The-Hong-Kong-Weekly-Press-1902-09-22 — Page 12

Hongkong Weekly Press AND China Overland Trade Report All

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not be accepted. The law had been amended, and the law was that there must be a majority of 5 to 2 at least, one way or the other. The jury had better retire again and consider the matter further.

The jury accordingly retired, and re-entered the Court after about five m nutes' absencs.

The Foreman intimated to the Court that they had on further consideration found the prisoner not guilty on both counts by a majority of 5 to 2. His Lordship thereupon ordered the prisoner to be discharged.

The Court adjourned.

Friday, 19th September.

IN CRIMINAL JURISDICTION.

BEFORE HIS HONOUR W. MEIGH GOODMAN (CHIEF JUSTICE).

ESCAPE FROM PRISON,

was

Wong Hoi, a tall, thin Chinamau, charged with having on 27th September, 1898, escaped from Victoria Gaol while undergoing a sentence of 12 months' imprisonment for un- lawfully returning from banishment.

The Hon. Attorney-General, Sir Henry S Berkeley, appeared for the prosecution, in- structed by Mr. H. L. Dennys, Crown Solicitor.

Prisoner pleaded guilty.

His Lordship--Prisoner bad returned from banishment?

Attorney-General-He had.

His Lordship What was the time he would have to have served in prison to complete his sentence?

Attorney-General-He was convicted on 8th March and escaped on 27th September. Ho had been sentenced to be imprisoned for 12 months.

His Lordship, addressing the prisoner, said it seemed he had been banished as an undesirable character and returned before his period of banishment was over; be was therefore sen

tenced, as was usual, to 12 months' imprison. ment. He underwent rather over 6 months of that imprisonment and then managed to escape. Of course, it was wrong to escape, although it was a very natural thing if one could. It was the duty of those who had him in prison to prevent him from escaping, but his Lordship must see that he did not gain anything by his escape but that he was rather worse off for having done so. The sentence would be 12 months' imprisonment with hard labour, and he supposed that at the end of that time he would be banished again.

ROBBERY WITH VIO ENCE.

Lak So, U Chiu and Kong Kwai, miserable- looking specimens of Cantonese, the second and third mere boys, were charged with having ou 31st August assaulted one thau Sun and robbed him of $35 and a waist-band.

They pleaded not guilty.

The following jury was empanelled :-Mess 8. G. V. Paulo de Jesus, H. W. Soppett, W. P. Lambert, L. J. C. Anderson, J. Toppin. S. Swart, and C. Lee.

THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND

the first prisoner was one of the principal offenders in the matter. He would have to go to prison for 5 years with Lard labour and would get a flogging of 20 strokes with the birch within the first week. He ought to be ashamed of himself in mixing up those much younger boys in a case of this kind. His Lordship understood that the second pri- soner was only 18 years of age. He had begun very badly. He looked a mere boy and would get another hance. He would have to go to prison for 12 months with hard labour and would get a birching of 20 strokes the first week. When he came out it was to be hoped that he would get work and attend to it. There was plenty of work in the Colony for coolies.

The third prisoner was discharged.

FORGED RECEIPTS.

Lam Fai Nain was charged with having on 5th February uttered a false receipt for $13, on 11th March one for $12, and on 5th April one for $18.

He pleaded not guilty.

The following jury was empanelled :— Messrs. Ho Man, C. G. Dauby. A. E. Asger, F. X. Lopes, F. A. Wendt, Leung Kam Leung, and W. 8. Patteuden.

The Attorney-General, in opening the case, stated that the prisoner was charged with uttering three receipts that were forged, and thereby obtaining three separate sum of movey from three different persons It would be proved clearly that the prisoner ut ered the receipts, that this money was received by means of these receipts, and then a witness would be produced who would swear that the receipts which bore his name were forgeries. The prisoner's defence was that the receipts were good. The question really was whether they were gool or bad.

Evidence was afterwards taken.

The jury returned an unanimous verdict of guilty.

His Lordship passed sentence of five years' imprisonment with hard labour.

The Court rose,

REVIEW.

The Teritory of Weihaiwei. By C E. BRUCE- MITFORD. Published by Messrs. Kelly & Walsh, Ld.

THIS is a most attractive little handbook, printed in char type and well illustrated with

pen and ink sketches and half-tone blocks, of the British possession in Shantung. The purpose of the author is that the book may serve as a descriptive guide and handbook of Weihai. i, and he has certainly produced a very handy and a very readable little volume which will prove most useful to those who visit the port. The aspect of Weihaiwei has changed considerably since Admiral ling fought bis last fight under its hills, a description of which is recorded, as well as a concise and interesting account of the creation and progress of the 1st Chinese Regiment. The illustrations give an idea of the beauty of some of the local scenery, whilst the writer has divided the territory info five sections, each of which he fully describes. Various quotations are given in support of the author's own conclusions, as to the importance of its future as a northern naval station for the British fleet, whilst at the same time serving as a popular health resort for the Shanghai com- munity. Under the administration of its new Commissioner it will no doubt develop com.

[September 22, 1902.

V.R.C. AQUATIC SPORTS.

SECOND DAY.

The annual aquatic Sports of the Victoria Recreation Club were continued at the Club's enclosure at Kowloon on the 12th inst. in presence of a large attendance of spectators. he various events filled well on the whole

and some close finishes were wituessed. Messrs. W. A. Crake and E. M. Hazelan l acted as umpires, Mr. If. W. B. •ennett as starter, Messrs. M. Mclver and M. A. A. Sonza as handicappers, and Mr. W. Orchar as time-keeper. The popular hon. secretary, Mr. F. W. White, was unal le through indisposition to be present. Appended are the results :---

CH¿MPIONSHIP OF THE COLON 1, 200 yards (Six lengths). Open to all comers. 1st Prizo presented by Hon R. Shewan. 2nd Prize presented.

1 N. H. Alres.

2 C. J. Cooke.

Time-2 mins. 45 secs.

won

There were five entrants. Alves got off well and gradually increasing his lead com- fortably by bout a length. A. Humphreys gave up in the last length.

SWIM UNDER WATER, Two Prizes. 1st Prize presented by W. A. Crake, Esq 2nd Prize presented. (The distance is calculated to the point where the water is first broken by any part of the body.)

1 A. Humphreys-142ft. 2in. 2 M. A. Razack-136ft. 6in. 3 H. S. Holmes-135ft. 10in. Each competitor was allowed three tries. Humphreys's record was a magnificent effort eliciting great applause from the spectators, Razack came in contact with the end of the peir on his first attempt: otherwise he might have done better.

Two BOYS' RACE. (11 to 5 years of age.)

Two Prizes. Post Lengths (Haudicap). entries. Sors or brothers of members only admitted.

1 H. Sayer. 7secs.

2 E. Alves. Scratch.

3 J. V. Ribeiro. 3secs.

Time-53 45secs.

This race caused much enthusiasm among the onlookers. E. Alves, "the little chap," swam splendidly and was beaten by only about a length by the backmarker. J. V. Ribeiro made a plucky fight too, but was outclassed and did not fiuish.

F. UR LENGTHS (Handicap). Two Prizes, 2nd Prize pr. sented. Second Heat. 1st Prize presented by J. R. M. Smith, Esq.

1 W. Schumaker, 7secs. 2 F. K. Tata. Asecs. 3 A. J. Mackie. 5secs.

Time-Imin. 59 4/5secs.

There were six starters. Schumaker swam very strongly throughout and won a hard race by about a length. As only the first two swim in the final, there was special interest shown as Tata starting off almost the same mark kept to who should win second honours. Mackie and

close together during the race, but Tata's start of one second stood him in good stead and he won by a short arm's length. The scratch man, N. H. Alve, was just a trifle too much penalised If the odd 2 secs. had been starting at 22 secs. knocked off he would certainly have got a place, an be deserved it. As it was, he finished a good fourth.

Evidence was given to the effect that the complainant, who had come from Singapore on the day in question, was walking along the Praya in search of a sampan when the first prisoner seized him by the queue and the second prisoner by the arm, while the third seized bim by the waist-band and tried to pull it away He pressed his hand down upon it and resisted, whereupon the first prisoner stabbed him with & knife and then cut b s waist-band and tore itmercially, though it cannot do so rapidly owing

RUNNING HEADER FROM SPRING BOARD. Two Prizes. off. Complainant's money fell on the ground to its rivals north and south in Chefoo and

1st Prize presented by Hart and the prisoners and three others who Lad Tsintao, and the not very promising Chinese Buck, Esq. 2nd Prize presented. assisted them scrambled for it and ran off. He territory adjoining. ran after them. A tall man stopped him and asked him what was the matter. He told him. Thereupon the man ran after the first prisoner, caught up with him, struck him a blow and snatched the waist-band and money from him and then made off himself with the spoil. The three prisoners were afterwards arrested and identified.

In summing up, bis Lordship advised the jury to take a merciful view of the third prisoner's case, taking into consideration that the prosecution had admitted that his identifica tion had not been fully established.

The jury, without retiring, found the two first prisoners guilty by a unanimous vote and the third prisoner not guilty.

His Lordship said there was no doubt that

A memorandum has been received at the Foreign Office, from the Acting British Consul at Tainan, on the trade of South Formosa. This trade cousists chiefly in the export of sugar and rice, both of which are cultivated largely in the district, and in the cultivation of which foreign-made machinery will, doubtless, become more requisite as the benefits to be derived from its

use are more recognised. Apart from machinery, there is little prospect of any large importation of British goods direct from England taking place. No piece-goods are imported direct from England, nor are there any prospects that such a trade could be carried' on successfully.

1 J. H. R. Hauce. 2 M. A. Razack. Over balf-a-dozen competito's took part, and some good diving was shown. It was a very close thing between Hance and Razack, both evincing good entry and recovery. Hance, however, showed a slight superiority in entry.

TEAM RACE.

1 A. Humphreys, J. H. R. Hance, A. V. Barros, J. M. Pereira, F. K. Tala, F. A. V. Ribeiro, O. F. Ozorio.

2 N. H. Alves, F. M. Pereira, C. M. Alves, A. J. Mackie, M. A. Rezack, W. T. Andrew, H. S. Holmes.

Time-6mins. 55secs. Three teams competed. The one that was not placed was weak and never made a show. The race from the start was zeen to lie between

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