The-Hong-Kong-Weekly-Press-1903-08-24 — Page 12

Hongkong Weekly Press AND China Overland Trade Report All

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Mr. Blade proceeded to say that while Chan Yik was committing a crime in fact, he thought he was excused by something he had in his possession—namely, a letter of attorney authoris ing him to collect money for and sign the name of Li Yuen. Chan Yik did what he did do not for his own profit bat for the profit of the man Li Yuen. In the circumstances he submitted that this was a case to be commended very favourably to mercy.

His Lordship deferred sentence until after the adjournment so that he might read through the depositions.

After luncheon, his Lordship passed sentence of two years' hard labour in respect of the first count, and one year's hard labour in respect of each of the second and third-four years in all, making the comment that the plan carried out by the prisoner was a remarkably cunning one allowing him to pose as the innocent tool of another if discovered.

-STABBING AFFRAY IN BONHAM STRAND.

Chan Muu was charged with having on 18th Jane in Bonham Strand wounded oue Hi Yi by stabbing him with a knife with intent to do him grievous bodily harm,

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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND

he gave every satisfaction and his conduct was good; he was a good police officer.

By the Court-He did not order the defendant to go to this brothel on duty; defendant had no right to go in unless on police duty.

Dr. E. A. R. Gibson deponed that he found the deceased to be suffering from a ruptured urethra oansing suppression of the urine. The man died from his injuries. These injuries must have been caus d by a blow on the urethra, most probably a kick. Deceased was about 56 years of age and was a feeble man.

Other evidence was given for the Crown to the effect that the defendant kicked the deceased, who thereupon fell to the ground but afterwards rose and walked away.

Mr. Slade, who stated that he intended to call only one witness for the defence, said the defendant did not go into the brothel for an immoral purpose, but simply to ask a hawker whom he saw prosecuting business there if he had a licence. Seeing a constable enter the house a crowd collected to await developments, and were dispersed by the defendant, who put them aside with his open hands and went away. There the matter ended, so far as he was con-

He pleaded not guilty. The following just was empanelled:-Messrs.cerned. A. Bryson, C. W. Georg J. Basustow, W. C. Drew, H. Schierenberg. E T. Colson and E. D Haskell.

was.

The Attorney-General in opening the case for the Crown stated that Hi Yi, who was #boatman,

on the day in question walking near the east end of Bonham Strand when he met the defendant, whom he apparently knew. They began to talk about some things that had been pawned and a dispute arose. Some companions led Hi Yi away, and when he was about 100 yards away from the scene of the quarrel Hi Yi suddenly felt a slab in the back. On turning round he saw the prisoner running away and chased and captured him. Hi Yi was stabbed in the region of the kidneys and had to be kept in hospital for some six weeks Prisoner's defence was that he did not stab the complainant, and that the latter had made the mistake of thinking he had done it because he saw him running away,

The complainant having given evidence, Dr. W. V. M. Koch of the Government Civil Hospital was called to give medical evidence. He was not in attendance, and his absence provoked some important observations witness's recognisances, which will be found in another column.

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After hearing other evidence the jury found the prisoner guilty as libelled,

His Lordship sentenced him to two years' imprisonment with hard labour and to receive 20 strokes of the birch within the first week. CHARGE OF MANSLAUGHTER AGAINST EUROPEAN POLICE SERGEANT. Alfred George Brimble, police sergeant, was charged with having on 3rd August at Yaumati killed Chinaman named Tsang Chak,

He pleaded not guilty and was defended by Mr. M. W. Slade, barrister-at-law (instructed by Mr. J. Hastings, solicitor).

The following jury was empanelled :-Messrs. H. Schierenberg, J. S. Gabbay, W. E. Claret, W. G. G. Worcester J. Gillespie, E. D. Haskell and P. Lawson

The Attorney-General in his opening state. ment said that on the day in question about 7 o'clock defendant was in a brothel in Temple Street, Yaumati. He was in uniform. A crowd collected round about the place. He saw the crowd and went outside and dispersed it. Then he was said by four witnesses to have been seen to kick the deceased man and inflicted injuries from which he subsequently died. Witnesses stated that the defendant kicked the deceased between the legs behind. When kicked the man fell down then rose and walked away to Yanmati Police Station and reported what had been done to him. He was taken to the Government Civil Hospital, where

he died on the 7th August, The doctor would say that he died from a rupture which Defendant caused suppression of the urine.

Irated that he was in this brothel and that aged în dispersing a crowd he struck young men, but he denied he deceased. Sotor. D. Macdonald, Yanmati, was the dess called. He gave formal evidence.

Sermined" by Mr. Slade, witness said Sergeant Brimble was under him

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Chun Tai Kam said that on the ereuing of 3rd August he went to visit a house in Temple Street, Yanmati, after arriving from Shaukiwan. Whilst she was in the house, the ground floor, a in the sitting-room on hawker came in. followed by the defendant. The latter spoke to the witness first, then asked the hawker to produce his licence. This was produced and inspected, and afterwards the hawker went away.

[Angust 24, 1903.

boat, and took away $49 in movey that was on board. The second complainant was very badly beaten. The motive for this action of the boat-people was said to ba that the Les Fat was injuring their trade in carrying passengers to Hongkong and other places.

Evidence was given.

The jury returned a verdict of not guilty, and the accused were discharged.

The Court rose.

SIR ERNEST SATOW AND THE CHINA ASSOCIATION.

The N.-C. Daily News writes that the interview between the British Minister end the Committee of the China Association at Shanghai was remarkable for the unanimity that evidently existed between the Association There is no Englishman and the Minister. in China, says the journal, who will not confirm the concluding paragraph in the address "We desire to presented to Sir Ernest: repeat the feelings of satisfaction which are held by all British subjects in China at the presence of your Excellency once more amongst us, to have this personal opportunity of making our acknowledgments of the untiring care to British interests which has characterised the period of your Excellency's tenure of your The address being private, our high office." contemporary is of cource nuable to priat it, but gives the gist of it as follows:

It naturally begins by congratulating his Ex- cellency on his return to China with fresh distinctions and wider powers; and it as naturally Witness and the defend-goes on refer to the alarm that is felt lest Russia should close the open door in Manchu:ia, ant went to the kitchen and exchanged a few words, after which he went out. He and impose before long diser minating tariffs and It was natural that the had a piece of firewood in his hand, and trade disabilities.

Association should draw Sir Ernest's attention waved it at the people gathered round the door.

to the strides that are being made in railway whom he told to go away; witness took the fire- wood from the defendant, who went away when construction in China by the subjects of other the crowd had dispersed. From beginning Powers with the constaut aid of their Govern. meuts, as contrasted with the very slow pro- to end there was no kiking: had there been any witness would have seen it, for she was gress made by British railways. It was natural that they should point out that many of there all the time.

these railways have political not commercial aims, and that intentional endeavours seem to be made to thwart British enterprises even i what Great Britain claims as her sphere of influence. But it must honestly be confessed that British enterprise is not without blame in this matter, and that the British Legation has not been backward in giving all the assistance in its power.

In alluding to the appa

This concluded the case for the defence, and Mr. Slade addressed the jury on behalf of the prisoner.

The Attorney-General followed on behalf of the Crown, and when his Lordship had summed

up.

The jury, without leaving the box, unani. mously found the prisoner not guilty, and he was discharged.

The Court adjourned.

Wednesday, 19th August.

IN CRIMINAL JURISDICTION.

BEFORE HIS HONOUR SIR WILLIAM M. GOODMAN (CHIEF JUSTICE),

ARMED ROBBERY.

Eight Chinese by name Wong Tak, U Shnu, Wong Chik, Wong Wa, Wong Shing, Chan Kwan, Ip Mau, and Keung Tsau, were charged with having on 18th July at Deep Bay in the waters of the Colony, being then armed with poles and hoes, assault d Cheng Siu and Cheng King Ti and stolen a boat belonging to the first-named and $40 in money; and also, on second count, with having assaulted Cheng King Ti.

They pleaded not guilty and were defended by Mr. E. H. Sharp, K.C., barrister-at- law (instructed by Mr. D. Piper of Messrs. Johnson,

t tokes and Master, solicitors). The Attorney-General, Hon. Sir Hetry S. Borkeley (instructed by Mr. H. Hursthonse of Messrs. Dennys and Bowley, solicitors), con- ducted the prosecution for the Crown.

The following jury was empanelled :-Messrs. H. S. Holmes, E. D. Haskell, W. R. Clarst S. J..Godwin, A. E. Alves, J. W. Stewart, and R. G. Heckford.

out excesss of imports over exports in China, amounting in the last two years to an average of a hundred million taels, the Association opened a question which requires mach Оде more investigation and elucidation. thing is certain, that China is not called

to pay

ut any

such sum as this; a upon large part of it is represented by the foreiga capital that is being invested in China in railway, etc., and we see no canse for alarm in the present position, though on the other hand China's wealth will increase much faster when she realises what she would gain by abolishing export duties, improving her means of internal communication, and developing her mineral resources.

Undoubtedly one of the most in- portant stipulations in the lately ratified. Treaty of Shanghai is that calling for an uniform be no one na ional coinage, and there can who has the true interests of the China trade at heart who will not echo the hope that the Chinese Government will give effect to this undertaking as early as possible. We are glad to know that attention was drawn to the fact that the Conservancy of the Whangpoo has not taken a step forward since the Protocol was signed two years ago. It is incredible that if the Consular Body here had taken up the matter strenuously they could not have succeeded in getting the intended F'oard made up.

The unsatisfactory position of the Mixed Court, and the desirability of baving The Attorney-General in his opening state- the incomplete provisional regulations of last year superseded by a definite and satisfactory code ment said that the scene of this affair was Hoihao, in Deep Bay, near the mouth of the naturally formed one of the subjects in the address to Sir Ernest. What is asked is only Shamchun River. On the day in question the two complainants were engaged in rowing what has often been asked and what is essenti- passengers out to the steam-launch, Lee Fatally just, that a Chinese defendant, whatever which runs to Hongkong, when they were the nationality of his prosecutor, shall be tried set upon by a large crowd of boatmen, in the Mixed Court of the Settlement in which who beat them, seized and smashed up the he resides, an assessor of the same nationality

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