Page
December 2, 1897.]
for the trouble he has taken in connection with the rewards proposed to be given by this Cham- ber from the Pinnacle Rock Fund for informa- tion leading to the discovery of hidden dangers
on the coast of China.
My Committee at the same time desire me to say that their idea of the amount to be awarded in each case is a maximum of $50 for an im. portant danger and lesser sums in the discretion of the distributor for those of minor import-
ance.
Will you also inform the Commodore that the Consuls; and Commissioners of Customs ut the various Coast Ports will be asked to issue notices that rewards will be given to those pointing out unknown dangers to Her Majesty's Naval Officers ?-I have the honour to be, sir, your obedient servant,
R. CHATTERTON WILCOX,
Secretary. Vincent H. Lawford, Esq., R.N., Secretary to
Commodore.
THE COMMAND OF THE CHINA STATION.
We hear that Vice-Admiral Sir Alexander Buller is expected to hoist the Admiral's flag on his flagship in Hongkong next month. In January Admiral Buller will return to England and Vice-Admiral Sir Edward Hobart Seymour, K.C.B., will take over the command of the China Station.
THE BRIBERY
THE DISMISSALS
SCANDAL.
CONFIRMED.
We are informed by the Assistant Colonial Secretary that a despatch has been received from the Secretary of State for the Colonies approv ing the dismissal of Mr. Osmund, Inspectors Witchell, Stanton, Quincey, and Baker, Sur- geant Holt, and Sanitary Iusp ctor T. Hore from the Public Service.
SUICIDE OF MR. W. K. WYLIE
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
tram.
to
the
421
He was dressed in his ordinary clothes; his vest was open. The revolver was lying about nine in: hes from his right hand, which was at
He presumably put the letter in his pocket| and it is probable that it is the one he wrote to his wife and which was found upon him
Iris side. when his clothing was searched. He left Hend-
The holster was lying some distance quarters just as the 12.30 tram
from the left foot. The box of cartridges was Peak was about to leave, and the breaksman, near the revolver; there were twenty-nine cart- who saw Mr. Wylie emerge from the Head-ridges. It was a six-chambered revolver and quarters, thought he would be going by that contained four loaded and two discharged car- The deceased, however, never went to tridges. There were fifteen cartridges scattered the station during the day or night and, it is pro- on the ground, making a total of üfty, bable that he went straight to the revolver range, including the two which were discharged. It is not known precisely at what time he com- Before moving the body I searched the cloth- mitted the dreadful deed, but the report of aing. I found a watch and a visiting card in the shot was heard about two or three o'clock in ordinary watch pocket of his vest. The card the afternoon. At all events, the deceased was bore the name of a gentleman in the Royal not found until about 7.30 yesterday morning, Naval Reserve. I found a service envelope ad- when à Chiuaman saw the body and at once dressed Mrs. Wylie in his breast pocket. went to the house of the soldier in charge of the I kept the letter until this morning when I range. The soldier was out at the time obtained your Worship's authority to give it to and on returning a few minutes before pine Mr. Sinclair. I have not made myself acquainted o'clock he immediately went to the spot and with the contents. I found one teu cent piece then gave information to the police, who re- and two five cent pieces on the grass near the moved the body to the mortuary. The revolver | body, a penknite in one of the trousers pocket, was lying at his side near the packet of cart- a pocket handkerchief in another pocket, and a ridges, two of which had been used.
piece of paper on which were some figures which appeared to be shooting scores.
There were marks of heavy dew the clothing as if the body had lain there all night, and the revolver was rusty on the side which had been in contact with the earth. The body was re- moved to the Government mortuary. I wish further to state that on the afternoon of the 22nd inst., Mr. Hart Buck came to the Police Station and made a communication to me.
The news of the shocking occurrence quickly spread over the colony on Suuday morning and created a painful sensation, much sympathy being expressed for Mrs. Wylie, who is left a widow with three children.
THE INQUEST.
On 29th November Hon. H. E. Wodehouse held an inquiry into the circumstances attend- ing the death of Mr. W. K. Wylie, formerly the superintendent engineer in the employ of the Hongkong High-Level Tramways Company,
Limited.
Mr. C. Ewens, solicitor, was present as u member of the Consulting Committee of the Company
nt about 2 p.m. I heard a shot in the direction of the racquet court. I know
it
was
about two o'clock, because I had been ont that day, and passed the Clock Tower on my way back at 150 p.m. I did not go out again that afternoon. I heard only one shot.
Tso A Chee said-1 am a marker at the rac- quet court. I remember the 28th November. At 8 n.m. that day I returned home and in consequence of what 1 heard from my wife I went with the last witness to the revolver range at the back of the racquet court. Before 1 got to the body I met a soldier, who was repairing a water pipe. I told him what I had heard from my wife, and he went with us to the range. the last witness and myself not to go any When we had gone a little way, the soldier told
further, so we returned.
Fung Yuk stated-I am a cook employed at the On the 27th inst., at 7.30 u.m., I racquet court, saw the body of the deceased at the revolver range behind the racquet court. I returned to the house and reported the matter to my mistress, who is the wife of Tso A Chee, the marker. I did not notice whether there was any revolver A terrible tragedy was brought to light there, but afterwards I saw one that had been early on Sunday morning, 28th November, found on the ground. I did not notice whether by the discovery of the dead body of the deceased was alive or dead, or whether Mr. W. K. Wylie, the Superintendent En-ho had any wound. On the 26th instant, gineer of the Hongkong High-Level Tram- ways Company. The body was found in a pool of blood on the revolver range at the back of the racquet court, and there can be no doubt that the deceased shot himself through the head with a revolver between Saturday afternoon and yesterday morning. Financial difficulties and possible loss of situation were probably the troubles which preyed upon his mind and promp- ted him to destroy his own life. The deceased had been in the employ of the Tramways Company since 1888 and was well known in the colony as a most enthusiastic Volunteer, his great interest. in the Corps being rewarded last January by his promotion to the rank of Lientenant from which would lead his friends to suspect that that of sergeant. We understand that nothing anything was amiss occurred until Saturday morning, when, about eleven o'clock, he was suspended from the Company's service. It is believed he made no mention of this fact to any of his friends, but the tramway employés knew he was no longer in anthority by the fact that his position was filled by someone else. The deceased appeared to be in his usual health and spirits at ten o'clock on Satur- day morning, when he visited the Volunteer Headquarters and expressed his intention, as he was orderly officer for the week, of being present that afternoon at the Machine Gun practice on the police range at Kowloon. Shortly afterwards he went to the Tramway Company office. Soonafter twelve o clock becognised the body. again visited Headquarters and told Gunner Parsons, the orderly, to get his revolver and fifty rounds of ammunition as he wished, he said, to have practice on the revolver range at the back of the racquet court. Parsons observed nothing whatever strange in Mr. Wylie's behaviour and fetched a revolver and 50 ronads of ammuniti a Inspector Hanson said--On the 28th Novem- from the store. While the revolver was being ber, about 8.47 a.m.. Sergeant Scott made a brought Mr. Wylie sat at the quartermaster-report, in consequence of which I went to the sergeant's desk and wrote a letter, which he revolver ranger. I found Private Sutton there. finishel and sealed just as Parsons returned I saw the body of the deceased, whom I recognised, with the revolver and cartridges. His own lying on his back with his feet towards the weapon could not be found, but he intimated Peak. I noticed blood on the ground below the that the one produced by the orderly would do. head and also saw a wound behind the right ear.
John Sutton. private, W. Y. R., said-At 8.30 a.. on the 27th instant I was walking near the racquet court when from information received from the last witness I went on the revolver range, where I found the deceased lying on his back. He had a bullet wound in is head. There was a revolver a few inches from his right hand and a few inches from the revolver was a box of cages. There was blood on the ground. I at once told Private Wilding, who was on duty near at hand, and he reported the matter to the police. I remained until the body had been removed. The body had evidently been dead a considerable time., I re-
Acting Inspector Gillies said-About 8.47 a,m. on the 28th inst. I received a report from Private Wilding, W.Y,R., that a body of a European was lying on the revolver range close to the racquet court. I informed Sergeant Scott and sent for Inspector I anson.
on
His Worship-Mr. Hart Back will be able to tell us that himself.
Dr. Thomson suid-On the 28th instant I made on examination of the body of the deceased. There was a bullet wound about an. inch behind the right ear. The bullet had passed right through the head. The wound of exit was about four inches behind and slightly above the left ear. The bullet had passed through the right temporal bone, through the brain, and through the left parietal bone. Brain substance was protruding from the wound Death was due to shock behind the right ear. caused by the passage of the bullet through the brain. The body was quite fresh, and it might have been dead any time within twenty-four hours. Death must have been instantaneous.
Robert Farrar, a private in the West York- shire Regimeut, said-1 kaew the deceased. Isaw him about 3 o'clock on Saturday afternoon last passing my post at the back of Murray Barracks. I did not notice where he went. He had a revolver case and a box of cartridges in his hand. That was close to the path leading to the racquet court, I did not speak to him and he did not speak to me. He was wearing a blue serge suit. I did not hear any shot fired.
John George Brown, lance corporal in the W.Y.R., said--About 3.25 p.m. on the 27th inst. I was waiting for defaulters to be put on drill in the yard at the south of Murray Barracks.
notice of the shots. I heard two shots fired in rapid succession from the direction of the racquet court. I took no
Walter Parsons said-I am a gunner in the Royal Artillery. About 12.30 on Saturday last Mr. Wylie came to the Volunteer Headquar- ters, where I am stationed, and asked me for a revolver and cartridges, saying that he wanted; to have some practice. 1.supplied him with a revolver, case, and fifty rounds of ammunition. The revolver and the case are the ones produced. While I was away he sat at a desk and wrote a letter and when I came back he put the He letter in his pocket and went away. appeared to be in good spirits and was perfectly sober.
Не was apparently in bis right mind; I did not notice anything the matter with him. The Volunteer officers can have revolvers at any time for practice.
Mr. Hart Buck said-I am a partner in the firm of Messrs John D. Humphreys and Son, who are the neral managers of the Hongkong High-Level Tramways Company, Limited. I knew the deceased. He was the Superintendent of the tramway and had been in the service of the general managers since 1892 and superinten- dent of the tramway for about ten years. I had occasion to see him on Saturday between 12 and 1 o'clock. He came to my office in Queen's Road Centrul by appointment. During the past week we have required certain particulars from him in connection with his accounts. I had
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