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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
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ker.
[October 28, 1007,
Hempstead. On arriving there we bad | August 5th, I pawned two diamonds of which
drinks, several botiles of wine. several
I had five the same size I was taxing home. I We arrived there about 10 o'clock. We had also had a gold vest chain and a diamond looket about a dozen bottles of wine as near as I can which had thirteen diamonds on it in the shape judge. When going up to Miss Hempsteal's of a orescent. I also had a pair of diamond and I was feeling drunk and in the course of my ruby sleeve links a diamond scarf pin and some stay there I naturally got considerably dran. English and American gold, but I did not care
I remember Miss Dayton asking me on
to exchan re it. I wanted to leave the country arrival to show Miss Hempstead the postal and lose myself, so I pawned these diamonds to orders, but she did not ask me to show her the get some money. At first, after discovering the jewellery which I carried, as she was afraid the body and placing it in the trunk, I was going to police here would get her in Hongkong. I take everything with me, and placed all the scarcely remember leaving Miss Hempstead's, clothes and everything in the room in the cam- but we went to one or more houses of the phorwood box: but. I changed my mind. I same character, but I do not recognise the intended to go to North China or Korea, and witness Miss Leavitt. I do not know when left Hongkong on August 6th_by_the Tosa
at how I arrived
the Hotel. Maru, on board of which ressel I slept on mean the brothel in Ship Street. Americans the night of August 5th. I arrived at Shang- have different names for it. I do not remember hai and went to Chefoo, with the object of From the time I going to Korea or Siberis. arrived at Cheloo until I arrived here, the Court has evidence which is true. When I left the hotel here, I left all the keys behind me, with the exception of the key of my bag, which I carried.
or
I
leaving Miss Dayton at the hotel in Ship Street. The next thing I remember was waking at 7 o'clock next morning in a Japanese hotel or brothel with a Japan se woman at my side. I searched my clothes to see if I had all my I found I had Miss Dayton's valuables.
I left the jewellery and my own still intact. place quietly and quickly so as to avoid being seen, wondering all the time how I had got there. I went to the street to get a ricsha" but not seeing one I went a little farther, In passing I saw the carpenter's shop where Miss Dayton and I had seen the camphorwood box. Thinking Miss Dayton would be angry because I had stopped out at night, and knowing she wanted a camphorwood box I bought ons more as a peace offering for stopping out. I then returned to the Hongkong Hotel and told the boy to have the box taken to my room. I want up by the lift to my room. Upon arriv
room I opened the door gently so as not to awaken Miss Dayton. The door
also gave her an order on Mr O'Brien the lawyer, for the balance of the insurance money, about 595 pesos. Next morning, July 30, at 6.30 we left, Miss Dayton expressing the wish to go out on board the steamer and get out of town. Upon arrival at the steam launch land- ing Miss Dayton was met by a Chinaman who said to her "Hello, Miss Gertie you go WBY. She replied "yes" and said "goodbye. ' I asked who he was and she replied that he wa one of the servants a' No 92 Calla Alejandro. We got on board the steamer, Miss Dayton going down to the cabin with me. Miss Day. ton took all ber jewellery, money orders and other papers of value. She handed them to me wrapped up in a handkerchief. She put all her silver and other articles of value which She were in her dressing case in my box. told me that if the police came I was to take them ashore to Miss Marshall. Miss Iayton had made the remark that she wanted to get away because she was afraid she would be arrested by the police for taking the insurance money. The box with the silverware and other articles of valne was not in the cabin but was placed outside on the stairway lead ing from the saloon, Miss Dayton saying that if the police came they could not get my bag. We remained on deck night
police. and day watching for the
On July 31st one of the passengers was passing around pieces of candy. I took a piece down to Miss Dayton and she expressed à desira for sweets. I want ashore on the half past 11 launch, bought some sweets and daily papers, And returned with the half past twelve lunch, Miss Dayton having remained below all the time, We left Manila on July 31st, having been ou board the steamer two days and two nights. We arrived in Hongkong on August 3rd. Uponing at our our arrival we decided to stop at the Hongkong Hotel. On arrival at the landing stage Miss Dayton told me she saw a Chinaman whom she kaew by sight. We went to the Fotel and were assigned Room 184. This was before went down and tiffin, about 11 o'clock. We had tiffin, afterwards going ou for a ricaha ride, going to the race track and back.
There I saw went along the water front. Ship Street which I had seen before. A short distance from there we saw a carpen. ter's shop in which were some camphorwood boxes, and Miss
a Dayton expressed desire to purchase one in which to put curios, Upon arrival at the Hotel we laid down upon the bed for a rest, and on getting up we played cards and had several drinks of brandy, of which I had two bottles in the room. as well as two bottles of whisky. By dinner time I saw we bad had too much drink. Previous to that I bad unpacked my trunk, Dayton and I sent our soiled linn to the wasb, Miss Dayton making out the list. 1 unpacked my trunk and put my clothes on the verandah as they were damp, and I wiped out the trunk with oue of shirts. The trunk wis wet with mildew and I placed it emptying it. The balance of my clothes I placed in a bureau drawer. Wa went down to dinner and had a bottle of claret wine with our \dinner. After dinner we went to the drawing- room, where Mig Dayton met a man and woman whom she knew and whom she introduced to me as Mr. and Mrs. Feist, Mr. and Mrs. Feist left shortly afterwards. Miss Dayton retired for a few minutes. Returning, she told me Mrs. Feist wanted to
go
the street up She said "Let's go to the King Edward Hotel where Mr. and Mrs. Feist are stopping and all go up the street together." This we proceeded to do,
on
the
my
room,
was not locked, because when we went down to dinner the night before I left the door open so that the boy could straighten up the Upon entering the room I saw Wiss Dayton's
the bed. I was body ou
almost knock-d speechless. A thousand thoughts seemed to be Warunning through my brain at once. I tried to remember whether I had returned to the Hongkong Hotel before going down to the
brothel bul could not Ship Street
Miss
rerandah after
was
We
This concluded the statement of Adsetts, and the Court rose until ten o'clock this morning.
Wednesday, October 23rd.
The trial of William Hall Alsetts for the marder of Gertrude Dayton on August 4th ia this Calony was concluded. The spectators in Court were more numerous than on previous days, and by ten o'clock there was no sitting accommodation available, and very little standing room.
As before the Attorney-General, Hon. Mr. W. Rees Davies. instruoted by Mr G. E. Morrell, from the Crown Solicitor's office, pro- secuted, and Sir Henry Berkeley, K.C, in- structed by Mr. R. Harding, appeared for the accusel.
The special jurors were :-E. A. Ram (fore- man), C. W. May. D. W. Craddock, J. Barton. A. Turner, J. P. White and G. L. Tomlin. Adselts again entered the witness stand, and was cross-examined
by the Attorney. General:-
What are they? -Seeing the boy at six o'clock in the hotel, and some minor details I don't admit.
I put it to you in short that you admit you came here by the Eastern as all wed; you admit that you went to the Hongkong Hotel, and were seen there by the various witnesses who gave evidence -I admit being seen by some of those witnesses.
And that you were as a fact staying at the hotel with the deceased under the names of Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Jɔnes?—I do, sir.
You admit you went to the house with her known as No. 12, and to the house occupied b. Miss Leavitt? I admit going to the house kept by Miss Hempstead, but do not recollect the other place.
Bis Lordship-I think you stated that you went somewhere else?
I understand you admit all the evidence repat forward by the prosecution, except in so far member anything. I realised the awkward as the murder took place and the fact that you
were position which I
in; that
did not, as alleged, put the box over the sam- As man and wife Goder an 89- there
рад ? -Sone parts I don't admit. sumed
name, Miss Darton a known pro- stitute wanted in Manila for taking the insur- ance money, and we had been up the street the night before, drinking very heavily. I formed a biased op ́nion against the Hongkong police authorities and was afraid, and knowing that the boy would cam up with a camphor- wood trunk shortly, I put the body in my trunk which was empty on the verandah, and quickly grasping two bath towels, covered the boly over and closed the lid. The boy came with the cam- old night-phorwood box shortly afterwards. I thought about notifying the police, but my position would be all against me. I was
here al alone in Hongkong, and could not think who could have done it, or if she had done it herself, so I decided to get rid of the boy. After I had sat in the room debating for sometime with myself which was the best course to pursue, I took the trauk to Butterfield and Swire's, seeing in the paper that Butterfield and Swire were the agents for the first available slaamer. I returned to the hotel and became frighten-d; I went back to Butterfield and Swire's and asked the gentleman -one of the witnesses-if I could ship the trunk to Sydney. He told me I would have to come back on Monday. I went back to the hotel again, and in passing I noticed the "Monteagle" was in the bay, and as she was about due to sail I got the trauk from Butterfield and Swire and took it out to the "Monteagle.” [ emphatically deny trying to sink the trunk in the bay. Then I returned ashore; went to the hotel my room picked up my grip (bag) without I putting anything in it, and left the hotel
about five minutes. after being there weat and slept at place the Y. M.C.A. Mission, I think. It is a place on the water front near the Naval Canteen (3ilors and Soldiers Home?). I did not care about sleeping in the hotel that night, as I was afraid, because those who did the deed might have wreaked The next day, their vengeance on me also.
on a spree.
His Honour-All four of you? Defendant-No, Miss Dayton and I. Upon arriving at the corner of the Hongkong Hotel, going on to King Edward Hotel, we were met by a man coming from the direction of the King Edward Hotelwho stopped and said "Good evening. Gertie." Miss Dayton caught hold of my arm and sail · Don't go far." moved off a few pices and heard the man talking In a few to Miss Dayton in an excited tone. minutes she rejoined me and said “That was a man I had done for some money". Upon arriving at the King Edward Hotel and inquiring for Mr. and Mrs. Feist we were told they w re
We took chairs and went to see out. woman whom Miss Dayton called Miss
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Prisoner-I went to some other houses. The Attorney-General. I will come to that later. Then you admit the details about taking the trunk to Messrs. Butterfield anl Swire's, leaving it there, returning and exch 、nging the name of the plae to which you wished to sand i:?—Yes sir.
You admit all that, and that you yoursel? subsequently took it in a sampan to the Monteagle ?—I do, sir.
sir.
You admit the purchase of the box?—Yes,
You admit the pawning of the diamonds on the
that day after, auď
you left the Colony as alleged by the Tora · Maru?→ Yes, sir
Now you admit all these stat ments, notwith- standing that your learned counsel has oroSS- examined the various witn-wees at length to show that it was a case of mistaken identity, and that you were not the man who went to these places? | —I sdmit that.
What was your business before you were arrested ?—I was returning home to the United States as a civilian,
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