102
vations wer thereupon made in order to obtain a more intimate knowledge of the composition. of the spirits under question.
2.-Throughout the whole of the succeeding experiments comparisons were made side by side with spirits known to be genuine.
3.-On observing the physical characters it was noticed that the rums lacked the fragraut. odour and the characteristic flavour usually pos- sessed by true spirits, while the gin was found to be that variety known as Whisky Gin," or alcohol flavoured with the bye-products obtained in the distillation of whiskey.
4. They were then tested, at first qualitatively, for the presence of fusel compounds, and the tests indicated that the gin contained a notable trace and that the rums contained but a faint trace, so that further attention in this direction was directed solely to the gin in order to esti- mate the quantity of these fusel compounds or higher alcohols present. An analysis showed that the gin contained 1093 per cent., of 1398 per cent. calculated on the liquid of proof strength. By the same process an examination of 51 samples of genuine whisky conducted in the Inland Revenue Laboratory, Somerset House, showed that .1230 per cent.. calculated on the liquids of proof strength. of higher alcohols was the highest obtained.
•
5. The slight excess in the Whisky Gin" is not of much importance, as further ex- periments showed that the whisky flavour, consisting chiefly of these higher alcohols had been added to a plain spirit in order to form the beverage, and that the liquor bad not been made by distilling a spirit so as to contain this amount of fusel compounds: it may be said that the latter mode of preparation would have pro- duced a refreshment of doubtful character:
6.-Another series of tests was instituted in order to ascertain the presence of furfuraldehyde
The results are as follows:
Liquid.
A. Rum,
B. Rum,
Whiskey-Gin, Genuine Rum,.
Furfuraldehyde.
bat in an altered for test.
was made.
trace.
trace.
absent.
us
present,
indicated by the
Genuine Gin, Furfuraldehyde is scarcely, if ever, present in gin, so no observation The minute quantity of this substane in the liquors is of no importance, except from a chemical standpoint.
|
7.-From the results of these experiments and observations, the rums were found to resem- ble the artificial liquids prepared by flavouring plain spirit of suitable strength; they appear to contain some genuine rum. The blending of plain spirit with rum, either for the sake of cheapness or for obtaining a milder flavour, is practised to some extent in England, and ac. cording to the evidence given on British and Foreign Spirits before the Select Committee
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
August 7, 1895.
bad liquor has almost always proved fruitless, behalf of the Sun Fire Insurance Co., and Mr. as no defiuite deleterious matter can be detected. | Grist defended the prisoners. The bad quality is probably due to defective distillation, preparation, and making.
The Secretary-The substance of the report is to the effect that the rum and giu are iù all probability purely artificial preparations, but the analyses do not show that they contain anything which would be specially injurious to the health of ordinary moderate consumers. Indulged in to excess, like all ardent spirits, they are bound to be injurious; and at the cheap rate they are sold I have no doubt it is this excess, very often great excess, that has drawn the attention of the Naval and Military authorities to the pernicious effect they have on soldiers and sailors.
ALLEGED INCENDIARISM IN QUEEN'S ROAD,
At the Police Court on Wednesday last, before Hon, H. E. Wodehouse, two accountants and three shop coolies were charged with attempting to set fire to 371, Queen's Road Central on the 31st alt., also with maliciously setting fire to the same house there being people therein at the time.
Mr. Grist appeared for the defendants, and Mr. Hastings watched on behalf of the prosecu- tion.
Leung Sing, constable, said that at midnight on the 30th ult, he was on duty in Queen's Road, and when at the corner of Bonham Strand a man told him that 371. Queen's Road was on fire. He ran to the house and saw the cockloft on the ground floor on fire. Under the staircase leading from the ground floor to the cockloft be saw two persons standing. He asked them why they did not try to put out the fire, and he ordered them to throw water upon it. He also snatched up some clothing hanging or the parti
tion and beat out the flames with it. The two. persous he spoke to wentaway and did not return. After extinguishing the flames he saw one of the defendants standing by the counter, and he asked him how the fire originated. He said he did not know. Witness went away, but upon going. some distance he returned, as he did not know what to report to the inspector. The door was then locked and bolted on the inside, and upon knocking he was admitted by a mau dressed in black. The defendant who was first spoken to was standing in the same plane, and witness asked him what had caused the fire. The reply on account of the falling of a kerosine lamp." Witness went up to the cockloft again, but no lamp was there. He, however, saw two baskets, one inside the other, a little dis- basket was full of rattan shavings, and a piece tance away from the first fire. The inner of paper soaked with kerosine contained a bundle of matches tied together. This bundle was ou fire in a corner of the basket, and witness shouted, Here is another fire." He stamped out the flames, and left the shop with the soaked
was
་་
Leung Sing, district watchman, was recalled and said to answer to his Lordship that he did not know the man who first informed him of the fire. He did not belong to the shop. When he The door got to the shop he met another man. of the shop was half open. He had to enter tho shop before he could see the fire, but from the ont. side he could see smoke issuing. The fire was in the cockloft. He saw two persons on the ground floor in the shop when he entered, besides two more on the stairs. He recognized one of the defendants as one of them. The men in the shop were standing near the counter. He asked them why they did not attempt to put out the fire, and they replied that it was too strong. Witness then left the shop and went to the cook- loft. The cockloft was at the back of the shop and was reached by a staircase on the west side of the shop, the stairs leading directly into the cockloft. On going up the stairs he met two men apparently coming down from the first floor to the cookloft. He could not identify any of the defendants as being the same two men. When he reached the cockloft the floor was on fire near the staircase. He noticed the ashes of burnt paper on the floor, and there There was no was a strong smell of kerosine. one in the cockloft and it did not appear to be inhabited. A railing separating the cookloft from the staircase was also on fire. He had no water. It had not occurred to him that the fire difficulty in putting the fire out. He used no
and returned again. He left the shop for was suspicious until after he had. left the shop about ten minutes, and when he returned the door was opened by a man whom he could not recognize as one of the defendants, but as defendant and another mau. soon as he was inside bo recognized the first went to the cockloft again. The baskets pro- Witness then duced were underneath the staircase leading from the cockloft to the first floor. The baskets were fall of rattan shavings, and there was also in which were several matches tied up in a small a piece of paper soaked with kerosine, enclosed bundle. The paper was wrapped loosely round The paper appeared to have been just set on fire, the flame being then very small. Witness drew the attention of the men in the shop and they replied that they knew nothing about to the fact that the paper was soaked in kerosine it. He also spoke to the defendant, who was downstairs, and he replied, "We don't know.” The cock loft was used for storage purposes, and the shop was a
the matches.
marine delicacy" store. The baskets appeared to have been purposely placed
entered the cockloft, but there was nothing in in the position they occupied. The paper had apparently been lighted immediately before be the movements of the men to indicate who it was that lighted it. He did not know until examining the bundle of matches in Court that day that there was a joss-stick in the centre,
of the House of Commous in 1891, it appeared paper. Subsequently Inspector Hall and two which; it was possible, may have been burning
that this practice was sanctioned, as Ham- burg imitation rum was allowed to be blended in bond with true rum. After au exhaus. tive examination the two rams did not ap pear to contain anything injurious to health other than the ordinary ingredients of commer. cial rum." The purchaser who pays 25 cents for a reputed quart of these liquors obtains the legal amount of alcohol, and but little flavour and aroma.
arrested the five defendants. constables want to the shop, examined it, and
The police found that preparations had been made for a secret escape from the premises rope
A
had been fixed from the window at the back of the house, and it reached the floor, so that by sliding down it the inmates could safely escape injury from fire.
The case was remanded until Thursday. Before the case was called ou Thursday Mr. 8.-Giu being alcohol, favoured chiefly with Master, Acting Crown Solicitor, asked for the oil of juniper or oil of turpentine, is neverthe matter to be acfourned till next Wednesday, less a liquid of indefiuite composition. There are many varieties of gin, each with its saying that he had been instructed for the pro characteristic and wid ly differing flavour,cution, aud he wished to get plans of the pre-
mises prepared so that alcohol favoured with a small pro. His Worship said he should like to complete
lemon.
portion of fusel compounds, as that sont for examination, is not an unknown variety of giu. The following favours are used either collectively or separately for gin: Oils of caraway, cassia, fennel almond," and canada balsum, fusel, oil, creazote, and crude pyroligneous acid. Tested in the same way as the rums, this giu, sold at 27 cents a bottle of one pint capacity, did not appear to contain anything injurious to health other than the
*
ordinary ingredients of commercial gin."I have the honour to be, Sir, your most obedient servant,
FRANK BROWNE, Aoting Government Analyst. The following minutes were attached. Dr. Lowson-Analysis of what appears to be
the evidence of the first witness, and also hear the constable's statement before making an adjournment. He did not think it was necessary for Mr. Master to be present while the constable gave his evidence, and if he thought fit he could re-examine bim at the adjourned hearing.
Mr. Master-The coustable was the first European who arrived at the spot and I should like to examine him on the plan which I am having prepared. If your Worship will remand till next Tuesday I shall be prepared to go on with the case,
liis Worship said he would take the evidence of the Chinese watchman and would then ar- range the adjournment.
The case was then proceeded with. Mr. Hastings watched the proceedings on
sometime bef re it ignited the matches. In the same room near the fire was a box containing clothes, on the top of which was a quantity of
paper.
This concluded the witness's evidence. which was on the top of the clothes?
Mr. Hastings-What became of the paper.
His Worship-Why?
Mr. Hastings-We don't know whether it was examined or whether there was any kerosine on it.
His Worship-It is not produced, at any rate. Mr. Hastings-We don't know whether it is produced.
His Worship-It is not produced.
Mr. Hasting-Well, I think evidence ought to be taken as to what became of that paper. Will your Worship ask him it there was any kerosine on it ?
In answer to his Worship witness said. ho did not examine the basket to see if it contained kerosine.
His Worship then adjourned the case till Wednesday morning.
Mr. Grist applied for a reduction of the bail allowed the previous day, saying the defendants had been unable to find sureties for such high
amounts, but his Worship only allowed a re- duction in the case of one defendant, whom he granted bail in-one surety of $100.
The Paujom Mining Co., Limited, has made a final call of twenty-five cents per share,
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