I know Tong Wing. He did not com- to me of having had a tumble before he to the hospital. Mr. Ralpha has never truck me with the pointer or anything else. I saw him hit the deceased. I am at the never head of the class and have never been caned,
By Mr. Dennys I do not know when Tong Wing became ill. There are 23 boys in my form. I remember the headmaster examining us in dictation the Wednesday before Tong Wing went to the hospital.
Mr. Donnys-Were all the 23 boys there at the examination ?
Witness I did not notice; they were not all there
Was Tong Wing there I did not notice. Who made the most mistakes in that dicta- tion ?Before Tong Wing went to the hospital he made the most mistakes in dictation.
He made ten ? More than ten.
How many did you' make -I made no
mistakes.
Can you remember what the subject in diota- tion was I do not remember.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
|
brought out that have nothin inquiry.
The question was not pursued and the examination of the witness was closed.
Mr. Wilkinson said he had several more witnesses to call in the intereste of Mr. Ralphs, and he asked for another adjournment.
His Worship, after consulting the jury, decided to call Mr Ralphs and complete the case.
Edwin Ralphs said-I am third master at the Diocesan School. I joined the school on 9th August, 1895. Beside myself there are the second master, the fourth master, and the head master. Hung Piu Iu was punished by me on the 19th April last for behaving in a disorderly manner on the way from the cathedral. The punishment consisted of three or four strokes across the breech with a cane. I informed Mr. Piercy on the following morning. The punishment did not take place in the road, but in the open doorway of the corridor. I have never hit any boy at any time over the head with the pointer produced or with a cane or
Tong Wing was ill the day before that Wed-stick. nesday I did not notice.
Was he sick on the Tuesday before the dieta- tion day?-I do not know.
Do you know whether he was in school the day after the dictation lesson ?--I did not notice. Do you have much to do with the scholars I only see them during school hours.
You do not play with them?-After school hours f go home.
What time did you have the dictation lesson P-10.15.
When did it finish ?-I do not remember. Mr. Piercy took the class P-Yes. After the lesson was finished, was anything said to the boys by Mr. Ralphs P-A boy has to write ont each of his mistakes fifty times. They have to show them the next morning.
When does he write them ?-After school hours.
Are all the masters in the school the same in their treatment of the boys -All the same.
If they are good they are not punished P— No..
:
How are they punished if they are not good ? By making them stand in the verandah and do 100 lines. If this task is not finished at the proper time the boy is slapped on the face.
Have you seen Mr. Ralphs slap the boys in that way? Yes.
In any other way ?--No. Mr. Deacon-How is the slapping done ? Witness-With the open hand.
Have you ever seen a master strike with his clenched first ?-No.
Mr. Wilkinson-Ever since Mr. Ralphs went to the school and since Tong Wing's death have you been in the same class ?
Witness-Yes.
:
Then during the whole of the school hours you and Tong Wing would be together ?—Yes. Could anything happen to Tong Wing in school without you seeing it ?-If anything had happened I should have seen it.
Do you know where Mr. Ralphs kept the pointer Yes, in the drawer in his class-room. You have never seen Mr. Ralphs use that to punish a boy -No.
And you are prepared to swear you have never seen Mr. Ralphs strike a boy, with a stick? Yes, I am.
What sort of a character does Mr. Ralphs bear amongst the boys P--Nobody talks against
him
Is he liked ?—Yes.
Did you hear any conversation in Court here between Tong Wing's mother and Ho Ka Tin last night. Yes
What was it? The mother of the deceased boy asked Ho Ka Tin, "How many sons has your father got ? Ho Ka Tin did not reply. Then she asked this boy where he lived..
F
Did you hear her threaten Ho Ka Tin ?- Yes I heard her say When you go in you speak the truth. If you don't I'll tell some one to beat you.
Did she tell him what to say P His Worship, Ho Ka Tin has given evidence. Mr. Wilkinson-The boy has left the colony in consequence of the threats.
Dennys If he has, what on earth has that to do with this enquiry P→
Mr. Wilkinson-A lot of things have been
1.
Mr. Dennys-Do you remember this poor boy, Tong Wing P-Yes.
He gave no trouble except as regards his work. What sort of a boy was he P-Quiet generally. He was very dull, so dull that I sometimes thought he was lacking in mental powers.
He returned late from the summer vacation He was frequently on the sick list ?—Yes.
because of his illness at home.
He went to the hospital on a Tuesday ?--Yes,
the 27th October.
On Monday, the 19th, he was in school, was he not ? Yes. Tuesday he was sick; Wednes-- day and Thursday he was present; and on Friday and Saturday he was sick.
He died the following Monday ?—Yes. Did you ever beat Tong Wing at all P-Will you say what you mean?
I ask you whether you ever beat him Did you assault. him ?-He was never caned or struck with a stick or anything else but the open hand and that must have taken place before the summer vacation.
1
Are you prepared to swear that you did not lift your hand to Tong Wing after the summer vacation ?-To the best of my recollection I did
not.
When did the summer vacation cease ? The school reassembled on the 24th August, Tong Wing returned on the 10th September.
I gathered from your answer just now that you may have beaten him before the summer vacation?-I may have slapped him in the face. By that you mean once P-It may have been more than once, but not frequently.
Once or twice you mean P-Yes. You made allowances for the boy and treated him kindly ?Yes, he had nothing to complain
of.
Before he went to the hospital did you hear of his having a fall P-No, none of the boys would have reported such a thing.
That is a matter of opinion. You saw no marks on his head two weeks before he went to the hospital ?-No.
Do you remember the Sunday night before the boy died ?-Yes.
When did you first hear that the boy was considered to be seriously ill ?-About 10 o'clock on that Sunday night.
said to me. "Tong Wing is very sick and the Tell us exactly what you heard.-Mr. Piercy
doctor wishes me to send for his friends." "Do you know if Then Mr. Piercy asked me, Toug Wing has had a fall. or a blow on the head ? The doctor seems to think he must have received one." He said nothing more to me at that time I said I had not heard of anything of the kind.
Was that all the conversation that took place between you and Mr.-Piercy that evening P That was all he said to me.
Tong Wing was in your class? Yes, I took them in more subjects than the other masters.
Did you that night make enquiries whether Tong Wing had had a blow or fall?—No. Mr. Piercy asked the boys in my presence.
At that time had Mr. Piercy, as far as you know, seen Tong Wing Nor
Mr. Pieroy went to the hospital that night P. Yes, after speaking to me.
I
tant onmidJám obzeit & d510 Bande sup
peak
hospital
far
Did ceived letter
December 13, 1898:
d he not inform you he
He to did not tell beyond saying the doctor thought had a blow
There was no suggestion:
the you had ini going to the bital Mr.
out and asked him if Tong V
What time
time does the schoo Prayers take place at 845, wh assembles. The boarders are mu On Monday they
ten
books and have breakfas ata came to my bedroom about seven morning of the Wing is dead. ́ ́
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he received from Dr.
showed me th
Mr. Dennys here re-read Dr. and asked-When he sho what did he say I do not remembe made any remark.
S
Can you say that he made no rema After showing me the letter he simpl This is the letter I received from Dr. son last night.
Did he say anything more between that time
must remember I cannot remember and breakfast? You know it is a matte
anything directly on the case. Hỏ advice as to how to proceed in the
Did Mr. Piercy tell you, yes boy had made a statement accusing
Then why can't you say so. Di that he said you had struck Piercy said Tong Wing him on the head with a ru
10k
Baid
also said that on one cocasion it was on Wednesday, and on he said it was Saturday Mr. Piercy also sai "The Doctor said to Tong Wing, That could not be, because there is no mark on your head. The boy replied “Yes, meaning that the state ment was true.
fore breakfast I do not remember say
Did you make any reply to Mr. Piercy be
thing. I was too much surprised to say any
before breakfast. Mr. Piercy did not say thing more to me about what took place in the hospital.
You say that just before 8 o'clock Mr. Pieroy advised you how to act? He said it would be advisable to get legal advice.
Wednesday by the head master?—Yes.
The boy was examined in dictation on the
How many mistakes did he make P Either eight or
boy
it in
ten
You you have never hit that boy Can you give us any reason whatever for making that deliberate false statement about yon in the hospital P-I can only account this way. If the boy knew what he was saying it might have arisen in this way. On the sion to which he refers he made eight mistakes and I called him to my desk and said it was very bad and I should have to to Mr. Piercy that he be transferred to form, where the work would be boy may have felt the thought of it in the hospital. made no remark to me. I spoke class room. All the boys we
Were you very much annoye Not in the same way I should another boy I was not angry. work was too hard for him, much more kindly than I should have done other boys.
You say that was the sol ing that statement
sole cause, What is the onl
Supposing you tapped a this pointer, it would give him a
Do you swear solemnl struck a boy with struck a boy on the I did not say tapped a boy on something Are you have never i the pointer!
YOU
have
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