June 25, 1898.]
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house. She lived on the same floor as I did in the third room. I knew defendant by sight only; I believed him to be husband of deceased. Deceased and a woman named A Tack lived there together for four or five days before the murder. At 7.30 p.m., on the 18th inst. Isaw deceased come upstairs, I heard a man's voice from the foot of the stair calling to deceased-"Go home quickly." Deceasedreplied, "I won't go." The man then said, "If you won't go home give me back the tooth-brush chain,' I then looked down the staircase, and saw defendant standing at the foot of the stairs. Deceased went into her room, got the tooth-brush chain and went downstairs. Five steps from the ground. deceased threw the chain to the defendant." Defendant was standing on the third step. Above the staircase was a lamp burning. I could see clearly. As deceased threw the chain to the defendant, defendant sprang up, and seizing deceased by the hair dragged her to the door at the foot of the stairs. then saw two men jump in through the door to join the de. fendant. One of them put his hands round deceased. The other man forced deceased's head backwards Defendant then cut the. deceased's throat with a knife. When deceased was first seized she called out twice, "Save life." There were two other people with me looking où-A Ho and A Tack. A Ho is now in her native place. I did not know either of the other two man. I had not seen the defendant in the house before that night. I had seen the defendant eight or ten days be- fore in the street. I was told by certain people that he was the husband of Chan Sze Kiu, the deceased. I had known the deceased since she was a little child, but had never seen her hus- band before the day I mentioned, either the 8th or 10th September last. I did not see defen- dant again until the day of the murder. I had heard that the deceased and her husband were constantly quarrelling as she was pot a good woman. Defendant was the man who came to the house on 18th September last, and cut de- ceased's throat; I am quite sure of that. I did not give evidence at the coroner's inquest. As soon as the cutting began I turned my head I was too frightened to shriek. After a long time I went down and saw blood on the stones outside. The corpse had been removed. I never saw it. The knife defendant used was about eight inches long, and the breadth of two fingers.
and van.
Chan Tuk said-I am a widow, and was living with the last witness at 151, Praya West. I occupied the third room with the deceased. The deceased came to live with me on 10th Septem- ber. She was absent two nights when the storm occurred and two nights before the mur- der. At 7.30 p.m., on the 18th September, I Baw deceased coming upstairs. Deceased came into her room and said, "My husband wants me to give back the tooth-brush chuin." I told her to give it back. I went downstairs and saw defendant standing under the verandah. I went out about some business with a loan associa- tion. When I returned, a short time after- wards, I saw deceased lying at the bottom of the stairs. People were saying she was dead. She was bleeding from her throat. I had to step over deceased to get into the house. I went out afterwards to tell deceased's mother. I ran all the way, and brought back the father and mother of deceased. On my return the deceased was still lying at the foot of the stairs quite dead, with her throat cut. I saw the body at the public mortuary next day. Prior to the day of the murder, I had known defend ant about three months. Defendant never came to see deceased in my room. I did not know the husband and wife were on bad terms. Deceased never mentioned her husband. She only came in to sleep. I gave edidence at the coroner's inquiry.
Wan King, wife of a coolie, said-On Septem- ber 18th, of last year, I was residing at No. 12, New Street. The deceased was my daughter. She was married to defendant when she was sixteen years of age. They had been married five years. She had rice with me at 6 p.m. on 18th September, and she then left to go to 151, Praya West at 6.30. A little after seven o'clock the same evening last witness came to my house, and I ran back to 151, Praya West. I saw at the doorway the body of my daughter. I saw the corpse the next day at the public mortuary. After the marriage the defendant and his
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
wife lived at Cheung Sha Wan for some years rearing pigs. About 25th of June last year they removed to No 1, New Street, Hongkong, and lived there together till 27th August. Deceased then went out to be a servant and defendant went out to sleep in coolie houses. Deceased remained with the family in which she was employed until 10th September. On the 11th and 12th she went to work at the feather factory, and after that she worked with | me in my house making slippers. She stayed with me the 16th and 17th September owing to the typhoon preventing her getting back to her lodging. On 12th June defeudant beat my danghter at Cheung Sha Wau. Deceased then asked a man called A On to take her abroad. My daughter then went to A On's house at West Point. Defendant then came to my house and took me to A On's house, where we found my daughter. I took ber away, and defendant and deceased lived together at No. 1, New Street. About 20th October, I went into the country to Skek Ko and from there to. To Tan, arriving there 21st October. To Tau was defendant's native village. I went there to get funeral expenses. Defendant's clansmen gave me twelve taels of silver. I know defendant was in the village; I did not see him. My clan name was Wan, and I married a Chan, and my daughter married back into the Wan clan. The twelve taels were given to condone for the murder of my daughter. The clans being willing to let the matter drop, I agreed to do so.
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helm. Just about this time the Gladiator was beginning to go ahead, under port helm. We left the wharf, Gladiator being almost right ahead, and her stern close to the north wharf. We went out and were all clear of the Gladiator. There were a steamer and two launches along. side the south wharf. 1 heard a long blast on the whistle and remarked on it. Then I saw the Sybil on our port bow almost ahead. The Guiding Star went astern and the Sybil ap- peared to do the same, but she came on and the boats collided. When the Guiding Star left the wharf she could not go straight ahead on account of the Gladiator. She might have hailed the Gladiator to get ont of the way. The Sybil when I first saw her was on the port side of the Guiding Star and quite three boats lengths off. I cannot say if the collision would have been avoided if the Guiding Star had gone on instead of stopping and going astern. She was coming round under starboard helm the whole time.
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Commander Rumsey's finding was as follows: the-Guiding Star solely to blame, even without hearing the evidence of Sybil In the position of the wharves and boats the master of the Guiding Star was guilty of negligence in leaving while the Gladiator was turning round ahead of him. He was further guilty of careless navigation în putting his boat under starboard helm and tak- ing a course which would take him so close to the south wharf and the vessels alongside it as to prevent his boat being seen by any other boat that might happen to be on his port side. He was also guilty of improper navigation and neglect of the rule of the road in stopping and going astern when it was his duty to keep on his course. From the evidence of the Guiding Star alone it is clear to me that the Sybil never had a chance given her of avoid. ing the collision, and that she did all that she could do in porting her helm and going astern. The certificate of the master of the Guiding Star is suspended for a month from this date.
The hearing of the case was then adjourned.
ARREST OF A PUBLIC SERVANT.
CHARGED WITH ACCEPTING A DRIBE.
At the Magistracy on the 17th June, before Commander Hastings, Daniel McAllister, In- spector of Nuisances, was charged with "unlaw. fully accepting in his capacity of public servant a bribe of $20 with a view to incline him to do an act contrary to his duty as such public ser- vant, namely, to refrain from reporting and causing an altération of an illegal structure on the third floor of No. 6, Queen's street at Victoria, in this colony, contrary to the rules of honesty and integrity ou the 17th inst."
Mr. Gedge appeared for defendant, who pleaded not guilty.
Inspector Gidley said he arrested defendant at 7.30 that morning at 6, Queen's Street, by direction of Inspector Hanson.
Defendant was remanded, bail of $2,000 being accepted.
ENQUIRY AT THE HARBOUR OFFICE.
CC
THE HONGKONG ELECTRIC CO.,
LIMITED.
The following is the report of the Board of Directors to the niuth ordinary yearly meeting of shareholders, to be held at the Company's offices (No. 27, Queen's Road Central) at noon, on Tuesday, 5th July:-
Gentlemen,-Your directors now have the pleasure to submit the accompanying statement of the Company's accounts for the year ending 30th April last, and are glad to say same shows further improvement in the Company's earnings. After deducting director's fees, $2,000, there remains the sum of $36,124,05 available for ap- THE COLLISION BETWEEN THE GUIDING propriation, and this your directors recommend
STAR
should be disposed of as follows:- SYBIL.' AND THE At the Harbour Office on 22nd June, before
To pay a dividend of 5 per cent. (say 50 cents per share on 28,868 shares Commander Rumsey, au enquiry was held into
fully paid up, and 40 cents per share the circumstances connected with the recent
on 1,132 shares each $8 paid up ... collision between the steam launch Guiding Star, Chan Yau Hoi, master (certificate No. To write off plant account
for depreciation ...$15,0.0.00 518), and the Health Officer's steam launch Sybil, Leung King, master (certificate No. 520.) To write off furniture ac-
""
Chaa Yau Hoi said-We were going from the ferry wharf at Tsin Tsat Sui to Hongkong at 8 a.m.
count
475.10
$14,886.80
15,475.10 5,762.15
$36,124.05 The Manager's report annexed hereto gives usual particulars of lamps installed during the year, &c.
DIRECTORS.
At the same time the Gladiator To carry forward to next account... steam launch was leaving also. She backed on our land side and then turned to port 80 as to go in the direction of Yaumati. I starboarded a little to pass under her As I went on before and cleared stern. the wharf I saw the Sybil coming up on my port bow. As soon as I saw her I went astern. It was his business to keep clear of me, and I went astern to avoid collision with the Gladiator. The Sybil hailed me to go on and come out but I saw there was no room, so I did not go ahead, and the Sybil came on and collided with the Guiding Star. I could not see the Sybil sooner, because of a steamer along. side the south wharf. I have been on the Guid- ing Star about two months. I have been in other ferry launches for about two years.
In accordance with the articles of Associa. tion, Hon. C. P. Chater, C.M.G., and Hon. J. J. Bell Irving retire, but, being eligible, offer themselves for re-election.
William Frank Bamsay said-I was on board the Guiding Star on the morning of the colli- sion in the bow. The Guiding Star was on the north side of the wharf and the Gladiator on the south side. The Gladiator left first and backed out to the north. Then she went ahead and turned round a complete circle under her port
'AUDITORS,
The accounts have been audited by Messrs. G. Stewart and A. Coutts, who offer themselves or re-election.
H. L. DALRYMPLE, Chairman. Hongkong, 18th June, 1898.
STATEMENT OF Accounts to 30TH APRIL, 1898.
LIABILITIES.
Capital:-
28,868 shares, each $10 paid up $288,680.00 1,132 shares, each $8 paid up
9,956.00 Sundry creditors Bills payable.
297,736.00
6,054.00 1,243.70
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