1936-10-20 — Page 7

COUNSEL ON WOMEN

AND TEMPTATION

Street Accosting Comment

RAZOR ATTACK CASE AT SESSIONS

An eloquent plea in mitigation was made by atr. Leo D'Almada, Jun.. at the Criminal Sessions before the Chief Justice, Sir Athall MacGregor, yesterday when he defended Fusilier William Gronert, of the Royal Welch Fusiliers, who pleaded guilty to charges of wound- Ing three Chinese women with a razor in the Wanchai district on September 13 with intent to do grievous bodily harm or malm, dis- figure or disable them.

Mr. E. Williams. Assistant Attorney General, appeared for the Crown, while Mr. D'Almada, in- structed by Mr. D. Brittain Evans was for the accused.

Lieut. J. R. N. Bosanquet, R.W.F in reply to his Lordship, remarked that Grunert's military record was good and he would complete six years service next year. His dis charge from the Army, however. would not be automatic.

TEMPTATION

"I think my friend, the Assis cant Attorney General," said "coun- sel for the defence in the course of his plea, "will accept this state. ment that men like the defendant are in a different position here than they would be in England in the matter of temptation. I am instructed to say that here they are. always open to it."

"There are innumerable women walking in the streets accosting the men and that would not be

found at Home where matters of this nature are more easily avoid- able," said Mr. D'Almada.

Referring to the accused's mill- „tary record, Mr. D'Almada re- marked that he had been instruct- ed to say that Gronert apart from having a good character had not been even in minor trouble, since January, 1935. At first sight. sald counsel, it would seem that there were no mitigating features to the case but he submitted that after considering the whole of the cir. cumstances the only conclusion that his Lordship could come to would be that the lightest sen- rence would be sufficient punish ment for the accused.

GOOD RECORD

His record has been so good." said counsel, "as to have made him worthy of being on the Military Police. He was due for his dia charge next year and he has been in receipt of pay of three shillings a day and out of that he has managed to have £9 10s.. which is in the Army Savings' Assocla- tion, besides remitting aums of money to his father in Cornwall

I mention these facts for this rea-

son that the accused was looking forward to going to Canada,"

Mr. D'Almada explained that short while before the offences were committed, Gronert. under the influence of drink. fell for temptation as lia result of which he contracted · a disease which resulted 11 his being kept in hospital. His pay was deducted by one shiling and this deduction would continue for a year. Out of the remaining two shillings he had to pay his hospi- tal expenses.

We was also faced with the prospect of fatigue drill for three weeks on his discharge

from hospital and that was the position on September 13.

CAME ACROSS RAZOR... · On the morning in question Gronert was unpacking his kit in barracks. He was accompanied by Hughes, who was a witness for the prosecution, Gronert came across a razor and this, as it were, ac- cidentally slipped into his pocket, The statement by Hughes in the depositions that Gronert had the razor always for his own protection was denied and the other" state- ment that he and Hughes set out that day with the intention breaking shop windows was alo denied.

of

Mr. D'Almada submitted that it was abundantly clear that there was no intention. of a systematic attack on the women which some people might, on the face of it, describe as being of the Jack the

Counsel submitted that had tronert intended to indict serious Injuries he could have done so.

Counsel concluded by saying that nis Lordship should, not look on the case in the light of passing

sentence that would act as a deterrent on others as counsel felt

sure

that defendant, at least would not commit a similar offence Lagain. Mr. D'Almada also drew artention to the fortunate rarity of the offerice in the Colony.

w24

Mr. D'Almada added that there the question of Gronert's future livelihood and career to be considered.

His Lordship remarked that he had listened with great interest and attentier to all thas Mr.

Almada had urged on the de- fendant's behalf. He found it an "extremely difficult case in which to assess sentence and he would therefore postpone sentence until the November Sessions.

HAITAN

%

INCIDENT

Ship's Master

Gives Evidence

An echo of the shooting "affair on the Douglas steamer as. Haitan in the early morning of August 10, when an Indian guard was alleg ed to have killed a Chinese mem- ber of the crew, was heard at the Central Magistracy yesterday when Hul Tse-Teing and Tsui Fing Hop, both seamen, appeared before Mr. W. Schofield on charges of smug-. gling and of illegal possession of

opium.

Prisoners were represent-

ed by their counsel, Mr. M. W. La.

At yesterday's hearing Captain, O. E. Farrar, master of the Hat tan, said that at 3 am, on August 10 he was awakened by one of the ship's guards who informed him that there was trouble in the No.

z natch. He immediately dressed and proceeded to the spot and on the way from the cabin he heard sounds of firing. He went to the hatchway and as he was

going

down he saw a foot sticking out

of the ventilator and grabbed at It. It was one of the members of his crew and he handed the man over to the ship's guards.

ווי

He returned to the upper tween deck accompanied by a guard and met the Second Officer there who told him that a man had been ahot. He went to the main deck. on the starboard side and saw one of the ship's crew lying on the deck, unconscious, with a shot wound. Captain Farrar, told the Court that a few minutes later,

HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1936.

POSSESSION OF HEROIN PILLS

Several Cases Before Sessions

THREE WOMEN

AMONG ACCUSED

"When the first of these casea came before me I had to deal with a member of your sex. As I said then I was determined to make по discrimination between the sexes in dealing with such offences for the obvious reason that it was easy for those who are interested in this abomonable trame to em- ploy women in the hope, that when I am going to sentence you, ex- actly as if you were a man."

found

With these words, the Chief Justice, Sir Atholl Mac@regor, at the Criminal Sessions. yesterday passed sentence of three and a half years hard labour on two of three women who were guilty by a jury of the possession of 28,750 heroin pilis and Ave ounces of pink mass containing heroin enough to make a further 500 pills, on the second floor of 235. Kilung Street, on September 14

The accused were Ng Sam, 64 years, Cheung Sam-ku. 30, and Chan Yee, 30, "all widows. All pleaded not guilty.

The jury, comprising. Mesara, A. Bower (foreman), A. G. Plovanelli, Robert Choa, R. M. Omar, E. Alves, J. G. R. Humble and Chan Yu- tung, returned a verdict of net guilty against Ng Sam and she was discharged.

CONSTABLE

FACES BRIBERY

CHARGES

Denies Allegations

Levied By

Prosecution

Verdict This Morning

The trial of Chang Wuh Teh, 37, charged with misconduct as В police officer by receiving a bribe, came up before Mr. K. Keen at the Central Magistracy yesterday after- noon. Mr. C. E. R. Sanderson ap- peared for the defendant while Mr. Calthrope, Assistant Superintendent of the Police represented the Hong Kong Police.

PROSECUTION CRITICIZED

Inspector Murphy then took the witness stand and was asked by Mr. Sanderson whether he had found any notebook on the defen- dant's person on the day when he On receiving an was arrested. answer in the affirmative, Mr. San- derson asked why this notebook was not produced in court and rẻ- quested that it should be sent for.

defendant's Meanwhile

solicitor severely questioned the witness re- garding entries which were claimed to be in the book. The arrival of the notebook in court served to in- įtroduce it as an exhibit and certain entries were pointed out to Mr. Keen.

Young Mok, detective, next went Into the witness box and stated

HONG KONG

FIRM'S NEW

BRANCH

Ellis, Edgar Co. Open Office In Baguio.

Edgar, and Company. Manila share brokers, have open- ed a branch office in Baguio, in the Chamber of Commerce Bulld- ing states the "Manila Bulletin." It was opened for business on Monday, with Mrs. M. J. S. Walker in charge. Mrs. Walker has been in charge of the local office of Mackay and McCormick since that. Arm has had a branch' here.

The new office will offer all the facilities of its Manila headquar ters to Bagulo patrons.

Stock received at quotations will be frequent intervals during the day. and the local branch will be in constant touch with the Manila market.

Ellis, Edgar and Company is a member of the Manila Stock Exchange. Its main offices are in the National City Bank Building. The firm is headed by F. M. Ellis as senior partner. He is also senior partner. of the well-known firm of Ells and Edgar, Hong Kong, members of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Mr. Eliis has been a stock broker for the past 16 years in Hong Kong, "and his frm holds five seats out of the 30 in the Hong Kong Exchange,

Mr. M. J. Abbott. Assistant Crown that on the morning of September HONOUR FOR

Solleitor, prosecuted, and explain- 26 he was given five ten-cent Hong ed that on September 14 at 1.30 Kong coins by Inspector Murphy p.m. Revenue Officer Brown and a with instructions to mark them. party of Chinese revenue officers Re marked them all on the crown raided the premises. The first de-of the coin. That being done he

MR. F. DIXON

other two defendants had run to fendant was on the floor but the handed them back to the Inspector Knighthood Of St.

the next flat. They were brought back. Later Mr. Taylor. Govern- ment Monopoly Analyst, and R. O. Grimmit arrived. In the passage way was found a drying cupboard with a lighted chatty and there were several trays containing hot pills.

At the police station, Ng Sam stated that he had came from the country and did not know to whom the drugs belonged. The second defendant stated that she had been told by the old woman (Ng Sam) to make red pills and the third defendant made a similar statement.

Second and third defendants, in evidence, stated that they were

instructed by their master to say that Ng Sam told them to make pills.

Cheung Sam-ku and Chan Yee were led from the dock crying,

ANOTHER CASE

who in turn handed 'them over to riekabaw coolle No. 507. The coolle left the station with a small boy named Ah Sek and a few minutes later he accompanied Inspector Murphy to the lane between the General Post Office and the P. and O. Buliding.

INFORMATION RECEIVED

Sylvester Conferred

Catholic Distinction

1

The Holy Father has conferred a Knighthood of Saint Bylvester on Mr. Henry Dixon, an outstand- ing Catholic of the Colony,

distinction News of the halled with widespread satisfac- tion by the Catholics of Hong Kong, who consider the honour well meritea.

WELS

A native of Hong Kong, Mr. Di- XON, has

distin- a long and guished career in the Civil Ser- vice. He was awarded the Im-

At 8.45 a.m. the small boy. Ah Sek, came to him in the lane and gave him certain information as a result of which he went to speak to Inspector Murphy who returned to the Police Station. At 10.30 o'clock he saw the rickshaw coolle in the Detective Office at the Station and the man produced the five 10-cent pieces. At 10.45 o'clock | perial Service Order by the Bri- witness went down to Stanley Street with Inspector Murphy and walted there till about 11.15 o'clock when the boy Ah Sek came up told him that the coolle had handed the 10-nent pieces to the accused.

tish Government a few years ago. At the same time he has been throughout his career a leader in the Catholic life of the Colony.

some

HE. Bishop Henry Valtorta, Vicar Apostolle of Hong Kong Witness stated that he then when investing Mr. Dixon with followed the defendant to the the papal honour, enumerated of the good works with Yim Cheong, 22 years, Cheong Police Station where the latter

handed in his revolver. He told which he is associated, mentioning Sam, 29, and Ho Wai, 23, all un- employed, pleaded not guilty when

defendant that Inspector Murphy | "the Catholic Union Club, of they were arraigned before

the wanted to see him, and defendant which he is the Frealdent, the St,

Chief Justice, Sir Atholl Mac.

made his way to the Trafic Office | Vincent de Paul Society, of which' Gregor, at the Criminal Sessions where he was searched by Inspector | he may be called the soul, and yesterday on a charge of the Murphy and the coins were found and the St. Raphael Society (for possession, of 8 ounces of crude

in a cigarette packet. In reply to the burial of the poor) which he assisted At heroin, enough to make 260,000 à question put to him by Mr. San- founded." All who pills, and 38.392 herol pills, at derson, witness told the Court that 264 Des Voeux Road West, third he saw the defendant tried to put floor, on September 5.

his hand into his, pocket and he thought the man was trying to throw the incriminating evidence

Mr. M. J. Abbott conducted the the police arrived and took charge case for the Crown, and the fol-

Jowing Jury was empanelled:

of the proceedings.

Messrs. F. A. Kavler (foreman), G. C. Van-der-Wal, T. C.

Bear bourne, Li Bhul Yuen, R. Atráham, Wong Kal Cho and G. B. Labrum:

The master of the Haitan wad closely questioned by the Mr. Lo on the orders affecting entry into the holds by members of the crew. He stated that the hatches should Explaining the case, Mr. Abbott have been locked on the date in

produced a model showing the lay question, and no member of the out of the Boor and went on to crew was permitted access into say when Mr. Taylor and R. O. the space without permission. The Grimmitt and a raiding party" en- prisoners, Captain Farrar de- posed, had no right to be in the hatches where they were found.

The case was adjourned until 2.30 pm, on October 27.

Theatre Destroyed

Hsuchow Conflagration

Hsuchow: Oct. 19.

A fire broke out in the Peng Cheng Theatre and within a short

claimed the furniture.

away.

DEFENDANT'S VERSION Giving evidence in his own de- fence, Chang Wuh Teh told the Court that he had been thirteen years in the Police Force and that he was traffic sergeant. One of his duties was partly to see that there was no obstruction caused by rick- shaw coolies on his beat Witness pointed out the entries in his note-

tered the premises the atmosphere was heavily charged with the vine- gary odour characteristic of heroin book and said they were put in at pills. First defendant stated that the various times when he had he was the principal tenant and made notes of them in order to apply for summons against the Second defendant's hands were rickshaw coolle who had tried to stained with pink colouring simi-bribe him. lar to that of the heroin pitka. On September 26, defendant told First and third defendants hands the Court, he was in charge of the were not" stained. A pill-making traffic lights on Garden Road and machine was found in a chest-of- at about 9.30 o'clock rickshaw drawers.

coolle No. 507 came from behind and pushed him in the back and sald. "I invite you to tea." He ask

the sergeant, to have tea with him and the coolle replied, "You have, summonses against me." He tried to arrest the man but the coolte After cvidence had been heard ran away. Asked by Mr. Calth- the jury returned a verdict of rope why

did he sutity against the first and second defendants and not guilty against the third accused, who was dis- charged.

Ripper type: The attack on the time the theatre was completely three women in this case was com-destroyed. As appliances for put-the first defendant sald that heed the coolle why he wanted him, mitted in the space of fifteen | ting out the fire were very priml- minutes.

tive, the conflagration was soon spread and over hity houses were

** ACCOSTED"BY WOMAN

Hughes and Gronert were walk-involved.— Ing in Wanchai when they were Da-Dao Neus Service, accosted by a woman. Gronert

acting apparently on an impulse which showed, Mr. D'Almada sub- mitted, a certain unbalance in his mind, whipped out his razor and injured the woman.

When Gronert had injured the second woman, Hughes left him without making any effort to stop bim. After making the three-at- tacks the accused gave himself up at the Wanchai police station and assisted the rolice in locating the injured women.

MR. G. W. SEWELL ILL

Mr. GW. Sewell, representative in Hong Kong of the Federation of British Industries, is, in the Wor Memorial Hospital undergoing, an operation to his throat.

TYPHOID

There was one case of diphtheria reported from Victoria district,

Statements in answer to the charges were to the effect that

did have some herin pills; second defendant that he came from Cad- ton, and third defendant that he came from Holchow,

Yim Cheong and Cheong Bam were each sentenced to four years' hard labour.

contained in the Health report issued for the 48 hours ended Octo- ber 18. Two cases of typhoid from the same district also occurred.

not chase

the function concurred readily in the Bishop's description of his life as "a model for all good Catholics." One of the best, known men in

Hong Kong, Mr. Dixon la univer-

sully respected and is loved expe- cially by the poor, in whose be- half his charity knows no limit.-- "Lumen"

OBITUARY

News was received in the Colony

by telegram yesterday, of the death of Mr. W. L. Morgan, Mana- ger of the Birigapore oice of the Lie Insurance Manufacturers

Company. The late Mr. Morgan passed away on Saturday morning last, following a short illness.

turned in his revolver and was making his way to the Traffic Oce to report the incident when he was stopped by Inspector Murphy. De- fendant told the Court that he tried to produce the coins and tell the Inspector about the coins, but he was not given a chance to do so and was instead told to shut up."

The last witness to be called was Sergeant Britton, of the Trame Office who produced records of rickshaw summonses, He showed only one summons against rickshaw No. 507 in July applied for by the defendant and atated that no fur- MONEY PLANTED?

ther applications could be found. His duty being over defendant In concluding the case, Mr. C. E.. boarded a tram and got off at Pot R. Banderson briefly outlined the tinger Street where coolle No. 507 case on behalf of the defendant, came up and put some money into after which the Magistrate ad- his pocket and ran away. On Jourried the case till this morning arrival at the Police Station he when verdict will be pronounced.

after the man, defendant sald that he could not leave his post at the traffic lights and that day be- ing a Race Day, traffic was excep- tionally busy. „

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