Sessional_Paper_1884 — Page 144

Sessional Papers 議政定例兩局文件 All

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464.-But it was rather a venturesome thing, if they had killed three men, to go to the Customs?

A.-They generally knock about the Customs to hear what is going on.

465.--But would not their lives have been in danger?

466.-Why did you not take them?

A.-Oh, we didn't bother with them about that, so long as we got the prizes.

467.--Not if you saw them in the Customs?

A.-No. I don't think there is one European there who would do so. They say, "I don't care whether you get punished or not so long as I get the prize money."

468.-Was there any Chinese over you?

A.-No.

469.-Why did you seize the junk?

· A.-Because she was smuggling.

470.-How do you know these junks you fired into and in which you killed five or six men, were smuggling?

A.--By information I received.

471.-From whom?

A.—Chinese in Hongkong.

472.-Chinese informers ?

A. Yes.

473.--And you share the goods?

A.-The informer comes to us and points out a certain junk. We fire across her bows and hail her. If she is smuggling saltpetre, she will fire.

474.-Then when the men are killed, what evidence is there that there is smuggling?

A. By finding the saltpetre on board.

475.--The Chief Justice has asked you a question which you have not answered. The Chinese of your crew, you say, saw the men of the crew you fired into. Was there no attempt to bring them before the Chinese authorities at Canton for murder?

A.-No.

476. Although both yourself and the Chinese members of your crew saw the murderers there?

A. Yes.

Can you recollect any

477.-You

?

477. You say "I have often had fights with these junks." Can other cases

A.-There was another case in the Kapshuimún. I was in the dingy and I was fired on by a junk with saltpetre and sulphur. There was no one killed, only one man on my side wounded.

478. Did you seize the junk?

A. Yes.

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