252
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
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[March 26, 1896.
had packed up his goods and was going to leave the colony two or three hours later.
The complainant was called and bore out He said the Counsel's opening statement. whole of the transactions had cost him $9,534. With the exception of 81 he had received nothing in return for the money.
20th March.
The complainant, Chan Hak Tan, was cross- examined by Mr. Robinson, and other witnesses were called, but the case had not concluded when the Court adjourned.
21st March.
Two witnesses, one of whom said he was the defendant's brother, were called, and said the defendant was a man of good character and had formerly been in the Viceroy's yamen, from which he had gained a certificate, which was produced. After leaving the yamen about eight years ago defendant started in the stock- ing business and, as far as they knew, he had nothing to do with fortune telling:
the
was
The jewel of the earth was to be found near the sprang up. It was necessary to buy or bribe Laufu mountains, but it was necessary in order twenty-eight spirits in order to get Ng Ping to obtain actual possession of the treasure to Sam safely back from heaven with the treasure. pray to the five elements, which were gold, $2,800 was required for this purpose, as Chan wood, rice, earth, and. curious to relate, Chun Cho had to go to his assistance; if this bank notes. On the 2nd January he was was not done the complainant would surely die given a piece of paper on which were and the whole of the money already expended written twenty-eight characters, which informed lost. On the 19th complainant handed Chan complainant that he must wear a girdle com- Chun Cho notes worth $2,200 and a promissory posed of the five elements, and for the purpose note for $600. Chan Chun Cho then disap- of properly constructing the girdle he must peared to assist Ng Ping Sam and of course Before put into it $1,400 in bank notes---$50 for each that was the last time he was seen. character on the paper-and thirty-six taels going he gave complainant certain instructions. weight of gold leaf. He was to put the girdle Complainant went again to Bowen Road. This round his waist and fake it to Ng Ping Sam. time he met the defendant whom he was told Complainant purchased the gold leaf for the cousult. The defendant said the heavenly $1,715, put it into the girdle, together with the gift and the earthly jewel would arrive not later $1,400 in notes, and on the 9th January he wore than the 24th January and they consisted of gold, it and went to the fortune teller's shop. On | silver, and diamonds of the value of over a million that day he met for the first time the second dollars. Another difficulty presented itself confederate, Chan Chan Cho, who was praying before actual possession of the treasure could be and reading the classics, and who was introduced obtained. Before the transfer could be made to the complainant. It was then pointed out that it three of his nearest ancestors must be present was absolutely essential in order to get possession in the new house. The first and third had of the very valuable treasure for Ng Ping Sama | arrived all right, but the second had not. There to go up to heaven to fetch it down. The was something wrong with his spirit, and the treasure consisted of gold, diamonds and jewels, feng shui had to be adjusted in some way before and was worth $1,800,000. While N Ping Sam the second ancestor could be released. Defen- was taking the excursion to heaven Chan Chun daut proposed to make an examination of the Mr. Robinson then addressed the jury and, Cho would remain praying and complainant grave. He wanted $3833 for the job. On the after noting various discrepancies in the could communicate with him during Ng Ping 10th January complainant paid him $388. On evidence, said that taking the case generally, Sam's absence. But there was a preliminary the 21st defendant was honest enough to say he complainant's story a regular It might be true either act to be performed. Ng Ping Sam could only had expended only $382 and gave back $1 to Munchaussen one. succeed in getting to heaven by wearing the the complainant. But he accompanied the return wholly or in part. It might be true that special girdle, and the foolish complainant wil of the dollar with a request for $5.000, which he had been swindled by Ng Pak Sam and Chan lingly couscuted to transfer the gille and its must be used to wrap the jewelin. Complainant Chun Cho only, and not by defendant or any valuables from his dwn body to that of Ng had not $5,000. Then $2.50 would do. On third man, and in this respect counsel dwelt on Ping Sam. To give folour to the whole trans- the 22nd January, in order to assure him the fact that the evidence covered only two men action and to make it look a grave and serious of an early realisation of all the promises and not three. There were certain facts which performance on the art of all concerned, both made to him. the compliant was told suggested that the story was entirely false. Com. went to the Mai on Timph thần Chun Cho that Ng Ping Sam had arrived with the plainant had said he was carrying on a sugar busi- remaining behind playing for their success. treasure at the new house, and that he and ness as well as a business with Hankow, but he The couple halted at the gate of the temple and Chau Chun Cho were earnestly praying for admitted with regard to the sugar business that there went through certain prayers and the complainant, as it was impossible for him he had never made up his accounts, that he did not know whether he had made a profit or loss, prostrations. Then Ng Ping Sam parted at that moment to see the jewel. The com- from the complainant after giving him plainant could not get the $2.500, but on the and that his liabilities amounted to $6,000. instructions to Pay earnest attention to 24th January he handed $500 to the defendant, With regard to his connection with a business Chan Chun Cho Ng Ping Sam himself who gave him a small bottle containing a in Hankow he had never sent in a general said he would be hack in a few days with the mixture of some description. On the 25th statement of accounts. On the other hand it treasure and the gift of heaven. He then January the complainant met the defendant was proved that he had been busy collecting strongly urged complainant, who might have again in Bowen Road and a yellow and white money due for goods supplied by the Hankow got frightened, to take a 'rieksha ride round the paper was put into his hands. Chinese charac-firm and that he had borrowed money, all of Happy Valley before he went home, so by this ters appeared on it, and they informed the com- which, bo said, he had lost in the foolish manner described. Counsel suggested that the means he could not for a time communicate plainaut the gold and precious stones had with his friends and so prevent Ng Ping Saur's arrived with the jewel, and that he must buy whole transaction looked like the act of an departure. Complanaut took the ride and then 1800 pieces of yellow paper, which would cost absolutely insolvent trader working out a pretty went home. He had looked upon Ng Ping Sam $463. The complainant. heliering that the scheme with which to face his creditors, and for the last time. That night Ng Ping Sam moment was at length at hand when he would reserving a nice little sum for himself which he went away and i has not len seen since. On le in possession of the treasure, handled the might have handed over to his Hankow partner. the 10th, 11th, 120h| und#3th January the con- 848 to the defendant between five and six Bearing in mind the recent miscarriage of plainant went to . Wellington Street and delock on the same evening. Then he was justice counsel strongly urged the jury to be saw Chan Chan Ch. On the 13th January told that a gold box Was
necessary to thoroughly convinced that this story of the Chan said the house was altogether too small put the precious paper in and this gold complainant was true before they found defend- and too mean to receive the great treasure and box would cost $870. On the 26th January ant guilty. it was necessary to rout a better house in order complainant gare defendant $370 and on the to accommodate the treasure when it came. He following day complainant was told that the added that Ng Pig Sam had gone to heaven ["gold box was not quite ready, but it frould be to inquire about the great jewfl and earthly ready on the 28th. He was instructed to go to treasure, but first of all $25 was wanted | Causeway Bay and stay, there until seven p.m., for the purpose of renting house. On that occasion a paper was produced which mentioned the name of Chan Yah Sun, who would be identified as Chan Kin Yau, the defen- dant. This was the first time! his name had been mentioned by Chan Chun Cho. The com- plainant handed $250 to Chan Chun Cho, who, finding the man so very credulous, explained that it was also necessary to have five small and five large gold coins. Ng Pig Sam, it ap- peared, had not get safely to heaven. He had stuck somewhere on the road-about half way up, and it was absolutely necessary for Chan Chun Cho to go to his assistance, Complainant bought the coins and gave them to Chau Chun Cho on the 14th January. On that day the de- fendant was in the sitting room of the fortune telling shop. On the 15th January complainant was induced to go again to Bowen Road aud was told to sit on the second seat and hold a white paper over his head. He did so. Chan Chun Cho praying the meanwhile. On being exposed to the air characters appeared on the paper and they had reference to the construction of a temple on the Laufu moun- tains, on which $1,600 was to be expended--the money of course to be provided by the complain- ant. On the 17th January further difficulties
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and the precious jewels would be handed to him in the temple there. By this time things had been going so very far that the complainant's nephew, who was an assistant in his uncle's shop. had seen entries in the shop books refer- ring to the payment of all these sums There was no trace in the books of what had become of the money. He noticed that his quele was muddled like a man in a trance and hardly knew what he was doing. The nephew followed the complainant to Bowen Road on the last two occasions on which he had gone there, and wisely communicated with the police. On the 27th the complainant himself become aware of the actual facts and found that he had been swindled of enormous sums of money. as the police were informed they arrested the defendant! There was no doubt that he had told the complainant to go out to Causeway Bay in order to give himself the opportunity of getting clear out of the colony with his plunder without any interruption, like Ng Ping Sam and Chan Chun Cho. The police in their inquiries traced the defendant to a boarding house in another part of the town, where he was arrested. They were just in time. They found upon him two envelopes, one containing $500 in notes and the other $900 in notes. He
As soon
been
His Lordship having sumoned up, The jury found a verdict of not guilty by six to one.
In reply to his Lordship they said they
had satisfied the complainant were swindled, and that there was a conspiracy, but they were not satisfied that the prisoner was the man who had been referred to as the "old teacher."
The prisoner was then discharged.
At Shanghai on the 10th March seven semi- foreign houses in Miller Road were destroyed by fire. The houses, which are owned by Sing Cheong, are fully insured, as are also the contents of five. It is stated that the Mitsui Bussan Kaisha, in which the contents were insured, intend contesting the claim, and a charge of incendiarism has been lodged in the Mixed Court. Shortly after the fire broke out two foreigners who happened to be at hand entered the burning houses and t personal risk succeeded In considerable rousing the inmates, who would otherwise in all probability have been burnt to death. On the 13th another fire occurred, this time in Foochow Road, and Nos. 442 to 451 were totally destroyed and five other houses and shops were more or less damaged by, fire and water. The buildings, which are owned by Chinese, are insured in several different offices. but the contents, with the exception of those of four of the houses, were uninsured,
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