The-Hong-Kong-Weekly-Press-1907-09-30 — Page 10

:

198

Minister of the Board of Punishments. While filling the latter office His Excellency occupied himself remodelling the penal code, and pro- posed to the Throne thy adoption of the system of trial by jury.

His Excellency applied for permission to resign office in May 1906, but it is only a few months ago that he succeeded in obtaining the soquiescence of the Throne, and that he has now been reappointed as Minister to Washing ton indicates the unwillingness of the Imperial Government to allow a man of Mr. Wa's kaow- ledge and experience to retire permanently from public life.

As many of our readers are aware, His Excellency is the brother-in-law of the Hon. Dr. Ho Kai, and we may add the further interesting fact that, like many eminent men in other countries, His Excellency in his younger days anccessfully engaged in journalism, being associated with our Chinese newspaper the Chung Ngoi San Po.

An American opinion of the appointment, at that time only rumoured, appears in the Manila Cablenetbe as follows.-

Washington, via London, September 23. Wa Ting Fang who was for a number of years Minister from China to the United States, and who is now very influential in the Peking government, is expected to return to Washing ton from China in the near future. It is said that the Empress' councillors believe China's future as an independent entity is to a degree in the hands of America, which has for decades been against aggression and the seizure of Chinese territory.

THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND

ADSETTS.

(September 30,-1007:

Adsetts, it was stated, slept well in the cells and ate a good breakfast. By ten o'clock yester- day there was sa unusual stir in the vicinity of the Magistracy. A number of Europeans were - present in the hope of ostohing a sight of the man who has soquired such notoriety, and several of them were rewarded by swing him in No. 1 cell. He was easily visible through the bars. Dressed only in singlet and trousers, and heavily manacled, be presented a very unprepossessing appeara oce.

Interest in the trunk tragedy has been revived by the return of the suspected murderer to Hongkong. After some little delay, but with less trouble than was at first anticipated, Adsetts, who had been transferred from Chefoo, the place where he was captured, to Manila on board the U.S. cruiser Galveston, was given into the custody of Detective Sullivan and P. C. | Perkins of Hongkong and placed on board the

Chief Detective Inspector Hanson underlook a.s. Rubi oa Saturday. The vessel arrived here the duty of charging the prisoner, but this did :

mach time as on September 23rd at 8 p.m., displaying not occupy so

was expected. the police call lights. Police launches at once

Shortly before eleven o'clock. Adsetta, who had went alongside.

been brought up from the cells and relieved of his irons, was conducted to the First Coart where Mr. C. D. Melbourne presided in the absence of Mr. F. A. Hazeland. The prisoner stepped smarily into the dock and moved into the farthermost corner where he seated himself pending the conclusion of the case then before the Court. In less than a minute the interpreter called oat “William Hall Adsetts" and the. prisoner rose from his seat and stepped to the front of the dock. He was still minus his jacket and still unshaven. Yet he appeared quite firm, and though he spoke with a steady voice, it could not be said that he was calloon. He certainly lcoked keenly interested in all that took place.

When the police pinnase ran alongside, the man in charge was informed that more men were wanted to conduct Adsetts ashore. It was the original intention to land him at Bank Wharf in Pottinger Street, but the police launch ran alongside Blake Pier, and notwithstanding the crowd who had gathered on this pier, Adsetts was landed there. When the launch was made fast alongside, the police hailed a chair, and Adsetts leg ironed and handcuffed was conducted on to the wharf and placed in the vehicle. It was with dificulty that the police kept the crowd back. All seemed to want to have a look at the accused man who hang his head as soon as he was placed in the chair. A start was then made for the Central Station the crowd following the escort, but it had considerably diminished by the time the station was reached. Here there was some little delay which gave the few present a chanos to see Wu Ting Fang is one of the ablest Chinese Adsetts, who was dressed in a pair of dark ever sent to Washington, and the withdrawal trousers and a singlet, and wore a panama hat. a few weeks ago of Sir Chentung Liang-Cheng He looked very pale, had a slight growth on his affords the opportunity to place him again at chin, and to all appearances had submitted the head of China's diplomats in United Stater. quietly to the inevitable. He is muscular look- He was rather in disfavour at Washington on ing; quite the typical boxer. His guard kept account of his advocacy of a new treaty, admitting sharp watch until he was safely behind look and the better class of Chinese on a footing with key. When Inspector Ritchie, who was on Europeans, and giving them the right to engage duty asked his name he said, William Hall counsel and to appeal cases decided against Adsetts, and stated that he was a tinsmith and them. Coolier, he demanded should be a native of l'hiladelphia. After sitting for permitted to enter Hawaii. China realizes a awhile in the compound he asked for a crisis is coming soon and wants a strong man in drink of water, and on being asked if there Washington.

was anything else be would like said he would be pleased to have a bath, as he had STEEL CRUISER FOR CHINA. not had one for some days. Then he was placed in the cell. The handcuffs were removed, but On Sept. 27 Messrs. W. 8. Bailey and Co., the the irons were not taken off his legs, which well known shipbuilders, dispatobed to Canton wear blue marks round the ankles caused by the steel cruiser Loong Seung (Flying Dragon) these. built by them for the Chinese government. It is said he was very quiet on the voyage up, The vessel is 100 ft, in length by 19 feet beam but for all that, Fatective-Sergeant Sullivan and draws only three feet of water, being and Constable Perkins did not relax their intended for shallow water navigation. The vigilance, and so keen was their watch during engines are compound twin screw and the the last few days that they had scarcely any vessel is constructed on the Hollow Stern sleep. They speak in the highest terms of the Principle so that when at rest the propellers conduct of the Captain and officers of the are partly out of water, but when going ahead Rub', who rendered them every assistance dar. are covered by the water which is drawn ing the voyage. Having arrived in the harbour, into the tunnels in which they revolve, the police officers were taking no risks with Messrs. Bailey & Co. have built a number of their man, and when they asked for a special shallow draft vessels on this principle ad guard, Inspector Warnock, Detective-Sergt. drawing as little as two feet of water. The Earner and Terrett and Detective Watt went Loong Seung is fitted with excellent accommoda. off to the steamer, but their services were not tion for offloors and grew, the cabins being required as Adsette come quietly enough, and neatly upholstered and painted in white and as stated, was conveyed to the station without

trouble. gold. She is fitted with gua shields and platforms to mount two quick firing guns forward, and has easily exceeded the contract speed of ten knots with remarkable freedom from vibration, the engines running at 200 revolutions per minute with the utmost smoothness.

The Loong Seung has a bridge deck and pole mast with cross jack yard, and made a pretty picture as she steamed at full speed through the the harbour flying the Dragon flag. The work has been carried out under the inspection of Capt. T. P. Hall,

BEFORE THE MAGISTEATE,

Rather unexpectedly to many people the suspected murderer of Gertrude Dayton is now securely lodged in the cells at the Central

Police Station. As stated in our issue of on Sept. 24th, there was nothing of moment in alarmist stories which came from American the voyage from Manila to Hongkong. The sources proved to have little foundation. Even if Adsetts uttered the threats against bis custodians, which he is reported to have used, he was powerless to carry them into effect, and from the time he was handed over to the We are informed that on September 25th charge of Detective-Sergeant Sullivan and several official and unofficial members of P. C. Perkins (the imaginary conqueror of the Legislative Council accompanied His Excel- Adsetts in the priz>ring), he gave little trouble. lency the Governor in a tour of inspection over The officers, of course, took no risk but kept a the proposed new route for the eak Tramway. ceaseless watch over their mauscled prisoner, Great discussion took place with regard to the hose quiescence may perhaps have been further effect on the proposed route on the new Gardens, induced by the sight of the stout shillelagh, Traversing these, the tramway will by no means made on board, which was handled by the enhance the beauty of the gardens, but the ques-officers. The ship's officers were very kind to tion to be decided is whether the public utility the anxious custodians and the thanks of the is sufficient justification for whatever damage authorities are dus to the men on board the may be done to the beautiful gardens.

Bubi for the assistance they rendared.

The charge was framed as follows: William Hall Adsetts, 28 years of age, tinsmith, of America; For that the said William Hall Adsetts, on the 4th August in the year of our Lord 1907 at Victoria in this Colony feloniously and wilfully and of malice aforethough', did kill and murder one Gertrude Dayton against the peace of our Lord the King, his crown and dignity.

The interpreter having read the charge, his Worship asked "What do you plead ?" and Adsetts, in a firm voice replied, “Not guilty,

Bir."

His Worship, turning to Chief Detective Inspector Hanson, asked-Are the police ready to go on ?

Mr. Hanson-Will you please grant a remand?

His Worship-What day’will suit you ? Mr. Hanson-Will your Worship grant a week's remand until the Crown Solicitor cau be consulted?

His Worship-If it is a week's remand it will have to be formal.

It was decided to grant a remand till Monday next at 2.15 p.m.

Prisoner was then conducted by the police to his cells and the interested escort back Europeans left the Court.

THE STORY OF A WITNESS. One of the witnesses for the Crown who went to Manila in connection with the extradition of

Adsetts, and who appears to have been very observant while in that city, has much to say in connection with the trip. He had gathered together the threads of the story since the arrival of Adsetts in Manila, and thus told it to a Daily Press representative:-When the U.S. steamer Galveston arrived at Manila, and Adsetts had been lauded, discharged and re-arrested, the Chief of the Philippine Detective Staff told him that if he behaved himself he would be well trested, but if he attempted to escape his head would either be split open, or a bullet would be passed through it. The prisoner intimated that he would not attempt. to escape, and was thus allowed more freedom.. than would otherwise have been the offe. He was conducted t› the Police Station and looked up in a cell, but the manacles were not fastened to the wrists nor the leg icons to the ankles. While thus locked up he was visited by the little party who had arrived from Hongkong to bear witness against him. Prior to this Adsetts had been shown the American papers and the first question he asked was-"Where is the man who knocked me out in three rounds ? *» Perkins was pointed out, but Adsetts did not know him, nor did Parkins know the prisoner, who remarked something about the Manila papers“ taking the ban.'

Detectives and witnesses from_Hongkong next appeared at the office of Prosecuting Attorney George, and Detective Sergeant Sulli- van handed the Attorney the papers which had been entrusted to him at this pork. Mr. George examined the papers, and appeared

-

Page 10Page 11