hand with tho mazzle-Between December 2 and 4.

pointing upwards.. I started for

ker.. I then found that I was bleed- ing in the right arm. Calling the amah from the kitchen, I sent her out to fetch a policoman, while I put the revolver in my pocket and made my way out of the house and to the. Police Station,"

Mr. Lindaell: The Crown has no evidence how that letter was ob tained. It is a statement made by you after instructions were given

The funeral was well attended there being more than five hundred prosent, and there were also many wreathe and letters of sympathy,

Wrentha were sent by the follow- ingHoo, Dr. R. II, Kotowall, Mr. Ton Eng Hooi, Mr. Robert Choa, Mr. and Mrs. Hollands, Mr. Andrew Tse Yan, Misa Helena Yu, Mr. and Mrs. C. Mose, Mr. W Luke, the South Chinn Athletic Association, Mr. and Mrs, Leong Tuen Sheong, Mr. Lam Man Pak.

had several conversations with her rodived a letter from his ser- triel at the next Criminal Bessione. Men's Society, the Students and date of the shooting, I suppose. you and gp.m. on December 27, when Lindsell committed her to stand Hang Clu, the Catholic Young about the matter 1-One only; that vant in the handwriting of his Accused did not make a statement. the Staff of the Sacred Heart Col was on the night of December 5. sister-in-law. On receipt of the Mr. Hodgson indicated that the loge, Messrs. Chan Kwok Lemg, But I think you offered her $50 letter, witness went to the drawer defence would be one of "accident,"" | Chan Yee On, S. O. Tsc, Ip Kim por month and part of the furni- and found the revolver to be miss brought about by accused contem- Hung, Dr. Y. Y. Tang, Mossrs. Lai ture after you made arrangements ing. He then went to the Wanchai plating shooting herself. There Tuen Pos, Tsiy Tat Chean, Lam to leave her 1-Yes; $50 and what Police Station and there saw his was also a defence in law of the Yiu Wah, Tom Chung, and many ever of my furniture she required. weapon.

absence of intent.

others.

4

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