30
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
Co., Ld. at $9 (new issue) 22 500.00
Sundry debtors Cash
63,000.00 13,643.09 963.0$
$1,204,401,01
SHEWAN TOMES & CO.
General Managers.
consideration alone is sufficient to show its | 2,580 shares China Light Power impractical charactor. Not only would it be impossible for such a tribunal to enforce its decisions, but in nine cases out of ten it would not and could not do what is much more im- of the portant, namely, remove the canses dispute between the parties, which removal is war. If an generally brought about by a Arbitration Tribunal bad ordered Russia to go out of Manchuria and to cease menacing Japan, does anybody imagine she would have done so ? Even now, if one can imagine her doing so at the dictates of any such imaginary tribunal, how long does any sensible man believe it would be before she would be back again? No doubt minor questions may and should be settled by arbitration, if other means cannot be found, but large international ques- tions, where, in some cases, the very life of a nation is at stake, cannot possibly be so ad- justed while the world and human nature continue what they are.
MORTGAGE CO., LD.
|
TRIPLE EXECUTION AT HONGKONG.
on
On the morning of the 11th instant, Charles Smith, Erik Hogman, and William, Nason expiated the crimes of which they were found guilty, and on account thereof condemned to death. The authorities are reticent matters appertaining to the execution, and all our representative could glean from the Superintendent of the gaol was that the men admitted the justice of the sentence, and walked boldly on to the scaffold.
down
From other sources, which may be question- THE CHINA PROVIDENT LOAN AND able, we learn that Smith and Hogman walked boldly on to the scaffold, while Nason broke
and had to be supported to the drop. It is alleged that the last words of Smith were "Lord have mercy on my soul: May God bless you all." Hogman in a dull voice repeated over and over again" My God. My God." Nason is alleged to have made a lengthy statement which was taken down by the One of the Superintendent of the gaol. clergymen present, it is said, was so impressed
The report for presentation to the shareholders at the eighth ordinary general meeting to be held at the office of the general managers on Wednesday, 18th January, is as follows:- Annexed we have the pleasure to lay before shareholders a statement of accounts made up to 31st December, 1904.
The gross earnings for the past year amount Lo $132,860,00, and after deducting all expenses, remuneration to general managers, consulting committee's and auditors' fees, there remains a
balance of $106,581.29, which it is recommended be appropriated as follows, viz :—- To place to reserve fund
...
$25,000.00 80,000.00
To pay a dividend of 8 per cent... To carry forward to the credit of next
year's account
1,581.29 CONSULTING COMMITTEE.-Mr. J. H. Lewis having left the Colony, Mr. H. P. White was invited to take his place on the consulting com- mittee. In accordance with the articles of association, Messrs. J. S. Van Buren, Chow Hing Kee, Chau Tung Sbang, Dr. J. W. Noble and H. P. White retire, but offer themselves for re-election.
AUDITORS.-The accounts have been audited by Messrs. A. O'D. Gourdin and W. H. Polts, who are recommended for re-election.
The accounts are as follows :——
PROFIT AND LOSS.
Charges
Consulting committee fees
Auditors' fees
Balance of office furniture account written
off
Balance.
Balance
Interest received on mortgages,
loans, dc.
$ C. 132,860.00
17,255.31
Less interest paid, commis.
sion, &c., &c......
Unclaimed dividends written off.
BALANCE SHEET.
LIABILITIES.
Capital 200,000 shares at $10 $2,000,000.00
Less 100,000 shares un-
issued..
Reserve fand
Sundry oreditors
Dua to General Managers.
poration
*
Balance of profit and losa.
1.000.000.00
Hongkong and Shanghui Banking Cor-
ABSTTS.
Loans on provident system.. 8719,568.77 On mortgages, shares, &c. 317,226.11
150 China Light and Power Co., Limited
8 per cent. debentures
Investment of reserve fund
1,850 shares Green
Island
Cement Co., Ld. at $30 ... $40,500,00
$ C. 5,715.35
4,0 0.00 200.00
500.00
with the terrible scen that he broke down and wept.
THE INQUEST.
At 12 o'clock noon in the large court, before Mr. H. H. J. Gompertz sitting as Coroner, the following jury were sworn in to deliver a verdict as to the cause of death:-Messrs T. Spafford. John Johnston and Henry C. Sandford. After administration of the juror's oath, the jury together with Press representatives went into the gaol and viewed the bodies of the
Well, gentlemen of the "1 asked the Coroner. jury, are you satisfied?' The gentlemen of the jury expressed themselves satisfied and returned to their seats in Court.
deceased.
64
The Coroner, addressing them, said that when a person dies in gaol from capital punish- ment, it is provided by law that an inquiry shall be held. In the case of an execution by legal process, the case comes under what is known as justifiable homicide. The Coroner then read as follows from volume 3 of "Russell on Crime
".
1+
It has been already stated that justifiable homicide is of several kinds, as it may be occasioned by the performance of acts of un- avoidable necessity, or by acts done by the permission of the law. Amongst the acts of unavoidable necessity may be classed the execu tion of malefactors, by the person whose office obliges him, in the performance of public justice 106,581,29 to put those to death who have forfeited their lives by the laws and verdict of their country. These, $116,096.64
are acts of necessity, and even of civil duty, and therefore, not only justifiable, but commendable, where the law requires them. must require them, otherwise they are not justifiable and, therefore, wantonly to kill the greatest of malefactors would be murder: and we have seen that all acts of official duty should, in the nature of their execution, be conformable to the judgment by which they are directed."
C.
$ 1,171.98
115,6 4.66 220.00
$116,996.64
0.
1,000,000,00 55,000.00 19,922.67 1,649.00
81,254.05 106,581.29
$1,264,401.01
$
0.
1,036,704 88
150,000.00
But the law
The first witness was Edward John Pier-
point, who deposed:-I am chief warder of Victoria Gaol. The bodies the jury have just viewed are those of Charles Smith, Erik Hogman and William Nason, who were received into prison on 23rd December, 1904, under sentence of death, which sentence was duly carried out at eleven minutes past fire this morning in the presence of Mr. Craig, Assistant Superintendent of Victoria Gaol, Dr. Thomson, Medical Officer, myse'f, and the usual escort of officers, also the Rev. J. H. France and Rev. W. Bridie. I produce the Governor's warrant for the execution,
In reply to the Coroner :-The sentence of the law was carried into effect by hanging.
John Christopher Thomson said :—I am me- dical officer of the gaol. I was present at the execution this morning. Death in all three case, was instantaneous. I examined the bodies after they were taken down, Death was in all three due to dislocation of the neck.
|
[January 14, 1905.
The Coroner, addressing the jury, said: Gentlemen of the jury, you have to find whether deceased met their deaths by banging, in due
process of law.
The Foreman of the Jury: That is verdict of the jury, your Worship.
the
About thirty minutes after midnight, on Wednesday, a Daily Press reporter, who chanced to be in Caine Road, witnessed the funeral cortege of the unhappy men who were executed some eighteen hours before. Each of the three coffins was carried by four coolies by means of rope and bamboo poles, and an officer of the gaol followed in a chair. The executed men were buried in a quiet spot on the outskirts of the
town.
THE
FILIPINO “AMOKS” AT
HONGKONG.
--:0:
During the hearing of the Filipino murder case at the Police Court on Dec. 9th, Mr. Gom. pertz called the Captain of the Tremont into Court, and asked him what steps were taken to inform the Police of the murder on board.
The Captain said the Police signal lights were shown-two red lights with a white light in the centre. This was done about midnight. No attention was taken by the Police. It was a very dark night: Blue lights were also burut on board.
His Worship: You did not consider the escape of the Filipino of sufficient urgency to fire a gun, or to send a ship ashore?
The Captain: No.
His Worship: What should you have done
in case of a fire on board?
The Captain: Sent up a rocket.
His Worship: It is very curious that the sergeant on duty in the Police pinnace passed your ship at a distance of not more than 200 yards, and did not notice any signal lights. It has been given in evidence that the Filipino, Pagain, was in a lighter alongside your ship at one o'clock. If you had made more urgent signals to the Police, in all probability the man As it was, he landed would have been secured.
on the Praya, and caused the death of a coolie. A man in your position should have treated the maiter as a case of extreme urgency and done your best to have the man arrested. You ought to have done considerably more than you did in the matter of obtaining Police assist- ance, and securing the arrest of the Filipino.
took The ship's doctor, it appears, upon self to embalm the body of the murdered Fili- pino, and also stitched up the various wounds with twine.
him-
His Worship to the Doctor: Don't you think you have been very indiscreet?
Dr. Howell: I think I have.
serious matter to His Worship: It is a interfere with criminal jurisprudence, which
might possibly amount to a misdemeanour. However, I will this time overlook the matter.
The hearing of this case, in which Pagain was charged with the murder of another Fili- pino called Apowen, on the American steamer Tremont, was continued before Mr. H. H. J. the 9th Gompertz at the Police Court on inst. Inspector Langley prosecuted.
Dr. Hunter, medical officer in charge of post-mortem examinations, was the next witness, After examination of the body of the dead Filipino, he found that death was due to a stab a wound in the abdomen.
Dr. Howell, surgeon on the Tremont, said :- On hearing of the assault on board on the 5th inst., I went into the steerage, where I found Sudong lying face downward on the floor. I turned him over and found a wound on the left chest between the clavicle and the second rib. I bound the wound up. Then I noticed further back in the steerage, lying in his bunk, the man. Apowen. He had several wounds on the ones on the shoulder, "wrist, and body, the
When I saw him he abdomen being serious. was gasping. I did not see him again before he was dead. In my opinion the abdominal wound was the cause of death.
By Inspector Langley-After embalming the body I ordered it to be coffined as a means of keeping it. I was present on the 6th inst. and ordered the coffin to be opened at your request.
Charles Petersen deposed:-I am quarter. master on the 8.8. Tremont. I was on duty on
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