June 23, 1900.]
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
the evidence was such his as he could ask His | o'clock in the evening of the second of May three | Lordship to convict upon.
The man was accordingly discharged.
THE ATTEMPTED MURDER AT SHAUKIWAN.
Chan On was charged with (1) wounding with intent to murder; (2) wounding. He pleaded not guilty.
The jurors were Messrs. C. H. A. von Arend, H. P. Wadman, E. A. Hill, J. Gregory, W. J. Wright, R. T. Wright and W. F. Gardner.
The Attorney-General said that the prisoner had lived with a women named Fang Chat for about fifteen years. They were not married. Some time ago the prisoner went down to Singapore and remained there a long time, and | it was highly probable that the women got some other man to look after her while he was away. At all events on the 12th April last he returned to Hongkong. He met this woman and she went back with him and they lived together at Shaukiwan. On the night of the 26th May the woman seemed to have gone to the Theatre and she came home at four o'clock in the morning, when she turned into bed with another woman. Shortly afterwards the prisoner arrived, and he at once proceeded to chop at the woman with a chopper which, he had bought, inflicting four wounds on the head. The woman called out "Save life" and rushed out of the house and into another house close by. The prisoner then went round to Shaukiwan Police Station, and told Inspector Robertson that he had tried to kill his wife, that she had escaped from the house, and that he did not think she would live. The Inspector accompani- ed the man to his house. On the Inspector asking where the chopper was someone replied that it was in the cockloft. It was fetched down and the prisoner himself handed it to Inspector. Robertson, saying that that was the chopper that had done it with," and that he paid 25 cents for it. The woman was sent to the Hospital and was not discharged until 7th June, when she gave evidence at the Magistracy. On that occasion the prisoner said. "I was drunk; I did not know what I was doing."
The evidence given at the Magistracy was repeated.
The prisoner was found guilty on the second count and sentenced to 12 months hard labour.
THE ARMED ROBBERY IN KOWLOON BAY.
Wong Kwai Yung. Yat, Wong Lam, Wong Tak, Lo Keng. Ko I, Wong Sang, Kwai Yung, and Chau Lit were charged with (1) robbery being armed; (2) receiving stolen goods.
The jurors were Mossrs. H. M. Basto, F. E. C. Georg, A. C. More, C. G. Engel, C. H. Blason. S. H. Michall, and W. E. Rose.
The Attorney-General said that on the evening of the 18th of May three fishing junks Nos. 2,507,5,138, and 3,071-were anchored in Kowloon Bay at about ten o'clock when a boat, containing 14 or 15 men, come along the fish junk. Some one on board the junk called out, "What boat is that ?" The men in the boat said something in reply, threatening what they would do if they did not be quiet. Then seven or ten men from the boat got on board the junk. Some of them were armed with knives and others with revolvers. Several shots
fired, one bullet striking the right foot of one of the men on the junk. After ransacking the first junk they did the same with the other two. On the police launch putting in an appearance they cleared away. Subsequently the surrounding villages were scoured by the police and the 11 prisoners were arrested.
The evidence for the prosecution was then proceeded with.
were
The prisoners were sentenced to seven years imprisonment and 20 strokes with the birch rod.
BEFORE THE HON. T. SERCOMBE SMITH
(ACTING PUISNE JUDGE),
THE ARMED ROBBERY AT MA TAU WAI.
women were sleeping together in a house at No. 129, Tan Wai, when they saw about ten men come down into the room through a hole in the roof. Some of them carried lighted torches and one of the others carried a sword and another a re- volver. The man with a revolver fired and threatened the inmates of the house. The men broke open certain boxes and seized certain property. After ransacking the house they seized one of the women and said to her "Now then, take 113 to your mother-in- law's." The women being frightened took them to her mother-in-law's house at 35, Ma Tau Wai. This house was also ransacked, and the robbers decamped. Information was given to the police at Kowloon City Police Station, and from here the news was sent round by telephone to the other police stations. consequence Sergeant Cameron and some Indian constables left their station at Hunghom, and on the road two men were arrested by the Ser- geant and two by an Indian constable with some of the stolen property in their possession.
The evidence given at the Magistracy was repeated.
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In
The prisoners were found guilty on all the counts and sentenced to seven years imprison ment.
GENERAL.
THE HONGKONG
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
ELECTION
LECTION OF A REPRESENTATIVE TO
THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
A special general meeting of the Honkong General Chamber of Commerce was held in the Chamber Rooms, City Hall, on Monday after- noon, the 18th inst., to nominate a member of the Chamber to take the place of the Hon. Herbert Smith on the Legislative Council during the absence on leave from the colony of the Hon. T. H. Whitehead. The Hon. R. M. Gray occupied the chair, and there were present:-Messrs. H. M. Bevis, A. Haupt, A M. Marshall, R. L. Richardson, C. 8. Sharp, N. A. Siebs (Committee), R. C. Wilcox (Secretary), R. Lemke, W. S. Bailey, G. H. Potts, P. Brewitt, D. R. Law, B. Byramjee, P. Sachse, D. Setna, Hon. C. P. Chater, C.M.G., Messrs. W. Danby, E. Shellim. V. H. Deacon, G. H. Med- hurst, J. J. Francis, Q.C., H. W. Slade, D. Haskell, J. A. Mackay, Ho Fook, Ho Tung, J. Hindekoper, T. F. Hough, W. G. Humphreys, W. M. Watson, C. W. Dickson, H. J. Gedge, P. Jordan, J. H. Lewis, G. P. Lammert, D. R. Craw- ford, O. Wegener, F. Maitland, J. M. Beattie, G. Atzenroth, E. H. Hinds, Jas. McKie, A. R. Marty, Chan Kwai Cheong, F. Arjànee, H. N. Mody, H. Price, H. Kock, E. C. Ray, A. H. Rennie. R. Fahrmann, E. Robinson, R. Becker, D. M. Moses, A. J. Raymond, E. H. Melbye, G. C. Moxon, G. R. Stevens, Jun., G. Stewart, M. Mehta, Wong Fook, W. Melchers, J. C. Bergendahl, L. Bérindoague, D. W. Craddock, W. J. Gresson, T. E. Sansom. G. L. Tomlin, W. Cruickshank, H. P. Wadman, H. Schottla- ender, G. T. Veitch, A. Shelton Hooper, D. Gillies, J. Thurburn, G. de Champeaux, G. W. F. Playfair, L. Suidter, W. G. Saunders. S. Choh, and C. L. Gorham.
Li Hin, Chan Tam Ham, Mok I, and Lam Hoi were charged with (1) robbery being armed; (2) robbery being armed; (3) larceny, There was a further charge of larceny against the fourth defendant. They pleaded not guilty.
Mr. H. E. Pollock, who appeared for the prosecution, said the offences which formed the substance of this indiotment were committed at a small village called Ma Tau Wai, which was near the former boundary between British and Chinese Kowloon, and was west of the road be tween Hunghom and Kowloon City. About 11'
The SECRETARY having read the notice con- vening the meeting,
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ters on various occasions. He will, I am sure, speak out and to the point in Council, when he sees the necessity of doing so. My long ex perience on the Committee of this Chamber, and the interest I have taken in its proceedings I think entitle me to an expression of opinion--which is, that the present status and influence of this Chamber are due to its pro- ceedings having been directed altogether by res- ponsible men engaged in commerce. I am strongly of opinion that the plain unvarnished tale of a commercial man will do more to further your interest in the Legislative Council than any amount of rhetoric, and I, therefore, have now much pleasure in proposing, as your repre- sentative for the time being in the Legislative Council, Mr. John Thurburn. (Applause.)
Mr. C. W. DIXON, in seconding, said he en- dorsed all the remarks made by the Chairman in reference to Mr. Thurburn. From the po- sition Mr. Thurburn had occupied in the colony for many years he was sure he was well aware of the requirements of the community and he con- sidered him well fitted in every way to act as the representative of the Chamber on the Legislative Council, (Applause).
The CHAIRMAN said it was hardly two mouths since the members of the Chamber were called together to nominate a gentleman to fill the vacancy on the Legislative Council caused by Mr. Whitehead's departure for home on leave, when they unanimously selected Mr. Herbert Smith. That gentleman had since quite un- expectedly resigned the seat, much to their regret, and left for England, and now they were called upon to elect another representative. After reading the letter from His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government, asking that a meeting of the Chamber should be called to fill up the vacancy, the Chairman continued I now have to propose as representative for this Chamber in the Legislative Council, during the absence of Mr. Whitehead, Mr. John Thur- burn,-(applause)-Manager of the Mercantile Bank of India, and I feel that it for me to say more than afew words on his behalf. Mr. Thurburn has been in his present position here for over twenty years and is well known to you all. He has taken part in various commissions instituted by the. Government, and has otherwise shown his interest in public mat-
not necessary
Mr. G. W. F. PLAYFAIR said-I beg to pro- pose that Mr. J. J. Francis, Q.C., be elected to represent this chamber on the Legislative Council. For more years than most of us have resided here Mr. Francis has been closely iden- tified with every public question in this colony and is eminently fitted to express the views of the Chamber. Your representative should be one who has not only a thorough grasp of our local politics but should also be one who can clearly and forcibly give expression to his views. In Mr. Francis the Chamber would have one whose natural eloquence and acquired logical training peculiarly fit him for the position for which I have the honour to solicit your votes. With the extremely limited popular representation which is vouchsafed to this colony it is all the more im- portant that the Chamber's representative should be the best man to be got in the colony. He should be strong, thorough, honest, and earnest in his solicitude for the public weal. He should give hearty support and encouragement to the Government in all their efforts for the amelior- ation of the social and commercial conditions of this colony and should equally and fearlessly record his dissent should any action be taken contrary to the views of the community, and finally that he should be quick-witted, tactful, eloquent. All these qualities, gentlemen, I know you will find in Mr. Francis or I should not ask you, as I do now, to record your votes in his favour. (Applause.)
Mr. D. R. CRAWFORD, in seconding, said he had known Mr. Francis ever since he came into the colony, and that was a few months after he ar- rived himself. He had watched his career since that time. They wanted a man who could speak his mind forcibly, and because many of them thought they wanted a little fighting blood on the Council he had much pleasure in seconding Mr. Francis.
The CHAIRMAN-Has any other gentleman any candidate to propose ? If not we will pro- ceed at once to ballot,
Mr. FRANCIS asked leave to say
a fow words before the ballot. They were there to elect a representative in place of Mr. Her- bert Smith, whose absence they all regretted very much. If this appointment was an honour, he asked them to confer that honour upon him, notwithstanding what his good friend the editor of the China Mail said in his Saturday's issue, and however grudgingly that gentleman ad- mitted that he had done some service in the colony; if there were duties and responsibilities, not merely honour attached to the occupation of the post, he (Mr. Francis) placed himself confl dently in their hands. (Applause) Mr. Francis then proceeded to detail his various qualifications for the honourable position. He did not agree with all that the Chairman had said anent Mr. Thurburn. He did not know if over Mr. Thorburn had taken part in any public question, or had spoken at any public meeting. He might be everything that Mr. Gray stated he was, but the main question for the Chamber was to appoint a man who would represent the public opinion of the colony on questions connected with finance, with the policy in China, with the policy of the Government in Hongkong, with local interests and in conneg- tion with legislation.
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