THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
remarked to Mr. Salés, the Mandarin in- terpreter, "I am not guilty, my Lord. I did not stab any one."
26th October.
Wong Chuen Shun was charged with the murder of Chui Tṣui San at Causeway Bay on the 19th September.
Hon. H. E. Pollock (Acting Attorney- General), instructed by Mr. A. B. Johnson (Crown Solicitor), prosecnted and Mr. C. A. D. Melbourne (instructed by Mr. Reece, defended.
The Acting Attorney-General asked his Lordship's leave to amend the information by. striking out the name of Chun Tui Yan, who was on Saturday found guilty of the murder of Ho Tsui San.
His Lordship cousented to the amendment. Mr. Melbourne-I object to the amendment, my Lord. By striking out the name of Chan Tai Yun the prisoner is prejudiced. We con. tend that it was Chau Tai Yan who murdered this man as well as the other.
His Lordship-How can that prejudice the prisoner? He was to have been tried with another man and now he is to be tried by him- self. How does that affect him? Have you any authority to show?
Mr. Melbourne-No, my Lord. His Lordship-I do not think it will pre- judice the prisoner.
Mt. Melbourne-I have now a preliminary objection to make, my Lord-not a legal objection, but a technical one. It is that the prisoner was practically acquitted on Saturday for taking part in the wounding and murdering and the jury must have come to the conclusion that he took absolutely no part in the attack.
His Lordship-What is the objection to trying him on this count?
Mr. Melbourne That the jury in the former case found that he was not guilty-that he took no part in the affray.
His Lordship-In the murdering of another
man.
Mr. Melbourne-They must have come to the conclusion that he did not murder this man and that he did not take any part in the murder. His Lordship--Why did you not put in a ples of acquittal ?
Mr. Melbourne-Because this is not a legal objection.
now
murder
His Lordship-Mr. Melbourue, I do not think you can successfully raise that point. The prisoner was tried on Friday and Saturday for the murder of Ho Tani Sang and on that charge he was acquitted by the jury
charged with the He is of another man. Surely these are distinct offences. We do not know what operated in the minds of the jury. They might have come to the conclusion that this man was not responsible for the killing of the other, but that the evidence pointed to his connection with the killing of the second deceased. I think the offences are clear and distinct, and the acquittal on the charge of murdering oue man does not necessarily mean that he is acquitted on the charge of murdering this man.
The Acting Attorney-General said he had reason to believe that the learned counsel's
statement as to what operated on the minds of the jury was not correct.
The following gentlemen were then called to serve on the special jury: -Messrs. G. de Cham- peaux, Ho Fook, N. J. Ede, D. G. Brown, W. H. Ray, A. J. Rozario, A. S. Hooper.
Mr. M. S. 8. Sassoon was called, but he did not appear and his Lordship directed that he should attend the Court at the adjournment.
The Acting Attorney-General then explained the facts of the case, first of all asking the jury not to take the other case into account in any way. Two witnesses would prove that the prisoner stabbed Chiu Tsui San, who was killed. and then stabbed a second man and severely wounded him.
After the adjournment Mr. Sassoon, the absent juryman, attended before his Lordship and explained that he did not know he had to attend the Court and the mistake was due entirely to a misunderstanding between him and the Assistant Registrar.
~| His Lordship accepted the explanation and
allowed Mr. Sassoon to leave.
After hearing evidence the Court adjourned.
HONGKONG SANITARY BOARD.
[October 28, 1896.
HONGKONG GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
A meeting of the Sanitary Board was held at the office on the 22nd October. Hou. F. A. At a monthly meeting of the Committee Cooper (Director of Public Works) presided held at the Chamber Rooms, on 22nd October, and there were also present-Hon. F. H. May-Present: Messrs A. McConachie (Chairman) (Captain Superintendent of Police), Dr. Ayres H. Smith (Vice Chairman) J. J Bell
Colonial Surgeon), Dr. Clark (Medical Officer N. J. Ede, N. A. Siebe, T. H. Whitehead, of Health), and Mr. H. McCallum (Secretary). R. C. Wilcox (Secretary),
MINUTES.
The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.
REVOCATION OF BY-LAWS.
The Colonial Secretary wrote that His Excellency the Governor consented to the revocation of by-laws 8 and 9 made under sub- section 6 of section 13 of Ordinance 24 of 1887 and made on the 18th October, 1894. The letter was in response to an appeal by the night soil coolies and the by-laws referred to the election of a Committee of not more than twelve in number to represent the men, such Committee to assist the Board in exercising a strict supervision over the carriers.
On the motion of the PRESIDENT, seconded by the COLONIAL Surgeon, it was resolved to revoke the by-laws.
PROPOSED REMOVAL OF THE DISINFECTING
STATION.
The Medical Officer of Health called atten- tion in a letter to the dilapidated condition of the wooden building in High Street containing the steam disinfecting apparatus and of the fencing surrounding it. În view of the neces- sity for extensive repairs he suggested that the Board should forward to the Government recommendation that the machinery be removed to Kennedytown or to some other more suitable site.
B
The COLONIAL SURGEON said an idea had got about that the disinfecting station was a great nuisance and that it created an awful stink. He had been explaining that the station had been within ten yards of the hospital sisters' quarters and close to Caine Road during the last five years. There was a very small amount of smoke and the place was absolutely inoffen- sire.
It was resolved to forward the Medical Officer of Health's letter to the Colonial Secretary, with the request that it receive the favourable consideration of His Excellency the Governor.
SMALLPOX IN THE HARBOUR.
Dr. Jordan, Health Officer, reported that on the 15th inst. a Japanese sailor on board the Miike Maru was found to be suffering from smallpox. He was removed to the hospital and instructions were given for the disinfection of the ship and she was allowed to proceed at once to Kobe. The Health Officer also reported a case on board the Benvorlich from Yokohama.
A SATISFACTORY INSPECTION. The MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH re-
ported that an all night inspection of the night Foil boats was made on the 17th to 18th inst., with the result that 224 of the night soil coolies were found to be using the regulation bucket issued by the Board and ten only were using buckets of the old type.
CHOLERA AT SINGAPORE.
The Colonial Secretary at Singapore for- warded a return of cases of cholera at Singa- pore. From the 22nd to the 29th Sept. thero were thirty cases, of which twenty-one died, and from the 29th Sept. to the 6th inst., there were forty-four cases, of which twenty-nine were
deaths.
MORTALITY STATISTICS.
For the week ended 10th October the death rate was 23.9 as compared with 22.7 for the corresponding period of last year. For the week ended 17th October the death rate was 15.3, as compared with 24.2 for the correspond- ing week of last year.
The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.
THE VACANCY ON THE COMMITTEE. The question of appointing a member to the seat on the Committee vacated by Mr. Dodwell was considered, and it was decided to defer action until the return of a former member, shortly expected.
THE CHAMBER'S REPRESENTATIVE ON TAL LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
Read letter from Colonial Secretary, dated 25th Sept., informing Chamber that HE the Governor had appointed Mr. Whitehead, subject to Her Majesty's pleasure, to be unofficial member of the Legislative Council
NEW MEMBERS
It was announced that the following new members had been elected during the month --- Mr. A. R. Marty, the Nippon Yusen Kaisha, and Mr. Paul Jordan,
THE INCREASE IN TELEGRAPH RATES. It was announced that, in pursuance of the decision come to at last meeting, copies of the report of the proceedings at the special meeting of the Chamber, held on the 19th September, to protest against the sudden increase of their rates to Europe, America, and Shanghai by the joint Telegraph Companies, were printed and forwarded, with covering letters, to the Acting Manager Joint Telegraph Companies, Her Majesty's Minister at Paking, the Hongkong Government, the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, the Government of India, and 14 other Governments, the London Chamber of Com- merce, the Shanghai Chamber of Commerce and 128 other Chambers in various parts of the world; the China Association, Hongkong Branch; The China Association, London ; the Straits Settlements Association, London; also ten (10) copies to each Consul - (éleven) in Hongkong, for distribution.,
Read letter from Acting Manager, Joint El graph Companies, dated 7th Oct., making further refe Lee to the question of half-rate telegrams in the Chinese character. A formal acknowledgement had been sent on day of receipt. It was decided to publish the letter.
Also read letter from Singapore Chamber, dated 30th Sept., making further reference to Chamber's letters of 12th and 28th idem, and stating that the Committee, having considered the matter, had addressed a letter to the London Chamber urging that the question of the revision of the tariff of rates for telegrams between the East and Europe be again taken up. Copy of said letter enclosed. Resolved to publish correspondence.
THE PROPOSED INCREASE OF CHINESE IMPORT DUTIES.
A letter having been addressed on the 1st October to the Shanghai Chamber in conge- quence of the communication from the Shanghai. branch of the China Association handed by the Hon. Secretary of the local branch to this Chamber, giving assurance of readiness of the Committee to act in harmony with Shanghai on the question of the proposed revision of the Chinese tariff, a reply from the Acting Secretary of that Chamber was read, in which the Committee of the Shanghai Chamber expressed satisfaction at finding the Hong kong Chamber in accord with them on the subject. -
3
THE OPENING OF THE WEST RIVER. Read letter from Foreign Office, dated 8th Sept., acknowledging/receipt by Lord Salisbury of Chamber's letter of 4th August askin The Board adjourned till next Thursday informed what progress had been made
week.
ADJOURNMENT.
negotiations for the opening of the West River, and saying his lordship is well aware of, the importance of the matter, which will be duly kept in view.
The Osaka Savings and Shimanouchi Banks having suspended payment the credit of other banks has been markedly affected. So serious is the outlook that the other bankers in Osaka are considering what steps can be taken to avert a crisis. A few days ago they met in the Union Bankers' Hall to discuss the subject. Insig ' —Kobe Herald,
HON. T. H.
BirAdverting to yo
19thin
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