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September 24, 1896, 1.
hen referred to was placed before the
The
examination which occupied t day's session, was devoted entirely to examination of the prisoner, who, as the progressed and from the kindly way in which inquiries were presented, gained confidence and answered freely and in a manner which appeared to me to be frank and honest. I must as favourably impressed with the young lad and was greatly pleasured at his acquittal and release. The case following also resulted in noquittal. That an idea of the usual judg- ments may be obtained I may say that up to September 9th but one received the death sentence, one imprisonment for eleven years, two for nine years, and the others were acquitted. It must be remembered that these are not cases previously unexamined, and when the number of accusations are noted and the few that even- tually, are allowed to reach the court, it ap. pears as though it was the intention to look upon their errors leniently and give them every benefit of the doubt. Nearly 3,000 acensations were made as a whole; this number after in- vestigation was cut down to 417, and of these, after preliminary examination, but 67 reached the higher court. Every attempt is made to obtain evidence, but it is a very difficult task and one requiring much time, and presume most of the previous acquittals have been the result of insufficient evidence.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
Art. 5the-In each Court the President is appointed from among the judges. He over- looks the judicial administration of his own Court and lower Courts.
Art, 6th.-The trial and judgment shall be given by one in the District Courts, by three in the Court of Appeal, and by five judges in the Supreme Court.
the sympathy fellow-citiz
greed or
erous
We
of Japan may be im shown towards their and may realise that difference of rac customs does not prevent prompt and assistance in time of need. Especially hope that the unfortunate results war between Japan and China, as antipathy which exists between In case of the latter two the President of the the two countries, may be spee Court, or in case of his absence the judge next and to such a renewal of friendly in rank, shall be the chairman.
fact that Chinese members of your community Art. 7th.-The Prosecutors are either Cho-ku-have contributed to the relief of Japanese rule nin or So-nin. They institute and carry on
ferers cannot fail to have a great and favour- criminal suits and represent the State in all able effect. suits in which the State is a party.
The Prosecutors in the higher Courts over- look those of the lower Courts.
Chief of Police, Inspectors, and Police In- spectors may act as Prosecutors in District Courts.
..
Art. 8th.-The clerks are Hannin (a rank given officers who are appointed by the superior under whose direct orders they are controlled).
They make preparations for the trial of both civil and criminal cases, attending to the memo- randa, adjusting documents, etc., etc.
-}
Allow me to return to the days of the re- Ibellion sufficient to present two proclamations which were issued by the rebels and scattered broadcast through the central districts :-
"Officers' Headquarters.
I cannot speak too highly of this court and the officials connected with it, and I hope that other correspondents and foreigners generally, if they are in the vincinity of Chungwha, will find time to spend a portion of the day in visiting it.
The Chief of Court, Jinjaburo Katoh, is a splendid man, I believe, and I have the greatest confidence in his ability, but specially must I speak of Yashimo Hamasaki, the prosecutor for the State. I have many acquaintances among the Japanese, and many friends whose friend- ship I value, but I have never met one who impressed me more as a man of sterling qualities than the gentleman of whom I speak. I had a most interesting conversation with him, con- tinuing for the greater part of one day. I should like to speak much of him, but for fear of proving tedious to cotain foreign friends who seem to be possessed of the idea that to be a true man and a Japanese at the same time is almost an impossibility, I will but add that I am confident as long as Mr. Hamasaki re- presents the State in the Formosa Supreme Courts: Chinese need not fear injustice, and Japanese will find that they cannot break the laws of their country with impunity.
I cannot better describe the system of estab- lishing the Formosa Courts than to present the regulations, which I give in a condensed form.
Art. 1st The Law Courts are under the control of the Governor of Formosa and have the function of judging all suits civil and cri-
minal.
" PROCLAMATION OF THE FORMOSA
VOLUNTEERS.
"Several Japanese posts have already fallen into our hands as the result of our great courage and the bravery of our officers. After this success we must not retreat. With Heaven's aid the cruel dwarfs will be swept away. This is the right way.
"We are now about to attack Changwha and victory will crown our efforts.
"Let this be known to all the people, that they may not be possessed with fear. All mer- chants should continue their trade as in the past. Those who have been filled with false fears and have fled from their homes, must return and assist their neighbours that support may be bountiful. This is important.
"Let all people be informed of these things."
(Place and date not published.)
"Formosa Volunteer Headquaters,
"Shalengho.
"We will reward all persons male or female who will bring to us Japanese beads, twelve dollars silver for each head.
"These words from Headquarters are truth- fully spoken.
22nd Kwang-su, 5th month 30th day. "At Shalengho." These proclamations speak for themselves.
JAMES W. DAVIDSON.
FUND.
In due season I shall have the honour to pre sent to your Excellency, for the Hongkong com- munity, a full and accurate report, with an audited statement, of account, of the manner in which our Committee has discharged the task laid upon it.
At the present time I may briefly state that our fund, with all lists enclosed and collected, amounts to $15,441, subscribed as follows:
From Hongkong $4,128.00
""
"
Shanghai Kobe
4,869.00 6,444.00
$15,441.00
Of this amount half has already been ex- pended in cash and in purchase of tools, cloth- ing, fishing twine, etc., distributed by our Mr. Sim, who personally visited the afflicted districts, dispensing relief and making note of further requirements. He has returned to Kobe, and at a meeting of the Committee, held on the 21st August, a sub-Committee of three, includ ing Mr. Sim, was appointed to expend the balance of the fund on such purchases as were recommended by Mr. Sim, and in a short time these purchases will be distributed, and our work will be ended.
Mr. Sim reported that great appreciation of our work was shown not only by the sufferers but also by the officials in the provinces visited, and the Governor of Iwate Ken sent his formal thanks to our Committee.
Assuring your Excellency of our deep ap preciation of the kindly co-operation on the part of the community of Hongkong in our efforts to alleviate the suffering in Japan,-I am, sir, your most obedient servant,
J. S. HAPPER, Sec. and Treasurer,
Kobe Relief Fund. To His Excellency Sir William Robinson, K.C.M.G., F.R.G.S., Governor Hongkong.
DOUBLE MURDER AT CAUSEWAY
BAY.
At the Police Court on the 21st September two jockeys named Chau Tai Yan and Wòng. Chan Shun were charged before Hon.Commander Hastings with the wilful murder of two mafóos named Ho Sui Sang and Chin Sui Shau. The
Art. 2nd.-The Law Courts consist of the THE JAPAN TIDAL WAVE RELIEF crime, a particularly desperate and atrocious one, District Courts, the Courts of Appeal, and the Supreme Court; and their jurisdictions are the same as administrative jurisdictions.
Art. 3rd-The District Courts sit in those places where Prefectures, Sub-Prefectures, and Insular Offices are situated.
H.E. the Governor has received the follow- ing letter from the Hon. Secretary and Trea- surer of the Kobe Relief Fund :-
Kobe, 4th September, 1896. Their function is to pass first judgment on Sir, I have the honour to acknowledge both civil and criminal cases and to make pre-receipt of your Excellency's letters of the 15th liminary examinations of criminal cases.
The Governor may institute in cases of need branch offices of the District Courts sitting per manently or temporarily in any locality within their jurisdictions.
The Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court sit at the place where the Central Government of Taiwan is established. The former gives judgment on cares that are appealed from Districts Courts and the latter deals with the judgment as given by the Court of Appeals.
Art. 4th The judges are either Cho-ku-nin rank given only to officers who are entrusted with their positions by His Majesty the Em- peror) or So-nin (a rank given only to officers who are appointed by the cabinet with His Majesty's approval.),
No man can be a judge in Formosa unless he has the rank and has been appointed according
the Regulations for Organization of Im perial Courts with the exception of the judges the District Courts, who are for the time being exempt from the above restrictions.
July and 20th August the latter enclosing draft for $128, being the balance of the sub- scription raised by the Hongkong community for the Tidal Wave Relief Fund; together with the Hon. Treasurer's statement of account, giving the list of subscribers,
I beg to enclose you my receipt for $128. I gave a receipt for $4,000 to the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation on receiving that amount through them by telegraphic transfer.
I avail myself of this opportunity to express to your Excellency, and through you to the community which you represent, the thanks of our Committee for the prompt and generous response to our appeal. We feel that this sub- stantial proof of sympathy has brought relief, and in many cases has preserved life, to those who otherwise might have been bereft of both, We have deemed it wise to give publicity to your Excellency's letter, as well as the list of subscribers, by publishing the same in the newspapers, in the hope that the Government
was committed on Saturday night. | All the men ! concerned in the case were in the employ of Mr. Kennedy, Causeway Bay. Early in the evening the two prisoners went on board a sam- pan in the breakwater at Causeway Bay to visit two women. The deceased and two other men . named Lo Fuk and Chan Cha heard of the visit and went on board the sampan, as one.... of the girls was the sweetheart of Ho Sui Sang.. The six men had a quarrel and in the end the two prisoners went on shore. It is supposed: that they remained in hiding for the four men. At any rate, as the men came on shore they were, according to the statement of one of them, ponnced upon by the prisoners; who were armed with knives, and attacked in a most ferocious manner. The murderous aftray. took place in the dark near Mr. Kennedy's stables and the prisoners' object was evidently to disembowel the four men. They succeede in their purpose in so far that they ripped oper one of the men, who died on Sunday the other was stabbed in the heart and died almost immediately. The prisoners also severely cut the other two men about the body A Chinese, watchman witnessed, the stru but it was not until he heard somebody Tai Yau has a knife that he was a the seriousness of the
the struggle prisoners ran away and the seriously injured managed brawl into the
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