1932-08-09 — Page 7

FUNG MURDER CASE

SESSIONS TRIAL BEGINS: “FAY" IN WITNESS-BOX.

DEFENCE OBJECTS TO ZIMMERN AND CHRISTIE AS WITNESSES.

Perhaps never before in the history of criminal trials at the Supreme Court has so much public interest been shown as when Cheng Kwok Yau stood in the dock yesterday before His Honour the Chief Justice, Sir Joseph Kemp, on a charge of procuring the murder of Geo. Fung.

Every available seat in the Court was occupied when the doors were opened. The strong cordon of police posted at the doors to keep a check on the number of people going into Court, had their work cut out to prevent the Court-room from being rushed.

CROWDED COURT LISTENS TO CASE FOR PROSECUTION.

HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, TUESDAY, AUGUST 9, 1932.

met by accused. They quarrelled EUROPEAN CHARGED and carried their quarrel to 80, Village Road, where accused struck the girl.

The next morning Lai Ming Fai left and throw in her lot with George Fung.

Mr.

WITH BEING DRUNK AND DISORDERLY.

When

Thomas Gibbison was Lindsell geferred to the

charged at Kowloon Magistracy aubsequent meeting of the girl and accused at

the Hongkong Hotel yesterday with being drunk and where the accused said he would disorderly in Salisbury Road on spend all his money to prevent the Saturday night, he asked Mr. girl and Fung living happily,

The assistant Attorney General then described the murder and the subsequent arrival on the scene of Dr. S. C. Ho who was at the Yea

Fraser

Why do the police always pick on me, your Worship; I have never abused them."

Mr. Fraser: Mr. Gibbison, do

Wo Nursing Home at the time and you plead guilty or not guilty?

Defondant: I plead not guilty. heard the shot.

Mr. Fraser: Do you really think

Mr. Lindsell said the girl would tell the Court that as far as she was aware Fung had no other per son who might have done him any harm.

The second part of the evidence was the desire and deliberate in- tuntion on the part of the accused

Cheng Kwok Yau, dressed in at the murder, and the complicity of to murder George Fung. grey suit with his hair smartly the necured.

3

Fai frut came to combed back, and parted almost in! "Lai Ming the middle, his silk handkerchief know the accused in 1928 when she showing from his breast pocket, came from Shanghai to Hongkong listened attentively as the Registrar as a member of a theatrical troupe, read the charge against him. He of which her father was manager. said not a word when the Registrar "The accused was so much taken had finished and when the inter-with the girl that he followed her preter spoke he listened attentively to Singapore and lived in the same again. In answer to the interpre-house as the girl and her father, ter as to whether he pleaded guilty or otherwise, Cheng shook his head, and said in Chinese "Not Guilty."

Counsel were:-Mr. Eldon Pot | trip proposed marringe and was ac-

"Not long afterwards he took her and another girl on a three weeks' trip up country and during that

This point was based mainly, on what he (the Assistant Attorney General) could not describe other wise than as tainted evidence.

This was the evidence of two Eurasian youths, who admitted that they encouraged the accused up to a point in his foul design with the not of accomplishing intention Fung's death but by some means. getting hold of the money that the accused was willing to pay if that death came about.

Mr. Lindsoll then told the jury

CANTON CAUSE CELEBRE.

GANG PREYING

ON INSURANCE

COMPANIES.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

CANTON, Aug. 7.

A sensational case is being heard in the district court in which a local householder is being obanged | with murdering a maidservant by poison in order to get the pro oeeds of & life insurance policy.

According to the relative of the

he is in a fit condition to plead, I decossed" who brought up the Inspector Elston!

Mr. Fraser: You can't ask any questions now, Mr. Gibbison; I am

Borry.

to-

charge, the docessed woman was Inspector Elston: No, your Wor-employed by the socused only ship.

about a month ago. Being her Mr. Fraser: I don't tihnk'so. | only; relative in the city, he had re- I will adjourn the case until to-ceived frequent visits from her. morrow morning.

Two weeks after she took up her Defendant: Can I ask you a position, a report was received off question, your Worship.

hor death. On enquiring from the necused, she was said to have died of cholera. The accused, however, immediately moved his quarters, Defendant: Surely I have a right which aroused suspicion. It was also said that he had taken out a life insurance policy for her. This was confirmed from the insurance company whose suspicions, were also aroused by the suddenness of the insured woman's death

Murder and fraud.were suspect- the ed and a report made to

The accused was police.

then trapped by an invitation to come

respect of the policy, and arrosted, It was then revealed that he has been a frequent customer of a firm of coffin dealers, which lead to the

Mr. Fraser: I warn you, Mr. Gibbison, against making a distur

bance here.

Defendant: I am not making a disturbance.

No Work for Years, Inspector Elston said defendant was on bail of $95, His mother

ter, K.C., Mr. F. C. Jonkin, K.C., │cepted, aubject to the father's con- of the evidence which Zimmern went to the Police Station and for the settlement of the claim in and Mr. R. C. H. Lim for the de-sent. He gave her an engagement Ad Christio would 'fendnut; Mr. H. G. Sheldon the ring.

Assistant Attorney General, Mr. R. E. Lindsell for the crown.

give.

Two Men Arrested.

On their return to Singapore, the father agreed to the engagement. Speaking of the third phase of

be called to bailed him out and the officer con- tinued that defendant should have joined his ship on Sunday night, but he had missed it. It was the

years. The police did not know anything shout' that; otherwise they would have tried to do something in the matter.

The following jury was empan-It was agreed at the time that the the case, Mr. Lindsell said that defendant's first job for about three belief that he belonged to a gang

Was

elled-Mesar. Q. S.. Archbutt marriage should not take place un-acting on certain information, the (foreman), D. M. Biggar, J H.til the accused was 21 years of age, } police arrested two men, one a Jester, P. 8. Cassidy, Kan Tongpo, A few months later the accused private chauffour and the other a K. E. Greig and M. T. Johnson. went to Shanghai and stayed with Hongkong Hotel" bus conductor,

Opening the case for the Crown, the girl, and her father.

The former openly admitted be Mr. Lindsell said :-

At this time George Fung wating an accessory before the fact "About 8.30 p.in. on March 24, also in Shanghai and OB of murder, and the Crown ware George Fung, member of a well-friendly terms with the accused. going to ask the Court that in view known Hongkong family left the It was fairly evident that he was of the evidence which the man, house of a friend at 14, Shan not then attracted by the girl Tsui Yung-sam, would be giving in Kwong road. He was in the com- Mr. Lindsell said that on or about connection with the case, that he be pany of a young" woman named April, 1930, the accused returned to granted a free pardon

on any Lai Ming Fay with whom he was Hongkong. Lai Ming Fai joined charge in connection with the living at the time in the Kowloon him in Hongkong in June and murder. At the prosent he was Hotel,

lived some mouths under his pro-serving a term of imprisonment is They walked towards the race-tection in a flat in Nathan Road. Hongkong for possession of fire course, but before they had gone Towards the and of the year, shearms,

Mr. Lindzell then explained how 100 yards George Fung was shot in returned to Shanghai and there she the back at close range by a hired again met the deceased, George the two men met Lau, accused's assassin,

"The assassin had followed the two from Number 14, and fired the fatal shot at the corner of Yick Yam street.

Fung In February, 1931, she came chauffeur, how they had conversa- back to Hongkong, accompanied by her mother, amah and also a school friend named Bessie Au. They all lived together at the acuesed's ex- pense at 79, Wongneichung Road.

arc

preying upon insurance companies, | and that the present crime was but one of many similar' ones.

A post mortem examination has Mr. Fraser: Mr. Gibbison, you been ordered by the Court.

remanded until to-morrow,

Bail as before.

When his Worship was trying WOMAN BARRISTER

other cases later defendant, who was still in court asked: "Your Worship, can I speak to you?"

His Worship: You can't; you may see me in Chambers later.

ADMITTED.

MRS. LO SOON KIM TEO.

the Chief Justice, Sir Joseph Kemp,

Kim Too to practice as a barrister-i at-law in the Supreme Court of Hongkong.

3frs. Lo is the first woman bar. rister to be admitted to practice here.

This opens a new chapter in the spoke of her meeting with the ne-history of the Hongkong Bar," said cused on her first visit to Hongwhen he admitted Mrs. In Soon kong. He also followed her to Singapore and later proposed mar- riage. Witness also spoke of her return to Shanghai with her father tions, that Lau paid Tsui 360, and and how they were joined by ne that he and the bus conductor took cused later. The accused is allegað | the same ferry ncross to Kowloon to have gone through 880,000 in on which was George Fung the de- about three months. The girl also *The bullet passed through

ceased, how they followed him to stated that they had a violent George Fung's body, from back to The day after her arrival in the the Nathan Hotel, occupied a room quarrel on one occasion and she front, penetrating the lung and Colony, she met George Fung again opposite and watched Fung's move-threatened to leave accused whe cutting a heart muscle. He died at a purty at the, Hongkong Hotel.mente. half an hour later in hospital." In a month or two they had fallen Continuing, Mr. Lindsell said deeply in love with each other and the rase for the Crown would be disclosed their mutual love. that this murder was procured by the accused out of revenge.

It was clear that in that year the accused intended to marry the "For two years previously," he girl. On one occasion when he took said, "this girl, Lai Ming-Fai, had her to see a house which he inform lived almost continuously undered her be had purchased and which Cheng's protection as his affianced he intended to occupy after their marriago when he became of age “A year previous to the murder, this year. They removed from 79, however, sho fell in love with Wongueichung Road, to 80, Village George Fung and finally, on Feb- | Road. ruary 24, last after a quarrel

wife.

is alleged to have threatened to Tsui had two automatic pistols shoot witness. He had guns while of the Spanish pattera and one of these was used by the man Wong to kill Fung.

After satisfying themselves that they would be able to recognise Fung again, the two men ronted cubicle at 17, Shau Kwong Road, close to Village Road, and made this the bass of their operations.

Mr. Lindsell passed swiftly on to the right of the murder. He told in detail the movements of each one

in Shanghai.

Mr. Potter objected to, the ovi- dence as being irrelevant.

Mr. Lindsell replied that it showed the attitude of the accused to the witness at that time. That was the sole reason why that bit of evidence was introduced.

Mr. Potter: I should like that noted down. It is very important. Witness then went on with her evidence and stated how; following

The motion for her admission was moved by the Attorney General, Hon. Mr. C. G. Alabaster, K.C. In so doing he said: "This is a motion for the approval, admission

and enrollment of Mrs. Lo who was called to the Bar of Inner Temple Subse- in London in June 1927, quently, she practiced in the Straits Settlements,

"I have no doubt," Mr. Alabaster continued, that her presence will be welcomed and there will be no moaning at the Bar,"

The application was supported by the affidavit of Mr. R. C. H. Lim"

The Chief Justico wished the now barrister a successful practice.

Counsel waiting for the com- mencement of the Fung Murder

Boon after that, another girl of the principals. He also re-the quarrel on February 31, Cheng Trial also congratulated Mrs. Lo. with the nocused she threw in her friend, Annie Au, came down 'and forred to the payment of $2,000. to lot with George Fung; with whom, stayed with them. She soon learn-Tsui by Lau, accused chauffeur. not ranny days later, she was livinged of the state of affairs that ex-

in the Kowloon Hotel as his wife, isted between the girl and George

Determined on Revenge.

struck her with a clenched fint and kicked her,

"It will be the Crown case," | Fuug and inasmuch as she became, "It is the Crown case," said Mr. continued Mr. Lindsell, "that the later, good friends with the ac-Lindsell, "that the accused, from accused immediately took stops to cused, it was reasonable to suppose the moment Lai Ming Fai leit him, get his rival killed. It will be that she told him what was going determined to revenge himself on shewn that he used his chauffeur on. At any rate, towards the end George Fung. It must have bean Lau Hing, and that this chauffeur of the year the accused was die the accused who through Lau pro-to

trustful on more than que occasion cured the services of Toui and the and warned the girl, Lai Ming Fai assassin Wang.".

put the matter in the hands of an- ether chauffeur."

"THE SIN SHIP."

SEA DRAMA FOR THE QUEEN'S,

Mr. Potter pointed out that thin was new evidence: The witneża had not said so at the Magistracy and he thought the Crown should point out the difference in the story to the jury.

The Chief Justice: How can the

A trade notice states :--- crown know what the girl is going

answer? If she changes her Menner than he has ever been story, your remedy is in cross before, even in his most swart examination.

buckling roles, is Louie Wolheim in Witness related how she left the Radio Pictures' melodrama of the Mr. Potter: would like it accused and took rooms together sea, The Sin Ship." The murder was finally committed of her associations with Fung. He noted now that we shall object to with her mother and two cousins

On the other hand, he reveals a on March 24, after an attempt once received an anonymous letter the admission of the evidence of in the Nathan Hotel. Then she softer, more romantio side of his

and he taxed the girl, but shn suo- Zimmern and--also-to-Christie's arranged a meeting with Cheng at character. The evidence in regard to this ceeded in allaying his suspicions. crima falls into three divisions",

Those conditions... existed until said Mr. Lindsell,

February 2 when accused, after, a First there is the evidence of quarrel, left the house with the re motive,

Secondly, there is evidence of mark that he was going to Can the accused's deliberate desire and intention to get George Fang put out of the way by one means or another

five days earlier had failed

too..

evidence,

וי

which she returned to him jewellery In The Sin Bhip,” to be seen "It is incumbent on the Crown which he had bought for her at the Queen's Theatre from Thurs. to show how they make this evi Witness then alleged that Cheng day, Wolheim portrays the captain denca relevant," he said. "It must said to her: "If you drop Fung, of a South Sea tramp schooner, be obvious to the Crown that they. I will take you back.”

He is so "ortery that he doesn't' are not entitled to prove a case of Mr. Potter again protested that even have to fight the members of conspiracy such as Zimmern's and this was fresh evidence of which his crew to make them tos the Christie's when a man is charged the defence had not, had notice." mark; yet so sentimental shout a on rnother count, unless they can The Chief Justice: Here again women he bricked aboard his ship, A Quarrel.

make it relevant to some issue, of your remedy is cross-examination. that he becomes, not the Lothario Mr. Lindsell then recounted the this case. At this stage, the girl sail that be planted, but a lovesick hulk of

The matter was not argued at when she left Cheng at the Hong a man. incident where on amali gave & this stage and the fierst witness was kong Hotel, he was in tears.

In addition to playing the prin The Court rose st. 4.15 and will eined part, Wolbein also directed The third point is the evidence message to Lai Ming Fai which. re-called at 11.53 t

During the afternoon, Lai Ming sit at 10 this morning when Lai The featured cast includes Mary of the plot engineered by the ne sultel in her leaving the Hotel and Fai gave evidence in which she Ming Fai will continue her evi Astor, Hugh Herbert, Ine Keith

dence,

and Alan Roscoe. cused's own chauffeur, its result in going home by car where she was (Continued on next soluma.)

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