1938-03-26 — Page 7

HONG KONG DAILY PRESS

GENERAL

INDIAN GUARDS GUILTY MAJOR D.H. STEERS TO

OF MANSLAUGHTER

Life

Sentence Passed At The Supreme Court

LEAVE SHORTLY

Tribute To Founder Of The

Rifle Association

It will be with real regret that the many riffemen in Hong Kong will bid adieu to Major D.H. Steers, OBE, RE, who sails for Eng-

CHIEF JUSTICE DESCRIBES CRIME AS and to the "Dilwara" on April 4, next.

CALLOUS, BRUTAL AND CRUEL

Sentences of imprisonment for life with hard labour were passed on Sher Zaman and Fateh - Khan, special Indlan guards, by His Honour the Chief Justice, Sir Atholl, MacGregor,: at the Criminal Sessions yesterday when the jury returned verdicts of guilty of manslaughter on the charge against them of the murder of another Indian guard, Hayat Mohammed, on February 17, at Green Island. Messrs. V. Benjamin, (foreman) P.S. Sham, C. E. Tavares, E.W.C. Simmons, CM. Shank, R.J. Master and A.M. Tavares comprised the jury, and they returned their verdicts after deliberating for only 13 minutes...

1 IL

In passing sentence His Lership remarked that the men had been singularly fortunate in being iried by a jury of the kindliest outlook.

Mr. E H. Williams. Assistant neas, though it might have been Attorney-General, prosecuted, and refreshing elsewhere was certainly Mr. H. Somerset Fitzroy, instructed | tiresome In the witness-stand), by Mr. C.A. Sutherton Russ, de- and Guards Nos. 28 and 77 must fended Arst accused, while Khan have been lying; in which case was represented by Mr. G. She, there something diabolical "instructed by Mr. Alfred SK. Lau. about the whole thing.

Yesterday the Crown concluded its case.

W14

"SINGULARLY FORTUNATË”. The jury retired at 5.08 p.m. and FIRST ACCUSED TESTIFIES returned their verdicts at 5.21 p.m. Sher Zaman, in the witness- In passing sentence His Lordship box in December last year sald said: You have been singularly he had loaned deceased $17 on fortunate in being tried by a jury the understanding that the money of the kindliest out look I have would be repaid when the time for known. They have found you his transfer from Green Island guilty not of murder, for which back to Hong Kong was due. He there is only one sentence, but of had known deceased prior to going manslaughter.

to Green Island and had never "For myself. I can only say that had any quarrel with him.

in 30 years' experience of adminis-

On the evening of February 17,tration of criminal law I have he asked deceased about the $17. never come acros a case of more as the time for his transfer back callous, brutal and cruel man- to Hong Kong was near, and the slaughter than this. You deserve latter said it was only $15. Heno consideration and no greater repeated his question, and deceas-measure of plty than you display- ed abused him and made certained to your unfortunate victim... suggestions.

"There is only one sentence "On hearing this," witness con- which in my view cari meet justice tinued, "deceased picked up his in your case. You will both go to stick, which was lying nearby, and prison with hard labour for life." struck me on the shoulder. I wis His Lordship then thanked the seated in my bed then. I got up jury and exempted them from and pushed him and he fell on service for one year. to his bed and the stick dropped

"to the door.

"I picked up the stick and struck;

him with it. I did this because!

ATTEMPT TO

The indefatigable Honorary Secretary of the Hong Kong Rifle Association is also the founder, for li was at a meeting called by him on a day in June, 1935, that the Association was börn and at which he was ananimously elected as its first Honorary Secretary.

That the formation of the Association filled a long felt want in the Colony has been abundantly proved by the amazing, one might almost say phenomenal, progress It has made since its incep- tion. Beginning with a modest membership of twenty-seven it now boasts more thari seven hundred individual full members, and practically every Rifle Club in Hong Kong is affiliated.

Apart from the time and energy he has so unstintingly devoted to the welfare of the Association. Major Steers has made many generous donations to the Clubhouse Building Fund, and the high standard of comfort which now exists in all parts of the building is due in no small measure to the gifta in kind which he has be stowed.

It is not generally known that the whole of the Clubhouse was designed by Major Stears and was, erected under his personal super- vision in the short space of two and a half months, and, it speaks volumes for his practical ability and aesthetic sense that the build- in a one of the most comfortable and spacious of its kind and one of which every member of the Association may feel justly proud.

That the Association has gone from strength to strength is re- vealed by that 'tals of constant endeavour-the Association Year Book-a comprehensive volume Issaed free each year to every Individual Full Member, and which reveals that since its in- ception the club has added re- volver, miniature rifle and clay bird shooting to its other 20- tivities.

The choice of site was parti- A man of wide experience and cularly able in that the Club- boundless "drive,” always ready to house occupies a commanding help and advise any member who position behind the 'six hundred feels the need of a 'guide and yards firing point and therefore | mentor, Major Steers has made dominates almost. the whole of the colony “ride-conscious." Noth- the range. An excellent view of ing is more certain than that if, both targets and competitors can whilst in England, any member or be obtained from its windows. ex-member should require help or

reminder of the stability and with ride shooting, he will obtain It now stands as a permanent advice on any matter connected

prosperity of the Association and it from the Association's founder the Initiative and inventiveness of on mentioning the password "Hong the founder.

Kong."

"COME TO STAY" ..

To the warm and dusty rifleman on the firing point it is an ever-

rest awhile after the day's shoot- present invitation to tarry and ing is over, and to the tired and thirsty competitor it stands like an oasis in the desert.

As tomorrow "will be the last

able to appear, the best tribute. Sunday Shoot at which he will be

and expression of appreciation that all members can pay to their departing Secretary is to turn out "FOUNDER'S PRIZE "

in force and compete for the many Amongst the Secretary's other prizes he has so kindly donated gifts are the "Founder's Prize "--a | for both 8.R. (a) and B.R. (b) silver challenge cup to be com- competitor. peted for annually at the Bisley Meeting and the popular silver

there was no one else there, and STEM FRANCO'S blazer buttons which are a per-

to defend myself. I continued to strike him for some time-where I don't know,

came

"He shouted. Two men Into the room, and I stopped striking. That was the first time. I saw second accused. Neither of them spoke to me. I dropped the strick to the floor."

two, or three

ADVANCE

Loyalists Erect Last-Minute Defences

Karcelona, March 24.

All available men in the Repub- !lcan zone of the Aragon front are at present erecting defences in an attempt to stem General Franco's

Mr. Williams: Why did you not desist after one. blows, but continued for 30 blows? Accused: In order to save my nwn life I continued striking him

In further reply to Mr. Williams. accused" said he would have con-advance. tinned the beating.till some one

came.

Meanwhile the Insurgents con- tinue to advance on the edges of the Republican territory.

sonal gift from him to each mem- ber who scores a "possible" at any

during the runge

Association's shoots.

ARMY OFFICERS"

PAY

It is 1umoured that a ten per cent increase in Army officers pay has been effected, bringing it back to the 1919 level.

ST. ANDREW'S TEAM The following will represent St. Andrew's in the hockey re-play

SECOND DEFENDANT'S STORY

Fateh Khan in evidence, mid

Thousands of Insurgents crossed against the Hong Kong Ladies to- that on the evening in question the Ebro River in the vicinity of day at 3 p.m. on the "y" ground:- after 7 pm. he was in the mesa Huesca before they were discovered. J. Hall; G. White, J. Broadbridge; room when he heard noises. The A fierce battle ensued, after which P Lawson, J. Wong, E. Reld; F. sergeant told him to ring the the Repubicans were found

Major Steers can then depart more certain than ever that the Hong Kong Rifle Association has come to stay.

The good work will go on and the foundation he has so firmly laid will endure.

KOWLOON TO MEET MIDDLESEX

1

The following have been chosen to represent the Kowloon Cricket Club seniors against the Middlesex today at home at 2 p.m.-F. Good- win (Capt.), D. J. N. Anderson, K. M. Baxter, R. T. Broadbridge, S. Jex, R. E. Lee, B. D. Lay, T. A Madar, W. Mulcahy, A. E. Perry. CB. R. Sargent. Umpire, J. P. Robinson.

dine with the President and Mem- His Excellency the Governor will

bers of the Council of the Hong Kong Rifle Association at the Hong

to Wong. E. Churn, P. Gittins, S. Ro- Kong Hotel on Tuesday at 8.15

alarm bell and the two of them have suffered a slight reverse.-berts and M. Churn. then returned to the guards (Reuter).

quarters where they saw first ac- cused attacking the deceased.

In his address to the juny, Mr. Williams said that though there were no eye-witnesses, the evidence given was such as to prove con- clusively that deceased had been murdered by both men.

SUN FO ARRIVES

IN LONDON

London, March 25,

Dr. Sun Fo, president of the Chinese Legislative Yoan, arrived

Mr. Fitzroy reminded the jury here yesterday by air for a long that according to Dr. Begbie, the visit.

actions of accused were consistent In an Interview, Dr. Sun Fo with his seeing red and any action declared that the war in China

p.m.

DR. CHAU TO PROBE SMALL-POX SCOURGE

Public's Objections To Official Methods

In hot blood reduced the charge to would be of long duration but that Questions regarding the present ( manslaughter. This, he contend-Chinese anances were in good or-small-pox epidemic and concern- ed, was the highest verdict the der as the Government possessed ing the Jury could return.

cause, preventive

adequate funds for purchase of and treatment, will be asked by munitions.

Dr. 8. N. Chau at Tuesday's meet- ing of the Urban Counell.

THE SUMMING-UF His Lordship, in summing up said that in the case of the first accused, he had not made any berlain (Transocean).

Dr. Sun expressed the wish to confer with Prime Minister Cham-

attempt to deny that he had struck the deceased blow. after blow. The jury could only find it a case of manslaughter if they were satisfied from his own story.. that the provocation he had re- ceived was such a to justify his deliberately pounding the other man, to death. He knew of po authorities, even if he went back three centuries further than Mr. Fitzroy had gone in his address, by which murder could be reduced to manslaughter in circumstances such as these.

..

The case of the second accused was different, and it was for the jury to weigh the evidence and make their decision. If he were telling the truth then the Indian sergeant (to whom His Lordship had previously referred as a man who might have a gallant and long record of service, but whose vague-.'

steps JAPAN GUARDS

AGAINST SMALL-POX

Among other aspects of the mat- ter he will raise will be that the general impression exists that the public is not co-operating fully

TODAY'S CRICKET with the authorities in the up-

MATCH

The Indian Recreation Club and Craigengower Cricket Club “ will play-off for the First Division Cricket Championship on the HRC.C ground today when the clubs will probably be represented by:-

་ ་

INDIANS; A. R. Minu (Cap- tain), A. E. Madar, A. R. Abbas, 5. A. Ismail, A. A. Rumjahn, A. R. Kitchell, K. Nazarin, M. el Arculli, A. Bakar, M. P. Madar, A. M. Rumjahn.

CRAIGENGOWER: E. Zm- mern (Captain), A-- K. Immal), A. R. H. Esmall, F. K; Lee, A. T. Lee. J. Youngaaye, F. Bill- moria. W. Hong Sling. F. Zim- mern. A. B. Hamson, G. Souza,

pression of this disease.

ཏཱ -

The following communique was Issued by the Colonial Secretary yesterday:

On the other hand. Dr. Chau "Persons embarking at Hoog will point out, among the masses Kong for ports in Japan are ad- there is a feeling of grievance vised to carry with them a certi- against objections and obstacles ficate of vaccination dated not less" which render co-operation with than 14 days or more than three the authorities difficult or impos-months prior to the date of their sible. He will ask what measures departure from Hong Kong. will be taken to remove these ob- lections.

"Persons who have been in con- tact with a case of small-pox are Dr. Chau will also inquire about able to detention in quara othe the supply of lymph and accusa-for a period of fourteen days, tions of gross wastage.

counting from the time when con- |tact with Infection last took place, The annual dinner of the Hong unless they can produce a certi- Kong Oxford and Cambridge ficate of, immunity to small-pox Society will be held at the Glouces from vacchiation carried out with- ter Hotel on Saturday, April 2, at in three years of embarkation or 8 pm, when His Excellency the of having suffered from small-pox Governor. Bir Geoury Northcote, within ten years precetting the date will preside.

of embarkation.”.

SATURDAY, MARCH 26,

1938.-PAGE 7

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