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from me. I called out to him, and told him to send a constable from the docks; there were two constables there. Indian Consta ble No. 842 came up. I told him to keep watch and not let anyone wo near deceased. I then went to the station to make a report, taking the straw hat with me.
By Mr. Gompertz: The body lay about 15 minutes from Shaukiwan Station.
Inspector Robertson : It is a mile and a half, Your Worship.
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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
By Mr. Gompertz: Both wounds were pro- bably caused by a knife like that (pro- duced). In my opinion the wound on the neck Was self-inflicted. The wound on the arm might have been inflicted first It was superficial and could have been self-inflicted. A cut on the arm may be sufficient to cause death. If a man was inclined to commit suicide he might cut his arm first, and if that failed, he could cut his throat later. To cnt the arm a painful incision would be necessary to canse Witness: I reported to Inspector Robertson death. The vessels of the arm are very well He took a sampan to the spot, arriv-protected. One can get at the vessels of the ing there before me. I saw
him turn throat more easily and would not have the over the body. He took the knife out sight of the wound to terrify one. Deceased of the hand. one of the trouser pockets did not appear to be an alcoholic subject; it was he found a small looking-glass, a brush and a a normally healthy body. comb' The Inspector got some rice and cement bags, which he placed over the body. He then stationed me over deceased while he went to get a box. This was a little after nine. The body was put in a box, carried to a launch, and sent to the mortuary. I went back to my station. That is all,
By Mr Gompertz: I saw a wound on the neck when the body was turned over it was bleeding a little. I think it was on the ri-ht side. The wonnd was big enough to put two fingers in; not more.
By Inspector Robertson: I was not told the body was there; I found it myself. The foot marks appeared to be the deceased's.
a.m.
Mr. Gompertz: What made you think so? Witness: They were made by boots. Inspector William Robertson, in charge of Shaukiwan Police Station,
said: About 7 ол the 5th inst. the last witness reported that a European male was lying in the road at Shaukiwan. I immediately despatched European P.C. 69 with instruc- tions not to let anyone touch the body. I followed and got to the New Road about 7.30 a.m. and found a European male, about 40, lying nearly on his stomach, head inclined to the right arms crossed under the body. & wound on the left wrist, and blood on the throat. I did not see the wound on the throat till I turned the body over. In the right hand I found the knife produced, blade covered with fresh blood. There was also some blood on the first and second fingers of the right hand. and some on the
back of the fingers. After I turned the body over I saw a cut on the throat; it was about 24 inches long. Immediate- ly below the wound on the chest was a large pool of blood. In deceased's pocket I found a pawn ticket for an umbrella, pawned in Queen's Road for $1.75 on the 3rd inst.; and a ticket for a bed in the Soldiers' and
Sailors' Institute. There was also a comb, a nailbrush, a pocket-knife, a mirror, a key-ring and keys, a cigarette holder, a pair of silver sleevelinks, a silk handkerchief, and a package of bromide of potassium bought at the Pharmacy. In line with the body I saw six dents in the ground, behind the body. If deceased erawled three short paces on his hands and knees the toemarks could have been made.
Witness illustrated this by walking on "all fours" in front of Mr. Gompertz.
Witness: The deceased's clothing was not disarranged, and there were no signs of any struggle. I sent the body to the mortuary. The electric light shone between the slits in the fence, and the deceased might have crawled out of the light.
By Mr. Gompertz : The knife found in the man's hand has a orooked blade so as to allow it to fit into the handle. It was made that way.
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Mr. Gompertz: On the body was found some bromide of potassium? What do you think this was for?
Witness: Probably sleeplessness. A man who has been sleepless for a number of nights gets into that state that he loses control of himself. I do not know what that sort of a knife is used for.
By Inspector Robertson: In the case of a person dying from loss of blood, like deceased, a knife might very possibly remain in the hand. I should
s y that deceased had expired nine or ten hours when I B&W him. Death would come very rapidly after a wound such as described. Consciousness would be lost gradually. Unconsciousness would become deeper as the blood flowed out more and more. Death would come in about 15 minutes.
European P.C. 69 said: About 7 a.m. on the 5th inst. I was informed that auropean was lying dead on the road near Quarry Bay. I proceeded on my bicycle and found the man, with a wound in left wrist, and knife in right hand. I did not touch the body till Inspector Robertson arrived. We turned the body over and found a wound on the right side of the neck. There were six footprints near by. immediately behind deceased, apparently caused by deceased. The electric light from the Shipyard throw a ray of light behind where deceased was lying; but the place where the body lay was in the shade. When I arrived there were three European civilians. employees of Messrs But- terfield & Swire, on the scene, and an Indian. I was about four minutes getting from the station to the body. I did not allow anyone to touch it till the inspector arrived.
I
Mr. James Reidford Ritchie, a foreman mason at Quarry Bay Shipyard, said: Baw deceased's body at 6.45 on the 5th inst. in the New Road at Quarry Bay. An Indian constable and & Butterfield and Swire's watchman were standing by the body I was going to work. Deceased was lying face downwards, face inclined to the middle of the road. The arms were crossed on the right side. There was a wound on the left wrist. In the right hand Was
a knife. There were a few footprints behind., in a line with the body, as if caused by the deceased's own feet. I saw a little blood on the knife, but could not see the wound.
By Mr. Gompertz: I could not see any other marks on the ground, but would have done so if there had been any. I did not see any marks of violence, other than those I have mentioned, on the body. There did not appear to have been foul play. There were no signs of violence. As far as I know I was the first European on the spot.
Mr. Gomperts: It was not your impression
that the throat had been cut from ear to ear?
Witness: I did not see any wound there at all. A person could not have seen such a wound without lying close to the ground. I did not remain there long.
Dr. W. V. M. Koch said: I was in charge of the public mortuary on the 5th inst. Between 11 and 12 a.m. that day I examined the body of an adult European male, apparently 40 years of age. I found the following injuries: Firstly, Mr. John Thomas Hoskins, chief foreman at a transverse incision on the front of the forearm Quarry Bay, said: On the 5th instant at five about two inches long and one inch above the minutes past seven I saw the body. When I wrist joint; it was a superficial clean cut came to work the watchmen was waiting to tell just through the skin. Secondly, an incision me a dead body was lying on the road. I went to about 2 inches broad, starting from the see if I could do anything. When I arrived one of middle line of the front of the neck running our Europeans, Mr. Morphew, was there. I saw a to the right transversely, This was OR man lying there dead with a large out on the a level with the “Adam's apple." It had left wrist and a knife in his right hand. It was severed certain membranes, exposing the wind a knife like that (produced). I also saw a large pipe, and, passing outward, exposed the super-wound on the neck. The body was lying on ficial vessels of the neck. There were no the stomach, face rather inclined to the marks of other injuries to the body. My right. It had not been turned over. "I opinion is that death
censed by, knelt down оп my umbrella to see the hemorrhage due to the cut in the neck.
wound. I could not see the wound standing
[August 22, 1904.
up. I could not see how large the wound was, as I could only see one side of it. I should say it was from two to three inches long.
By Mr. Gompertz: I saw no other marks on the body. Ou the ground I saw eight marks, as if made by the heel. They were right behind him at his feet. I had the impression that they were made by deceased himself. I saw no marks of violence. When the body was turned over I saw his face turning black.
By Inspector Robertson: It was, before the body was turned over that I saw the footmarks. The body was covered with sa ks, but I lifted one up to see if I knew the man. I did not take any notice of the wound.
Inspector Robertson: Did you not inform Mr. McDonald about the matter?
Witness: No; I informed Mr. Clarke. I do not know who informed Mr. McDonald.
Inspector Robertson: In your report to Mr. Claro did you say that the head nearly severe from the body?
Witness: No; I said it was a very big wound. Inspector Robertson: Did you say it was a broken knife?
Witness: No,
was very
Inspector Robertson: Did you say there were a lot of footmarks, indicative of a very foul murder?
Witness: No; I said there were a lot of footmarks caused by people going to see the body.
Inspector Robertson: Did you report that from the position of the body there appeared to have been murder?
Witness:
No.
Inspector Robertson: Did you report that your watchman reported the matter to the police?
Witness: Yes; the watchman told me so, but I do not know.
Mr. Gompertz: Do you think there is any suspicion of murder?
Witness: No.
Mr. Gompertz: Did you think so at any time? Witness: No.
Mr. Gomperta Did you hear anyone express that opinion?
Witness: No.
An Indian watchman from the shipyard said: I was on duty from midnight to 8 a.m. on the 5th inst. At 6 a.m. I saw a dead body on the shipyard side of the road. I passed about seven paces away from the dead body, and went and reported to my head watchman, an Indian. Doola Singh was then sent to Shankiwan Police Station. I did not go near enough to see say wound on the body.
Mr. Gomperta (to Inspector Robertson): Who gave you the first information ?
Inspector Robertson: Our own man. Albert Slaney, a soldier of the Sherwood Foresters, in charge of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Institute, said: I made out this ticket (produced) on the morning of the 4th iust. A man came to me on the previous even- ing and asked if he could have a bed. I told him he was too late, all beds being taken. On the morning of the 4th inst. he booked a a chair on the bed, went upstairs, and took verandah. I went to him about an hour afterwards and he offered me 30 cents, saying he had not paid for the bed; but he had paid for it. When I came up again he was asleep on the bed. I went up again at about 10.30 a.m. and found he had gone. "That was the last I saw of him. He did not have anything to eat. I did not ask his name; there are numbers on the tickets. The man was very quiet; he seemed very "down.”
By Mr. Gomperts: He was about 35 years of age, fair, and had a moustache. He wore a straw hat. In height he would be about 5ft. 7in. ; and of ordinary build. He was a complete stranger to me. I was wondering where he had got to that night (4th inst.) when I was collecting tickets. I think he was an English- man. He left nothing. I think he had only about 50 cents. He said he wanted a bed for four or five days, but could not pay me than.
P.C. 63 said: On the afternoon" of the 4th inst. I was on duty in the Chargs Room. A European came in, and said he had no money. He wanted to know if the Government would pay his passage out of the Colony. He would not give his name, saying he WAS ashamed of being penniless. I pressed him two or three times for particulars comoarning himself,
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