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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
ALLEGED ADULTERATED BRANDY. not derived from the juice of the grape from facts mentioned by Mr. Brown in his certificate. The Magistrate, after hearing further evidence, reserved his decision.
The hearing of the summonses against Mrs Meyer, of the Colonial Hotel, Taj Sing, com- || pradore, Queen's Road Central, and Chuen Chung, compradore, Arsenal Street, for selling brandy not of the nature demanded, was con- tinued at the Magistracy on Aug. 30 before Mr. F. A. Hazeland, The defendants were also summoned for selling adulterated brandy.
Mr. F. B. L. Bowley, Crown Solicitor, pro- secuted in all the cases; Mr. Jolin Hastings ́defended Tai Sing and Chuen Chung; and Mr. P. 8. Dixon from Mr. R. A. Harding's office, represented Mrs, Meyer.
Mr. Frank Brown, Government Analyst, was recalled and re-examined by Mr. Bowley. He said he did not agree with the statement that if brandy contained a small quantity of alkaline the standard of ethers would be reduced. Witness produced particulars of several experiments he had made of brandy of good and fair quality. He was acquainted with the brandy prosecution which took place in London in 1905 after the publication of the paper referred to by Mr. Hastings,
Mr. Hastings objected to the evidence. His Worship- You object to me hearing this, but what about the book you produced at the last hearing?
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Mr. Hastings said he put in that book in cross-examination, which he was thoroughly.
entitled to do.
His Worship said the witness had a perfect right to treat the statement as an expert.
Mr. Bowley contended that his Worship was entitled to hear the quotation read, as in police court cases journals such as the one in question (the Analyst) were referred to frequently.
Witness said the standard of ethers in brandy had been fixed in England at eighty parts, and this had not been appealed against.
Mr. Hastings, after reading the Analyst, said he had no objection to his Worship having it read, as it rather supported his contention.
In cross-examination witness said he was of opinion that if he had used Kent water, which contained 20 grains of alkaloid per gallon, the result of his recent experiments would have been the same: that was because the natura acidity in the brandy would neutralise the alkalidity of the water.
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SOLICITOR OBJECTS TO MAGISTRATE'S WARRANT.
Before Mr. J. R. Wood at the Magistracy on Aug. 30 the case concluded in which the Chi- nese Government applied for the extradition of Sun A Wan to China on a charge of armed robbery.
1
Mr H. L. Dennys, Sen., from the office of the Crown Solicitor, made the application on behalf Otto the Chinese Government, while Mr Kong Sing appeared for the defendant.
Mr. Kong Sing, when the evidence concluded, asked his Worship to note a few points which he intended to raise on behalf of the prisoner. The first was that the provisional warrant issued by his Worship on July 14th was bad, inasmuch as the information was insufficient to justify the warrant. His next point was that the arrest on August 10th was illegal, inasmuch as the prisoner was in illegal custody from the 4th to the 10th August, and that the arrest took place in the jail while the defendant was in illegal custody. Although he had not seen the information, Mr. Kong Sing submitted that his Worship could not have been in possession of sufficient information on August 14th to justify him issuing the warrant he did. On the date mentioned the witnesses in the case had not arrived in the Colony, and Mr. Dennys did not know what the evidence was going to be. In support of his contention Mr. Kong Sing refer- red his Worship to the judgment in the Iu Kai Shing case, and more particularly to the part which dealt with the form of warrant issued by the magistrate in the case. With regard to the arrest he could not quote any authorities, but if the warrant was bad the arrest must be bad, and all the proceedings there after. He submitted that ou August 4th it was his Worship's expressed intention to discharge the prisoner on the first charge preferred The speaker appeared before against him. the Court on August 4th, and the requisition was not forthcoming. He submitted that his Worship, in remanding the case for another week, held the defendant in illegal custody, as the prisoner was entitled to his discharge on the date mentioned. If a man was discharged he moment. The defendant was never out of was entitled to his freedom, if only for a custody. He was rearrested in the jail, within the precincts of the Court, and that was illegal.
His Worship reserved his decision.
DEATH OF MR. I. E. ELLIS.
This closed the case for the prosecution. Mr. Hastings, in opening the defence, asked his Worship to take the case of Tai Sing first. That firm had been in the Colony for fifty years, and had never been troubled in any way by the police or anybody else for carrying on trade in adulterated liquors. They kept all kinds of brandy, from the best to the lowest priced brands. The inspector deliberately chose the cheapest kind of brandy, and the speaker suggested that he must have known that he was not getting the best kind at the cheapest price therefore, there could be no prejudice whatever The death took place on Aug. 31 at his at the time of the sale. The brandy bought by residence, Pedder's Hill, of Mr. I. E. Ellis, the officer was used as a cooking brandy, and perhaps the oldest member of the foreign was bought by his clients from a German firm community. Deceased, who was in his 80th with whom they had dealt for several years. It year, was held in the highest respect and had been admitted by the prosecution that the esteem by all who knew him. He came sample produced was not deleterious to health, to the Colony over fifty years ago, when and further it had been admitted by them the city was of much smaller proportions that the article had not been adulterated than at present, and joined the firm of by any undue proportion. The only complaint Messrs. E. D. Sassoon & Coy, in whose was that the spirit of the brandy was made from service he remained until declining years made substances other than the juice of the grape. him leave his desk on pension. He celebrated He submitted that alcohol could be derived
his diamond jubilee last year. His widow from many sources. The prosecution had no survives him and his sons, daughter and grand- right whatever to say that only substances children mourn his loss. He was a good friend derived from the grape were to be called brandy, to the poor. The funeral took place on With regard to the experiments made by MrWednesday morning. The coffin was carried Brown, he submitted that they were not made from the house to the hearse by his sons and in a proper manner, and, therefore, should not be grandsons, who performed a similar office at the taken notice of.
cemetery. There was a large attendance of mourners. The deceased leaves a widow, three daughters, three sons, twenty-three grand- children and ten great grandchildren. He was born at Bagdad in 1831 and learned what little the country could teach him. Subsequently he moved to Bombay, and after a period of service in the firm of Moses and Co. was transferred to their Shanghai branch, where he remained for five years. Health reasons determined his re- turn to Bombay, but three years later he came to Hongkong and joined the firm of Messrs. E. D. Sassoon & Co. The journey between the
Mr. S. Spurge, an analyst in the employ of Messrs. A. S. Watson and Co., was called to the witness stand. He testified to having had a considerable experience in testing brandy and other spirits. In his opinion it was not possible in the present state of knowledge for an analyst to say with certainty the source from which a spirit in any sample of brandy was derived, as the spirit might be derived from various sources. He had seen Mr. Brown's cerficates with regard to the present case, but he thought it was im possible to pass the opinion that the brandy was
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[September 4, 1909.
two ports at that time occupied seventy days. He saw the business grow to its present dimen- sions and his death removes a charming and interesting personality.
CORRESPONDENCE.
THE LACK OF EDUCATIONA L FACILITIES AT THE PEAK.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE "HONGKONG DAILY PRESS."]
SIR,-I quite endorse the opinion expressed in the letter from "The Children's Friend," which appeared in the Daily Press a few days ago, bringing as it does before the public the lack of educational facilities at the Peak; also those given in your leader on the same subject, a few days after.
sa matter of fact, I do not think there is much doubt in the minds of most of us, and especially of those parents with young children, that a school of some sort-a kindergarten for choice-is greatly needed by the residents at the Peak, and I for one thoroughly appreciate the efforts of a few in taking the initiative and wishing others to give their views with the ultimate object of inducing the Government to consider question of a suitable school.
Although there apparently have,
not
a great many supporters in the shape of letters to the papers-which I put down to British dislike of rushing into print and not to a lack of interest in the subject-yet I firmly believe that if the opinion of the Peak residents could be taken by some such method as a circular letter, for instance, there would be a large majority in favour of the proposed institution; and possibly some of our neigh- bours other than British might take advantage of the opportunity thus afforded by sending their children to it as well.
There are at present amongst us a few amilies that possess European governesses, and the fortunate children in these cases are no doubt well taught; but, at the same time, the tuition can probably scarcely be compared with that which would be given by a scientifically trained Kindergarten Mistress from Home.-
am, dear sir, yours faithfully,
2nd September, 1909.
COMMON SENSE."
KULANGSU (AMOY) MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.
Minutes of a meeting of the Council, held at the Board Room, on the 10th August.
Present:-Messrs. W. H. Wallace (Chair- man), W. Kruse, Lim Nee Kar, J. Mencarini, S. Okuyama, W. Wilson, the Health Officer and the Secretary.
THE SAMPAN QUESTION.
A further communication was read from the Haifangting concerning sampans. The Coun- cil saw no reason for altering their former decision in this matter, conveyed to the Hai- fangting in their letter of the 29th July last.
As the Haifangtung's object is merely to keep a record of respectable men plying for hire the Council decided to reply that they would be happy to supply him with a list of the Kulangsu licensed sampanmen, together with their regis- tered numbers, should he desire same, and, in case of necessity, assist him and his officials in the future, as they have done in the past, con- sistent with the provisions contained in the Land Regulations and Bye-Laws.
POLICE REPORT,
house
!The Captain Superintendent of Police report- ed that the following cases had been dealt with at the Mixed ourt since the last meeting:- Summonses: Breach of Slaughter Regulations, 2; throwing rubbish, &c., into the public drains, 4; allowing pigs and cattle to stray, 3; improper use of police whistle, 1; assault 9; burying a corpse without a permit, 1; kidnapping, 1; debt 7; quarrying without a licence, 1; permitting gambling, 1; encroaching on land,3; obtaining money under false preteneces, 1. Summary arrests: Offering for sale meat unfit for human food, 1; theft, 5; being in possession of counterfeit coin, 1; assault, 3; obtaining money under false pretences, 2; being abroad after 12 midnight without a light, 1; being in unlawful possession of firearms, 1.
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