Sessional_Paper_1908 — Page 213

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At 6 a.m. on the 27th of December a Native Officer attached to the 129th Baluchi Regiment, Kowloon, reported to the Police at the Water Police Station that a murder had been committed in a matshed in the lines occupied by 26 men belonging to A. Co. Baluchi Regiment. In consequence of this report the Police went to the shed, where they found the body of a sepoy, one WAZIR KHAN, age 23, underneath the bed of another sepoy named MAHOMED KHAN of the same Regiment, the latter man had previously been removed to the Military Hospital suffering from severe knife wounds in the face, neck, hand and arms. supposed to have been inflicted by the deceased who was not of the residents of the shed and who it is supposed entered the shed to murder MAHOMED KHAN whom he had previously threatened. A Magistrate's enquiry was held: Verdict-- Murder against some person or persons unknown.

MANSLAUGHTER CASES.

4. On the 10th of January a coolie named U LUK, age 21 years, was convicted of burglary at No. 109 Kau Lung Tong; he was sentenced to 6 months hard labour and 4 hours stocks. After being admitted to Gaol he showed symptoms of illness and was removed to the Government Civil Hospital where he died two days later the result of a ruptured spleen. The complainant and a witness in the burglary case were both arrested and charged with causing his death and were discharged at the Police Court.

On the 12th of March Lo CHING, age 33, a vegetable hawker residing in a matshed at AP MA LIN in the Yaumati District was beaten by four men. The deceased was hawking his vegetables near Temple Street when a dispute arose with a coolie who wanted to borrow the hawker's basket. Deceased died on the street the result of a ruptured spleen. Four men

were arrested: 3 convicted and sentenced to 6 months hard labour each and the fourth discharged.

On the 18th of August LEUNG WAN, age 34, a street coolie residing at No. 108 Second Street was removed to the ng Wah Hospital by his brother suffering from injuries caused by a fall into the Engine-room of the S.S. Po Cheung. The man died in Hospital a day later, the cause of death was fracture of the vertebral column. It appears that the deceased with other coolies rushed on board looking for employment and was pushed by an Indian Watchman employed on board which caused the man to fall.

The Indian was arrested and convicted and sentenced to two months hard labour.

On the 22nd of August LI CHU, a vegetable gardener residing at Cheung Sha Wan in the Sham Shiu Po District, was removed to the Government Civil Hospital suffering from an injury in the head inflicted by two Indians who struck him with a bamboo pole. LI CHU died in Hospital a day later, the cause of death was a fractured skull. The deceased had been watering his vegetables from the well and he was accused by the two Indians of making the water dirty. The Indians snatched the man's pole and struck him in the head with it. Three men were arrested, two were convicted and sentenced to 1 year hard labour each and the third man was discharged.

On the 27th of August the body of a man named Lux Tso, age 28 years, furniture- maker, who lived in the Kwong On Club, New Street, was found by the Police in French Street, West Point. Police investigation showed that the motive for the crime was a dispute between the members of different Triad Clubs, a number of whom met at Shek Tong Tsui to fight out their disputes. Deceased and some of his party who did not go to Shek Tsui waylaid some of the members of the other Clubs near Water Street and deceased was driven into French Street where he was fatally stabbed. Four men were arrested, one was convicted at the Criminal Sessions and sentenced to 7 years hard labour, two were discharged by the Police Magistrate and the other at the Sessions.

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On the 1st of September WAN TAM MUI, age 28, was removed to the Government Civil Hospital suffering from injuries the result of having been beaten by a number of men in the Wanchai Market; the man died on the 6th of September. The cause of death being a rupture of the spleen. Deceased was a hawker and went to the market to purchase pork and had a quarrel with the stallholder and his fokis whom he accused of assaulting him. Four men were arrested and discharged by the Police Magistrate.