1940-07-20 — Page 5

HONGKONG DAILY PRESS

INMATES DRIVEN INTO KITCHEN BY FLAMES COMING UP STAIRWAY

Percival Street Tragedy:

Verdict At Inquest

A verdict of accidental death was returned by the jury at the Cen- tral Magistracy yesterday when hearing was concluded of the inquiry Into the death of two girls, HO WAI-YIN, 17, and HO WAI-KING, 19, who perished in a' fire in Percival Street in the early hours of May 31... when two houses were gutted and 16 persoas lost their lives..

Mr. H. G. Sheldon sat as Coroner, and the following Jary was empanelled--Chan Wai-chang (Foreman), Chau Fai and Yue Der-

JER.

"

Mr. H. L. Kwan held a watching again, until he identified them as brief for the owners of the pro- corpses. He escaped to the roof by .perty Lee Hysen Estate Co., Ltd.. means of a ladder.

and Insp. F. T. J. Portallion wis. present for the Police.

The mother of the two girls said that she escaped from the burning building by jumping from the, verandah to the ground, but she never saw her girls again.

Ho Yin-pun, formerly of No. 14 Percival Street, stated that on the night of May 30 he went to sleep on the verandah sometime after 1 am. About 3.15 he was awakened by shouts of "fire." He jumped out of bed. roused the inmates of No. 36, and then asàisted six persons to

11

ROUND THE POLICE COURTS

·AT CENTRAL `

HIRED MAN TO CARRY PAPER

GENERAL

FOUR ACCUSED

FOUND NOT GUILTY

Heroin Pill Case At Sessions

Two men and two women, who An 18-year-old unemployed, were arraigned before the Chief Man Chung, was remanded one Justice, Bir Atholl Macgregor," at week in custody for consideration the Criminal Session yesterday on of sentence when he was convict a charge of possession of dan- ed by Mr. H. G. Sheldon at the gerous drugs, were found net gulity Central Magistracy yesterday on & and were discharged. charge of larceny of two and a half reams of paper from the Kwong Ah Printing Factory, 181 King's Road, on July 18

Sgt. Pockson, prosecuting, stated that defendant,

"The groused," Yui Lam, Lam Tsol Li Yee and Ho Fung, were arrested by revenue officers at No. 23, Lian Rock Road on June and were al- leged to have in their possession with another 71,000 heroin pills and 828 ounces man, was arrested in the 'early of pink mass. hours of July 18 with the paper in their possession. The other man was hired by defendant to carry the paper.

CUSTODY OF YOUNG GIRL

Mr. J. P. Murphy. Assistant FIREWOOD PILED

Crown Solicitor. prosecuted, and Station officer R. H. J. Brooks, of

the Hon. Mr. Leo D'Almada. Jnr.. the Fire Brigade, testified that there was firewood and other im-

Instructed by Mr. M. A da Silva, pediments piled on both sides of

was for the defence. the door, which ought to have pro-

When the revenue officers enter- Chan Sze, 39, widow, and Leunged, the rear cubicle, which had vided escape. In the kitchen eight Lin. 48. married woman, were been used as a heroin pill_ractors, bodies were found, two on the first given three months imprisonment was found to be locked. A key was noor, and one on the verandah, each when they appeared before

The Coroner pointed out to the Mr. H. G. Sheldon at the Central eventually found which suited the jury that it was in the kitchen that Magistracy yesterday for sentence. lock which was described as of a the great loss of fe occurred as

common type. the inmates had been driven into the kitchen by flames coming up

the stairway.

Defendants arst appeared be- fore the Court on Thursday when they were convicted on a charge of unlawful transfer of possession,

old girl at Wanchal on June 9...

Inspector G. W, Moreton, of the Secretariat for Chinese Affairs,

DEFENCE SUBMISSION '. submitted that the prosecution had Following evidence, Mr. D'Almada

proving that the drug was in the possession or under control of the accused

escape from the blazing flat to No. Leung" Ching, married woman, custody or control of a 17-year falled to discharge its cres of

34.

HAWKER'S STORY.

Lung Cheung. Hoensed hawker living at Percival Street was sleep ing on the pavement when he was reof after finding that the tire, appeared for the prosecution.

awakened and saw the buliding ablaze. A person fell from the first Hoor verandah. He saw a number of people on the verandah, shout-

living on the third floor with five children, also gave evidence. She first ran out on the verandah, "and then climbed up a ladder to the

escape door had been blocked up. she lost a son and daughter in the

fire.

Mr. H. L. Kwan, ön behalf of his

||

AT KOWLOON

His Lordship remarked that all that had been proved was that a key had been found in an unlocked drawer which fitted the lock to the door of the heroin pill factory. That did not amount to any proof

The jury, comprising Messrs. G.

ing "save us!" "He ran up and call-ellents, said that it was the first "DROP THE PURSE!"of possession or control. ed to them to go to the ends of tire of this nature and he was in- verandahs on either side, and then structed to express his regrets on cassisted some to escape to No. 36.

the company's behalf, and that a subsidy would be paid to those who suffered losses in the fire.

Hon Bang, tenant living on the first floor of No. 34. with a wife and son, sald he saw fames reach- ing half-way up the stairs. Accom- "panied by his family, he reached

BUILT BEFORE 1933 % Mr. Sheldon stated that the fats

the third floor verandah where he were built before 1935. If the truftlessly tried to force the door of the fire-escape, which was blocked up with firewood. Then he tried to escape towards the kitchen with notice had been served.

An attempted larceny by ene Offerson (crentan), do bạn Ho

not Sang, Li Kwan-hung, A J. de C woman from another dia Thursday when Ng Wal-fong, 20. wong, was directed to return a ver- succged in. Kun Yam Street on Basto, Chan Min-sing and J. W.

the would-be thief, obeyed the dict of not guilty, command of Tsang Tee, 60, the

the would-be V stim to the purse."

가

"drop

Ng dropped the purse in COM- plainant's market basket,” and

1

Building Authority wished to make alterations it was usual to serve notice on the owners. However, no police constable who was also 8 witness of the attempted larceny 'his wife and child, bu: then the The Coroner added that the wit-arrested her without further ado. lights went out and he felt some-hess Ho Yin-pun should be com- It was stated that defendant one bump him.

mended upon his cool-headedness, had a

previous conviction for Dense smoke assailed his nostrils which enabled him to save six lives receiving stolen property, and and mouth as he shouted for his from the fire, The Jury endorsed wife and child whom he never saw, the commendation.

BODIES

DEAD

TRANSIT

SHANGHAI COFFIN MERCHANT SUED

Chang Deh-yu, manager of the Lin "Kee Coffin Transportation

•

TWO SUMMONSES

DISMISSED

ARCHITECT NOT TO BLAME

SATURDAY, JULY 20, 1940. -PAGE

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Upholding a submission by the EVACUATION TO

had broken band to be of good Hon. Mr.-Leo D'Almada e Castro, behaviour. She

sentenced Jr., counsel for defendant, that an

WHA

LOST INditionally sentenced to one month proper supervision on a job when

POLICE CHIEF DISCOUNTS RUMOURS

CONTINUE

to six weeks hard labour for architect could not be reasonably breaking. the bond and was ad-summoned för falling to exercise

The remaining British women with hard labour for attempted he had information from his em- and children in the Colony, it is larceny.

ployers that the job was to be tem- understood, will be evacuated at porarily discontinued, Mr. Q. A. A. the end of this month. A ship SNATCHER CAUGHT

Macfadyen at Kowloon Court yes-already held for this purpose wil Sentence of two months hard terday dismissed two summonses take most of the remaining eva- labour was passed by Mr. Q. A. Aagainst Wong Cheuk-tong, archi-cuees direct to Australia from Macfadyen at Kowloon Court yes-tect, of No. 14, Queen's Road Cen-Hongkong. terday on Wong Ying, 17, convict-tral.- ed of attempting to snatch а

land Lot No. 1969, where a floor had bunal

Applications for exemptions, Wong was summoned for failing, which were previously only allowed Rumours in circulation through-handbag from Mrs. E Figueiredo, to properly supervise the erection by His Excellency the Acting Gov- Company at 157 Rue Marco Polo, out the Colony of possible disorder of No. 65, Waterloo Road, on of a factory at New Kowloon In-ernor, will be considered by a trl-

being created by certain elements Thursday. Shanghai, was sued in the Second in the Chinese population were dis-

It was stated la Court that Mrs; been laid that permitted a live load The embarkation from Manila to Special District Court on July 11 counted yesterday by the Commis-Figueiredo was walking with two capacity of only 60 to 70 pounds Australia of the first batch of eva- In a serious private criminal case

sioner of Police, Hon Mr. T. Hother ladies when defendant ap-per square ot whereas plans sub-cuees, the wifes and families of by four customers, alleging that King, who stated that most, if not proached her from the rear and mitted to and approved by the Services personnel, will probably they had been defrauded and the bodles of their relatives damaged all of the rumours were without caught hold of her bag. Com-Building Authority specified a live take place before the end of this.

while being transported by Chang's firm to the interior for burial, reports the North Chins Daily News of July 12.

any foundation.

plainant held on, however, and a load capacity of 112 pounds.

month.

In a statement. Mr. King said :--- Police Reservist, arriving on the The other summons against It is understood that Unofficial "I would take the opportunity of scene, arrested the would-be mat- Wong charged him with condoning members of the Legislative Counc!! expressing my high appreciation cher.

certain alterations made in the may ask questions regarding the and commendation of the manner

plans at the direction of 8.3: Wood, evacuation at the meeting next of the Safety Industrial Company. [week.

It was also alleged in the pet-in which the community, and I re-

might have taken away the bodies

"ÎN TROUBLE AGAIN

tion to the court that the accused, fer particularly to the Chinese com- With three previous convictions Wood previously pleaded guilty to In order to sell the old coins/munity, has carried on during the to his name, a 17-year-old youth having caused to be made material! after they had been painted anew. past three weeks.”

'ACCUSED'S STORY

The accused told the judge that VOLUNTEER RANGE

the boat carrying the coffins of

PRACTICE

quads will attend,

·༔

prepared by the guerillas operat-. ing near the place where his boat sank, but the judge did not seem Interested in it. He, however granted $1,000 shop security bail.

AT 8.45 AM.

íp Wa-ching, appeared on

a divergences in the plan and was charge of larceny by false pre-fined $500. Lences before Mr. E. Himsworth at

Fleading on the summons that

Kowloon Court yesterday, and was wong had condoned with Wood in

The Dow Kee Bullding contrac-

HOSPITAL WORKER

WOUNDED

sentenced to six months' hard the alterations, Mr. D'Almada re month of June of the four hospi- The return of cases for the the dead relatives of the com The Military Authorities have labour. He will be recommended called the evidence of the latter tais under the sponsorship of the plainants had sunk while going informed as that the HE.V.D.C. fer banishment.

that Wong had immediately ad- to the interior off Hsupakow, out Training Cadre will fire a Range

His latest victim, it was revealvised demolition of the structure that a total of 5,715 cases were China Relief Association show side Woosung, but the judge was Practice at Kowloon Tong Bed was a widow named Chung the moment he was informed of not satisfied by his evidence.

treated during the period. Chang said that he had a letter Range on Sunday-The following Yuen-kwal 45, who accompanied the alteration in the plans

him and another youth "from

The return states that for ob-- Hongkong to Mongkok to take up tors, summoned for carrying out vous reason the situation" of a

Ha Squads-Hi H2 H3 H4 H5 H6 position vacant at the Queen the divergences from the approved hospital centre could not be dis- Mary Hospital, Kowloon" that plan, were fined $50. The prosecu closed, the re-occupation of these defendant told her about,

tlon agreed that the offence on areas necessitating the removal of The two youths bad asked for a their part was one of a more material to safer localities.

patients, hospital stan and Complainants told the court Any member of the Training security of $20 that would aid her technical nature. that they asked Chans to trans-Cadre who is not included in these in obtaining the job at the "Hos- Mr. JP. Murphy, Assistant One member of the staff, was port comins from Shanghai to the squads and who has not yet fired pital and she had paid over to Crown Solicitor, prosecuted, and seriously injured during a bomb- ing rald but is now progressing Interior last winter, but that until his Range Practice should report them this suni. When the ferry John Dobson, of the P.W.D., ap the time when the petition was to the Range Omcez at Kowloon reached Mangkok, both, took to peared for the Building Authority.

favourably. fled they had not received in Tong B Range at 10.46 a

their heels and defendant's ac formation that the corns · had

complice has not yet been arrest- reached their destinations. They had asked the accused many times

Set, Cameron prosecuted.

#ial

AT 10.45 A.M. Squads-HIA H2A H3A Ħ4A HA

HEALTH RETURNS

for an explanation, but it was al- Thirty-seven cases of tuber- leged that no ∙ satisfactory ex- culosis, five of dysentery, two each planation had been given until of enteric fever and measles, and very recently Chäng - told them one of cerebro-spinal fever were re- that the boat carrying the comms ported to the Health Authorities bad sunk. They further alleged for the 24 hours ended at midnight that the accused could not give on July 18.- strong "proof to support his · ex- planation. MA"REMOVED BODIES'

MARINE COURT

WOMEN FINED

$20 each, or otherwise serve twenty one days”” hard labour.

CASE "DISMISSED

B

LATE GOVERNOR OF MACAO

Case was dismissed by Commdr. It was learned from a very rell- GF. Hole at Marine Court yester-able source yesterday that the re- day against Yong Kau Fat 23, mains of the late Dr. Artur Tawag- steeraman of Class II boat No nini de Bouza Barbosa, Governor 21117, who came up on a charge of Macao, who died on July 10, WIN Eight Chinese women, consisting of having anchored in

be sent to Lisbon for burial, of two widows and six spinstera cable area between Kellet Island A Requiem Mass will be held in interior. In their petition to the were charged before the Marine and the mainland at East Point Macao on Aug. 19 following which court the · complainants - even Magistrata yesterday with having in the Victoria Harbour, at i p.m. the casket will be placed on board The accused also railed to point stated that they could prove that on July 18 boarded the s.4. "Hel-on July 18.

Portuguese han-o-wer for the "out the" boatman, and it was said the accused had disposed of the las lying at C. 1 buoy, without

The defendant pleaded not Journey to Portugal, that he had removed the bodies bodies in a most inhuman man the permission of the Harbour guilty, and was found so by Mr. F. P. de V. Soares, Acting In order to sell: the coffin after ner to obtain an illegal pront. A Master

Commdr. Hole, who said that the Portuguese Consul, stated that he painting them, as there has been civil claim was filed by each com All the women pleaded guilty evidence against the accused was had received no offcial communi val, shortage of Coffin wood in the plainant.

and were ordered to pay a fine of

extraordinarily vague."

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