February 9, 1901.3
ANOTHER MURDER IN THE COLONY,
SUPREME COURT MESsenger stTABBED TO
DEATH.
Another murder the third within a month, and quite as daring in its perpetration, so far as the meagre details that are at present ob tainable go to show, as that of Yeung Ku Wan, the reformer has been committed in the Colony The victim is Kwong Cheung, a well-known figure in the Supreme Court, where he was em. ployed as a messenger. On Tuesday, between ten and eleven a.m., the unfortunate man was stabbed to death in his house at 143, Queen's Road East, three deep wounds being inflicted in the region of the breast. From the very daring of the murderer or murderers in selecting for the committal of his deed an hour of the day when everyone was astir- `a circumstance that lent every possible chance to their being captured, it is surmised that mere robbery was not the motive for the crime: pro- bably jealousy will be found to have been a factor.
!
On Thursday, before Mr. Hazeland at the Magistracy, Wong Po, widow, was brought up and formally charged with the murder of Kwong Cheung, late Supreme Court messenger, at 143, Queen's Road East, on the 5th inst. The victim, it will be remembered, was found dead in bed with three dagger wounds in the breast. No evidence was heard, and the hear- ing was adjourned.
CHINA OVERLAND TRÅDE REPORT.
part of the damage resulting there being caused by water. The premises are ousured for $1,700 with Messrs. Hotz, s'Jacob & Co.
The only theory the police at present hold regarding the origin of the fire is that someone had carelessly thrown Chinese crackers amongst the lanterns stored on the verandah from one of the houses in the vicinity, which overlook the building. Arson, from the fatal results attending the outbreak, is not suspected. Strange to say, the 2nd inst., when the shop was closed out of respect to the memory of the late Queen, was the first day that these lanterns were stored on the verandah. They are usually hung in long rows outside the shop, but for convenience on the day in question they were temporarily stored in the place indicated.
A LOCAL PHOTOGRAPHER
ROBBED.
A MEAN ACTION.
appears,
121
THE ENGINEERS' INSTITUTE.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING. The tenth annual general meeting in connec- tion with the Institution of Engineers and Shipbuilders of Hongkong was held on Thurs day, the 31st ult., Mr. R. Cooke presiding.
Mr. OWEN ORDISH (the retiring secretary) read the annual report, from which we extract the following:-
"There has been a falling off in the number of members-15 less than the previous year; this is due to the transfer to the North Ger- man Lloyd of the Scottish Oriental Company's Steamships and the unusual number of mem hers on leave. The roll now stands as follows: -Ordinary Members 196, Visiting (A. class) 100, Ditto (B class) 32, Associates 3, Honorary 2; total 333. We regret to record the loss by death of eight members, namely, Messrs. H. W. Richards, J. A. Marshall, J. Murdoch, D. Mr. Moo Cheung, photographer, Ice House F. W. Musgrave. Five members have resigned, McGilivray, R. Burt, A. C. Lang, G. Croll, and Street, has been made the victim of a decidedly one been expelled and ninety-seven new mem- day morning, the 31st ult. he was robbed of a sum cruel breach of hospitality, when, early on Thurs-bers enrolled during the year. The proceedings 1899-1900 compiled by Mr. W. C. Jack and of $260. It has boon his practice, it when a certain countryman of his, a ship's printers and will be ready at an early date for Mr. E. C. Wilks are now in the hands of the cook, was in port or out of work, to provide those members desiring to purchase copies. this man with food and lodging, and generally Papers are being prepared by several members to give him the run of his house. On Wed to be read at the Institute and in addition it is nesday, Mee Cheung collected an account of proposed to arrange for discussions on subjects $650 from the Pollard Lilliputian Company, that will be of interest to the members. which money he carried home and locked away. At the general meeting when the resolu- The "friend," who was then staying with him, tion was passed to transfer the Institute rooms from 13, Old Praya Central, to 3, or rather early next morning, when his host Des Voeux Road, a proposition was put to the about half-past ono retired to bed, he stole meeting that the subscription be increased to down to the shop and broke open a draw r three dollars; this was acquiesced in by the in which he knew Mee Cheung kept his mombors present. We now ask you to confirm cash. From this drawer he took a box, tho samo. A visit was paid to the Ewo Cotton and, making his way quietly to the roof of the and Spinning Mills on the 4th June and in house, forced it open. The thief must have the evening the annual dinner was held in been rather disappointed with the amount of the Instituto Rooms, at which Mr. Shaw, the his booty, for the box did not contain the $650 manager of the Cotton Mills. was the guest sought, which Mee Cheung for additional se- of the members. The committee have not curity had luckily deposited in another recep- considered it necessary to write any value off tacle. The box broken open by the thief, how- the furniture. The billiard tournaments, two ever, contained the not inconsiderable sum of in number, wore well contested and both won $260, with which he cleared off. Mee Cheung by our veteran champion, Mr. R. V. Rutter. wakened about half-past six, and a casual visit Mr. James Guy, member, kindly presented to to the shop, by the discovery of the forco the Institute an Ansler's planimeter to be put drawer, revealed the outrageous return that up for competition. We have to report a loss had been made for his kindness, this being to the Institute of $470, the Institute safe hav- ing been opened and money extracted between on the roof of the house. Mee Cheung at onco the closing of the Institute on the nigh ; of reported the robbery to the police, to whom he the 23rd of December last and 10 a.m. on tthe has supplied a photograph of the thief. It is following morning, the manager having in- feared, however, that he has succeeded in mak- advertently left the keys in the office." oc-
ing his escape to Chinese territory, which, if truo, places him almost beyond hope of capture
FATAL FIRE IN QUEEN'S ROAD. became aware of this fact, and that night,
FOUR DEATHS.
1988
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Outbreaks of fire, more or less serious, are an every week occurrence in the Colony, but rarely are they attended with fatal results. This unfortunately cannot be said of an outbreak which occurred on the 3rd inst. shortly after 6 a.m., on the first floor of premises situated at 201, Queen's Road West, occupied by a Chinese lantern and scroll-maker. The highly inflammable na- ture of the stock quickly gave the fire a. strong grip of the building, and the flames spread with a rapidity that was simply amazing. From the immediate vicinity of the outbreak there arose one great sheet of fire, caused by the ignition of the Chinese lanterns, which could be heard exploding with a report like that of a whip in the hands of a strong man. This sud-verified by the finding later of the money-box den and startling development was totally un- looked for, and practically cut off all meins of escape from the floor abovo, which used 83 a dwelling house, aúd cupied by six people-a married woman and her nephew (a boy of 16), a servant girl aged 16, a servant boy aged 16, and two folis. The nephew and one of the folis, by breaking down a partition and clambering over the verandah, managed to make their way to an adjoining house and safety, being only slightly burned in A disastrous fire which had a vory trivial their passage. The noise caused by the break-origin took place at Cheung Sha Wan on 1 nos- ing down of the partition apparently roused day. At about half past nine in the morning the other inmates, but by the time they fully an old woman who resided in a mat-shed was realised the peril menacing them, the fire standing over the fire proparing some food for had secured a firmer hold and now con- her pigs when some sparks which flow about set the mut-shed ablaze. The adjoining mat-sheds became ignited, and then the launch-building shed of Ngai Sun and Co. caught fire. The flames spread with great rapidity. In addition to a large amount of loose timber, two launches were completely destroyed and a third one part- ly demolished. It is estimated that damage to the extent of $50,000 was done. The premises were not insured. The Fire Brigade from Yaumati Central Police Station, the floating engine from Tsim Tsa Tsui, and a couple of manuals from Li-cli-kok, were busily engaged for some time, but were unable to save the launch-building place.
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DISASTROUS FIRE AT KOWLOON.
$50,000 DAMAGES.
pletely encircled them. Clambering over the rail of the burning verandah, the second foki jumped to the street, and sustained shocking injuries. Both legs were broken, the bones projecting through the skin,abore the knees. He was picked up and conveyed to the Govera- ment Civil Hospital, where he died soon after admission. The Fire Brigade, under Captain Superintendent May, was early in attendance, but the flames, as already stated, had ob- tained such a firm hold that all the brigade could do was to prevent their spreading, in which, happily, they were entirely success fpl, although the flames had obtained a slight hold of the houses on each side. The whole place, eye-witnesses say, seemed to go The rumour has again been put in circulation up in one great blaze, and there was hardly to the effect that Sir Robert Hart intends any smoko. When the outbreak had eventually retiring from the control of the Customs at been overcome, on the verandah were found the Peking. The L. & C. Express states that it bodies of the woman and the servant girl and is in a position to give an absolute contradiction boy. They were not greatly burned, and death to this statement. The I. G. has never thought was apparently due to suffocation. The bodies of giving up his post at the present critical were removed to the mortuary, where they juncture in the affairs of China, when his await identification. The first and second knowledge and experience of Chinese finance floors were gutted, but the shop itself is more than ever necessary, adds our contem- emerged comparatively safe, the greater porary,
1
After a few remarks from the CHAIRMAN
the report was-adopted.
The question as to whether the subscription should bo raised to $3 a month or $2.50 per month was mooted, and the latter sum was ulti- mately decided upon.
The election of officers, etc., resulted as fol. lows: President, Mr. R. Cooke; secretary, Mr. Miller; treasurer, Mr. W. M. Everall auditors, Messrs. W. G. Winterburn and A. Ritchie. Committee Messrs. Bridger, Mudie, Christie, Andrew, J. Macdonald, Graham, Banks, Bain, Robertson, Brownhill, Bailey, and Kyles Messrs. Macdonald, Bailey, and Bain withdrew, and Messrs. Lammert, Dale, and Hutchins were elected in their places. The following were elected a council for the pro. posed scientific, branch of the Institute :— Messrs. Ordish (secretary), Jack, Wilkie, Mur. phy, Ramsey, D. Macdonald, and J. Macdonald. Mr. D. Gillies was unanimously elected an hon- orary member of the Institute.
that H.E. Viceroy Chang Chih-tung has A Wuchang despatch to Shanghai states telegraphed to Li Sheng-to Chinese Minister to Japan, informing him that a Translation Society has recently been started at Tokyo by the Chinese Reformers in Japan, and asking him to try if he can influence the Japanese Government to put the "seditious "** under an interdiction. The works this Society Society
is translating, the N.-C. Daily News is inform- ed, are chiefly of a political and philosophical nature and include Bentham's Theory of Legis lation, Montesquieu's Spirit of Law, Bryce's American Commonwealth, and Huxley's Evolu- tion of Ethics.
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