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2. Table I shows the number and character of the Serious and Minor Offences reported to the Police during the past year, and the number of persons convicted and discharged in connection with these offences.

MURDER CASES.

3. On the 7th of March CHAN SING, Master of Cargo-boat No. 7468, reported that while he, his wife, and a brother were going in a small boat from the Harbour Master's Pier to his Cargo-boat, his boat was capsized by the back-wash from a steam-launch. The occupants he said were precipitated into the water and his wife drowned.

One day later the body was picked up and there were several wounds on the head. It is supposed that the husband and his brother hit the woman on the head with an

oar and threw her into the water and made the report to cover their crime. Both men absconded after making the report. No arrest has yet been made.

On the 25th of March CHEUNG TAI, age 30, a gardener residing in a matshed with his mother and a man named YIM HUNG and his family at Telegraph Bay, Pokfulam, ran amok with a chopper and attacked YIM HUNG and his two children aged 3 and 6 respectively. YIM HUNG died from his injuries before he reached Hospital. The younger of the two children recovered and the elder died on the 7th of April from his injuries. CHEUNG TẠI was convicted of murder and sentenced to be hanged, the sentence was commuted to penal servitude for life.

On the 3rd of April at about 5.30 a.m. the body of CHEUNG KIU, a widow, age about 46 years, residing alone in a house at No. 6 San Shan in the Hung Hom District, was found on the floor of her house by a neighbour who saw the door open. From the appearance of the body and medical testimony death was probably the result of strangulation, a piece of cord was tightly fastened round the neck and robbery appears to have been the motive for the crime. Deceased was known to have jewellery valued over $100 and this she was wearing the day before her death. When the body was found the jewellery was missing.

No arrest.

On the 4th of April a Japanese named ARAKI TUzo, age 32 years, unemployed and of no fixed abode was attacked in a Japanese boarding house at 55 Connaught Road Central by a number of Japanese men who stabbed him on the head and body with knives and swords causing such injuries that he died before removal to Hospital. Tuzo the deceased mian was the head of a party who imported Japanese women for immoral purposes and some differences arose between some of the party when it was suspected that Tuzo was not acting honestly towards his own party. They decided to remove him and appoint some one else as their bead. Some of the party set off in search of Tuzo who apparently took shelter in the boarding house where they found him and murdered him. Four men were arrested and indicted for murder; they were found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to ten years hard labour each. A number of others connected with the party were arrested and banished from the Colony.

On the 15th of May an Indian named MELA, age 40 years, employed as a watchman by ESSABHOY, PABANY & Co., who lived at No. 4 Hing Lung Lane East, West Point, was murdered in his hut by other Indians who no doubt went there to rob him.

Deceased was known to have $400 in his box, the box was found by the Police broken open and the money and other property stolen. Six Indians were arrested, four of whom were convicted of murder and sentenced to be hanged. The sentence was commuted to penal servitude for life. The charge against the other two was withdrawn.

The

On the 21st of July about 10 a.m. To CHEUNG, age 30, employed as a foreman in Messrs. A. S. WATSON & Co.'s aerated water factory was found lying in Des Voeux Road near the Taiwan Bank in a dying condition with a wound in the region of his heart. man died before removal to Hospital. It appears that deceased had been the means of causing the dismissal from the Factory of one or two men who were slack in their work: this led to a fight and resulted in the man's death. Five men were arrested; 3 were convict- ed and sentenced to be hanged, one was hanged, in the case of the other two the sentence was commuted to penal servitude for life and two were discharged no information filed against them.