386
SHOCKING MURDER OF A PORTUGUESE.
A SAD STORY,
The residents of the neighbourhood of West Terrace, Caine Road, were considerably alarmed at about half-past six on Monday night, 9th May, by hearing four shots fired in quick succession under the verandah at No. 2.. West Terrace, Caine Road, which is occupied by Mr. F. X. de Jesus and his wife and family, Mr. Jesus being a gentleman about 30 years of in the
age employ of Messrs. Cottam and Company, gentlemen's outfitters and general importers, Pedder-street. On leaving his house to ascertain the cause of firing a neighbour found Mr. Jesus sat in a ohair bleeding profusely from four bullet wounds. A medical man was sent for but on his arrival it was found that his services would be of no avail, Mr. Jesus having breathed his last. Shortly afterwards Mr. J. M. Ozorio, an employé of the Hongkong and Whampoa Dock Company, Limited, who had been observed to walk from the house of the murdered man with a revolver in his hand, was arrested near the Italian Convent and conveyed to the Central Police Station, the body of the man he was supposed to have murdered being subsequently conveyed to the mortuary.
As yet there are not many details forth- coming, but those we have been able to glean so far reveal an exceedingly sad story. Ozorio and his sweetheart, the latter of whom resided with Mr. Jesus and his family, were to have been married on the 28th of the present month, the requisite notice being posted up in the vestibule at the Supreme Court buildings. Notwithstanding this, however, disputes be- tween them appear to have been frequent, and on one or two occasions had reached such a pitch that it did not seem at all unlikely that the projected wedding would never take place. We understand that they had a quarrel so late as Monday afternoon. It would appear that Ozorio was under the impression that Jesus had something to do with the difference between himself and his sweetheart. At any rate it is alleged that when Mr. Jesus was just about to enter his house on his return from business last night Ozorio went up to him, and after ex- changing a few words emptied four barrels of a revolver, each shot taking effect. The injured man staggered into his house, seated "bim- self in a chair and having exclaimed, "I cannot do any more," expired in the presence of his agonised wife.
THE ACCUSED BEFORE THE POLICE
MAGISTRATE.
Atthe Magistracy on Tuesday morning, before Commander Hastings, Joao da Matta Ozorio was charged that he on the 9th of May "feloni. ously and of his malice aforethought did kill
and murder one Francisco Xavier de Jesus."
Mr. F. X. d'Almada e Castro (Messrs. Wil kinson and Grist)-I appear for prisoner, and would ask your worship to adjourn the case.
Commander Hastings-I know, but does he plead not guilty ?
Mr. d'Almada e Castro-Not guilty, your worship.
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[May 14, 1898.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
attendance of the Portuguese residents in court, | Either of them would have caused death. The and the Portuguese Consul-General (Mr. A. G. bullets must have been fired at very close range, Romano) occupied a seat on the bench. Mr. as there was considerable blackening and scorch- Grist (Messrs. Wilkinson and Grist) appeared ing of the skin, as also of the shirt. The re- for defendant. The latter now seems to realise volver produced or a similar one might have - his position acutely. As soon as he entered the caused the wounds. dock he began to weep bitterly, and turning round to some of his countrymen expressed to them his sorrow for what he had done. Inspector Hanson condnoted the case on behalf of the prosecution.
P. C. 631-On the 9th inst., at seven o'clock in the evening, I arrested defendant at the junction of Caine Road and Old Baily Street and brought him to the Police Station.
Commander Hastings-The case is adjourned until two o'clock on Wednesday afternoon.
Mr. d'Almada e Castro-I would ask your worship to adjourn it till two o'clock on Thurs- day afternoon.
Commander Hastings-All right, Prisoner did not at all seem to realise the gravity of his position, being quite calm and collected.
The greatest sympathy is felt with Mrs. Jesus in her terrible trial. Mr. Jesus had been with Messrs. Cottom and Co. for some ten years, and all who knew him bear testimony to his courtesy and cheerful temper, the general opinion being that he was a man who would not willingly offend anyone. ACCUSED AGAIN BEFORE THE MAGISTRATE. At the Magistracy on Thursday afternoon, be- fore Commander Hastings, Joan da Matta Ozorio, clerk, was charged on remand that he did on the 9th of May "feloniously and of malice aforethought kill and murder one Fran- cisco Xavier de Jesus." There was a large
Joseph Maria de Rozario Xavier said—I re- side at No. 2, West Terrace, Caine road. I know defendant, who lives in Remedios Ter- race. I have known him for about three years. He was a frequent visitor at the house No. 2, West Terrace. The name of the deceased was Francisco Xavier de Jesus. He was no relation of mine. When I get home about seven o'clock on Monday night, May 9th, I heard someone say that there was a quarrel between the bride. groom and the bride. By the bridegroom I understood defendant to be meant and by the bride Miss Glafira. When I heard this I was on the ground floor in the dining room. There were also present Miss Marie de Jesus, sis. ter of deceased, three nieces of deceased, and After a few the elder sister of deceased, minutes I heard the youngest niece of de- ceased call out that defendant had pushed her grand-mother down. Then I came out to the verandah and saw defendant and Miss Glafira standing just by the door in the verandah, just about three feet from me. They were quarrelling at the time. I then saw deceased and his wife pass the front of the house, and they crossed the verandah and went inside
the house. In a few minutes deceased came out again and went towards defendant and said, "Joan, what is this?" Defendant then pushed Miss Glafiro aside and deceased walked up and passed on the right side of defendant. Just about that time defendant pulled out a revolver and began firing at deceased. I saw defendant fire three shots and then deceased entered the house. Thereupon I ran up to defendant and after struggling with him about ten minutes I got the revolver (produced) from him. I then went for the police. When defendant fired at deceased the latter was only about a foot from the muzzle of the revolver. I never saw deceased
alive again. I saw the body at the mortnary on Tuesday, Inspector Hanson accompanying me. Dr. Lowson was there at the time and also deceased's widow and Inspector Moffat. Miss Glafiro was in the verandah when the shooting took place. In the verandah were two boxes near the door, four or five chairs, a small chair bed, and a sofa. There are two windows opening on to the verandah. One was shut. I do not know what defendant and Miss Glafiro were quarrelling about. I have never quarrelled with defendant. After taking the revolver from defendant I went for the police,
Mr. Grist-I have no questions to ask this witness.
Dr. Lowson said—I am the medical officer in
Mr. Grist had no questions to ask.
Charles Edward Pierce said-I am àn as- sistant with Lane, Crawford and Co., Queen's road. On Monday, the ninth of May, the re- volver produced was sold by me to defendant, whose name I knew. I also sold him a dozen cartridges to fit the revolver. I knew defend- ant because of our having to do business with the Dock Company, with whom defendant was employed. The four cartridges produced are similar to those I sold defendant. De- fendant had been into the store once before on Monday. He came in and asked the price of the revolver. He afterwards came in and bought it, paying cash for it. Defendant asked if we had a lady's revolver. By that I under. stood him to mean a small one, and the one produced is the smallest, size we have. He first came in and asked the price, and he came in again and bought one. He asked the price and I said $33. He said he had bought one before for $12 and sold it to someone at the same price. After agreeing to take the revolver for $30 he asked how many cartridges were in- cluded in the price, and I told him none. He me to let him have a dozen then asked cartridges, and I told him we only sold them in boxes of fifty. On going to the case to get a box I found one half empty. I then said to "No I him, "Will you have 20." ** He replied,
I made a remark that he only want a dozen." would not do much damage with a dozen, to which as far as I remember he made no reply. I then took the cash ($30.30) for the articles and he went away with the revolver and the cartridges.
Mr. Grist-I have no questions.
The further hearing was adjourned until Saturday afternoon.
The remains of the late Mr. Jesus were
interred on Wednesday,
HONGKONG SANITARY BOARD..
On 6th May a meeting of the Hong- kong Sanitary Board was held. The Principal Civil Medical Officer (Dr. J. M. Atkinson) occupied the chair, and there were also present the Captain Superintendent of Police (the Hon. F. H. May, vice-president) the Director of Public Works (the Hon. R. D. Ormsby), the Acting Registrar-General (the Hon. E. W. Brewin), Mr. N. J. Ede, the Medical Officer of Health (Dr. F. W. Clark), and the Acting Secretary (Dr. C. Vivian Ladds, Colonial Veter- inary Surgeon).
MINUTES.
The minutes of the previous meeting were read and, on the motion of the PRESIDENT, accepted as a correct record.
RETIREMENT OF MR. EDE. The CAPTAIN SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE
going down Caine Road towards the Italian Convent. On reaching the latter place I met P.C. 631, and I pointed out defendant, who had been following me, to him and told him to arrest him. There was no row between de-Before proceeding to the order of the day I ceased and defendant before the latter com- beg leave, as the oldest member of the Board menced shooting. As far as I know deceased present, to remind the Board that this is the and defendant have always been friendly. I last ordinary meeting of the Board at which we saw nothing on the part of deceased on this shall have the advantage of Mr. Ede's co-opera- particular occasion to provoke defendant. Ition and assistance: I believe Mr. Ede has tening language saw no threatening gesture and heard no threa-
been a member of the Board for the last 13 on the part of deceased. years. During that time the Board has done a firo, and myself on the verandah. There were only defendant, deceased, Miss Gla- great deal of good work, and I think I can safely say-and all the members here will agree with me-that the Board has never possessed a more industrious, a more hard-working member than Mr. Ede (Hear, bear.) In. Mr. Ede we have not only had an industrious member, but a member who has brought to the work of the Board a keen intelligence and more than or- dinary tact and discretion. To his wise counsel and to his practical knowledge of the colony and of human affairs in general the Board owes a great deal of valuable assistance in dealing with many difficult points that have come before us. I think that the Board will suffer a very severe loss when Mr. Ede leaves us, and I feel sure it will be found very difficult to replace him on the Board. I beg leave to move, therefore, the following resolution - That this board desires to express its great regret at losing the services of Mr. Ede, and wishes to convey to Mr. Ede its very great appreciation of the valuable as- sistance he has rendered to the Board during
charge of the public mortuary. The body of Francisco Xavier de Jesus was received at the mortuary on the evening of the 9th May. On the following morning I examined it. There were two gun-shot wounds of entrance close to the right nipple and two more in the region of the stomach, both pleural cavities were full of blood, the right lung having been injured by both the bullets entering at the right nipple, whilst one of those entering over the stomach had travelled upwards and injured the left lung. These injuries to the lungs had led to the hemorrhage into the pleural cavities, which, combined with shock, caused death. I found two of the four bullets which had evidently been fired, one being removed from the right thorax and one from the left.
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