Directory_and_Chronicle_1850 — Page 76

1850.

Journal of Occurrences.

53

Chi-hong the real assassin, having been first apprehended, was executed. Afterwards his accomplices Ko Ahong and Li Apau were detected, the latter of whom was killed when about to be seized, and Ko Ahỏng also was captured, and made a confession, a copy of which was inclosed in a dispatch to the noble Council as is on record. Inquiries were in the meantime going on after two individuals, surnamed respectively Chou and Chen, who had escaped; and the mandarin of Kwangchau has now reported to me that repeated and strict searches were made to discover the said criminals, but as it was thought probable that they might have taken refuge with the pirates and joined them, a description of these men was ordered to be drawn up, in order that when the pirates should be apprehended it might serve to identify thein. The mandarin lately brought from Kweishen hien one Chang Asin, alias Chou Asin, who conjointly with Chou Ayau and Chen Afat had gone to join the pirates. As there were reasons to suspect his com- plicity, he was repeatedly interrogated, and he deposed that he knew Chou Ayau and Chen Afat, who as well as himself had been workmen at Macao; that one Shin Chi- liáng, known to him, having determined to assassinate Amaral, to revenge himself, had bribed Ko Ahong and Li Ayau to assist him in his design, and arranged with them, in concert with Chou Ayau and Chen Afat, that they should prevent persons from approach- ing. All agreed to go together. Hearing of the strict search that was making for them, they fled to liangkang, a seaport, when they joined the pirates. Having after- wards fallen in with the English, the said Chou Ayau and Chen Afat were killed in action, and he, the deponent was apprehended by the soldiers of the (Chinese) government and sent to Canton.

This deposition then, having been compared with those of Shin Chi-liáng and Ko Ahong, they were found to agree, and the two men who ran away are thus clearly identified as accomplices. With regard to the said criminal, who confessed to having committed pira- cies, which is in itself a crime punishable capitally, as he was an accomplice of the other delinquents in preventin people from approaching at the time of the murder, his guilt in still graver. Therefore, besides directions being given for the reiteration of the examinations, in order that his trial might take place, the deposition of the said criminal was transmitted for my information. From this it appears that the principal accomplices in the crime being six, of whom one was drowned, two were killed by the English sol- diers, and the remaining three apprehended; all therefore are discovered. Chou Asin has already been committed for trial, that he may afterwards be rigorously punished. All this I make known to the noble Council, sending at the same time, a copy of the confession of Chou Asin. Tuukwang, 29th year, 11th moon, 6th day (19th Dec. 1819).

Confession of Chang Asin, alias Chou Asin.

I lived at Macao jointly with Chou Ayau and Chen Afat, where we earned our liveli- hod by acting as workmen. An acquaintance of ours named Shin Chi-liang, on account of the Portuguese Governor Amaral having made roads without the Campo gates, by which work the graves of his ancestors were destroyed, was so enraged thereat that he determined to murder Amaral, in order to satisfy his revenge. For the purpose of assist- ing him in his design, he bribed Ko Ahong and Li Apau, and charged me, together with Chou Ayau and Chen Afat, to act as guards on the occasion, so as to prevent people from approaching. All of us agreed to this, and on the 5th day of the 7th moon Shin Chi-liang having heard that Amaral would go out for recreation proceeded with us to waylay him. Towards evening, when it was twilight, Shin Chi-liang seeing Amaral approach on horseback, went up to him under the pretense that he had a petition to hand him, and said that he had a complaint to preter; and whilst Amaral was stretching out his hand to receive the paper, Shin-Chi-liang drew a sharp knife he had concealed in the handle of his umbrella and commenced stabbing him in the arm and shoulder, until he fell from his horse, when he immediately cut off his head and hand, and we ran away, each his own way. Chou Ayau, Chen Afat, and myself, having afterwards heard that strict search was being made for us, fled to Hiangkang, a seaport from whence we went over to the pirates, whilst with whom Chou Ayau and Chen Afat were killed in engagements we had with the English soldiers, and I was afterwarde seized by the sol- diers of government, and taken to Canton. I pray therefore for mercy.

On the 24th, one month after sending Sii a translation of the Manifesto, the Council forwarded the following dispatch with the three prisoners, who had been detained since August.

From the Council of Government, &c., to Su, Viceroy of Canton, &c. This Council send to Your Excellency the three Chinese guards at the Barrier Gate, who were detained here; likewise their depositions and those of two with es-es, from winich it is seen clearly and evidently that these three meu belonging to the Barrier were at least cognizant of the horri- ble outrage commut d near that post on the evening of the 224 August They are either guilty, or acted under orders in permitting free passage through the Barrier to the vile perpetrators of that aboininable crime, This Council therofure send these prisoners to your Excellency us guilty persons, in order that they may be tried according to law; and by sending these three prisoners,