534
In cross-examination witness said that the defendant had always given satisfaction," and that the Chinese said he was the best captain Defendant had nothing to do with the dismissal of the plaintiff, and had never said anything to witness about the engineer accepting bribes. While Loureiro was in the Company's service he also gave satisfaction, but witness told the directors that the plaintiff took too much on him- self, and did not consult him (witness) about matters.
Has he ever assaulted you ?--Yes, once wheu I went to consult him about details as to re- pairs he pushed me out of the room.
Was he “bobbery "P-He looked on me as if I was not the manager, almost.
Did you complain to the directors of his "We cannot behaviour ?-Yes, and they said, employ such a man. You'd better dismiss him.' The further hearing was adjourned until January 5th.
A SOLDIER'S DEATH,
An inquiry took place at the Magistracy on Friday afternoon respecting the death of Gunner Cook, R.G.A., who was found drowned Mr. E. in Hunghom Bay on November 21st. R. Hallifax conducted the inquiry, and the jury was composed of Messrs. H. Greig, F. J. - Hernholf, and J. M. G. Pereira.
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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND ALLEGED FORGERY OF A WILL.
At the Magistracy on Dec. 13th before Mr. Hallifax the hearing of the charge preferred against Wong Yuk Shi of forging a will was resumed, Mr. Bowley, Crown Solicitor, appeared to prosecute, and Mr. F. X. D'Almada appeared for the defence.
Mr. Bowley stated that in this case the de- fendant was charged with uttering and making The a false declaration with regard to a will. case arose out of the estate of Wong Pik Hoi, lived at Kowkong on gentleman who the West River, and who in the course of his life appeared to have accumulated a considerable amount of property. When he died in 1891 he left four sons and apparently made no will, No administration of the estate appeared to have been granted to anybody until 1908, when it was granted to Mrs Percy Smith, thirty years after the death of Wong Pik Hoi. An action was commenced in the Supreme Court by the third son, Wong Tsun Shi, now deceased, against the eldest son, Wong Yik Shi, who had taken possession of his father's estate and had administered it without lawful Under his care authority for thirty years.
prospered and became it seemed to have very valuable. The case brought by the third son against the eldest son was compromised in September this year, by all the members of the family agreeing as to how the estate should be divided. A few days before the compromise was approved by the Court the third son died at Kowkong, and the defendant, who, was the fourth son, and had acted as his deceased brother's attorney, received his brother's share.
Mr. d'Almada said his friend could not insist on using the word attorney. Immediately the man died the power of attorney given to his brother was revoked.
His Worship said he did not know the facts, and perhaps Mr. Bowley had better continue.
Mr. d'Almada said he did not wish to interrupt.
Gunner Allen, R.G.A.. said that deceased. and he spent the evening of the 20th November | together. They attended a concert at the R. E. Barracks and afterwards went to the Praya Outside East, which they left at 11.20 p.m. the Naval Canteen they were accosted by a soldier belonging to the Hongkong and Singa- pore Battalion, who said he could recommend them to a good "sing song place." Witness declined the suggestion, but Cook, who was neither drunk nor sober, but capable of looking after himself, remained with the Indian soldier
Mr. Bowley thought it would be more correct Witness never saw Cook alive again. He could identify the Indian soldier if he saw him, but heif he said that defendant acting as attorney for failed to identify him when forty men of the his brother accepted the compromise, the money The estate of not being paid until later. Battalion were paraded for identification.
His Worship-I hope you appreciate this Wong Tsun Shi was sworn at some $42,000, which was reduced by deductions for debts to question, gentlemen of the jury. It is this man who is wanted to bridge the gap between 11.20 $2,000 only. Wong Tsun Shi left a widow and p.m. on the 20th November and noon the three children, and when they received only $2,000 from the estate when they expected a following day.
lakh of dollars they caused inquiries to be made with the result that those' proceedings were instituted.
and called Evidence adjourned.
Witness added that deceased was of a cheerful disposition and a good swimmer. By a juryman-He had no worries ?-Nothing to make him feel depressed or wish to commit suicide?
Dr. Shaw, R.N., spoke to examining the body and finding that death was due to drowning. There were several bruises on both shins, but they were not related to the cause of his death,
His Worship-Deceased was a strong swim- mer. Was anything revealed in the post mortem which would indicate that he could not swim?
Witness--No.
His Worship-He was found in five feet of water. Two feet would be sufficient to drown him if he were drunk, but he would have to be very drunk?
Witness-Yes.
His Worship-The water would sober him. Witness-Yes.
P. S. Sutton spoke to finding the body and having it removed to the mortuary. He found the body lying in about five feet of water, face down, with arms and legs crossed.
By the Court-He must have fallen into the water where he was found. It was impossible for the currents to have carried the body from the Hongkong side to where it was found. The body was quite fresh and could only have been in the water four or five hours.
P. S. Edwards deposed to finding on the body a silver dollar, a mouth organ, and several other small articles.
His Worship thought that Gunner Allen should have a fuller opportunity of identifying the Indian soldier. Gunner Allen said he sawe the parade of men on pass that night, but there were opportunities for men being out without a pass.
The jury agreed that the coloured gunner should be found, and the inquiry was adjourned to give Gunner Allen an opportunity of going through the battalion until he found the man.
was
the
hearing
AN ALLEGED FEROCIOUS DOG,
A Chinese letter carrier-proceeded against Mrs. Chunyut, of“ Parkside," Nathan Road, Kowloon, on a charge of keeping a ferocious dog. The summons came on for hearing before Mr. J. R. Woodat the Magistracy on Dec.10th. and the pup which was said to be ferocious was exhibited in Court. The defendant was re- presented by Mr. Otto Kong Sing.
Complainant stated that when he went to defendant's house on the morning of the 6th instant the dog bit him on the leg.
In cross-examination witness said he had been taking letters to "Parkside" for some consider- able time, and had always been chased by dogs.
Did you ever hear this dog bark This dog does not bark; it just comes up and bites you.
Haven't you had some rows with the boy at the house because he did not open the door quickly when you rang the bell --No.
Did you tread on the dog's tail, or on his paw ? No, he simply ran up and bit me.
Constable McClennan gave evidence as to serving the summons and being shown the dog. The pup appeared to be quite affectionate, and it was very seldom that dogs of this breed were dangerous.
you
O
His Worship (to defendant)-Has this dog bitten before ?-I am afraid that in some future day it might come round and bite me again.
[December 20, 1909.
Complainant said he had plenty of business to attend to, and if the dog had not bitten him he ! would not have attended at the Court to take
The summons was dismissed.
out a summons.
A CUSTOMS PROSECUTION.
Before Mr. E. R. Hallifax at the Magistracy on Dec. 11th Mr. T. H. King, the acting Super- intendent of Imports and Exports, proceeded against a Chinese woman for selling liquor men for without a licence, and against two assaulting an excise officer.
Complainant informed the Court that some Chinese revenue officers, acting under instruc tions from Revenue Officers Wilden and Mac- One of the officers kenzie, boarded the Siberia and had a conversation with the female defendant. asked for a bottle of beer and the defendant sent a small boy down to the firemen's quarters to procure one. The European revenue officers saw the beer produced, and the money paid for it, and thereupon placed the woman in charge of a Chinese officer. While inquiring about the woman from the chief officer, a gang of coolies assaulted the excise officer and released his pris- oner, who was subsequently re-arrested. The two male defendants were the ringleaders.
After hearing the evidence his Worship fined each of the defendants $50, the alternative being two months' imprisonment with hard labour.
EXECUTION AT VICTORIA GAOL.
On the 15th inst, the Chinese named Muk Tin Fuk, who was sentenced to death for com- plicity in the murder of two Indian police in the New Territory in August last, was duly executed in Victoria Gaol, and the usual inquest was held at the Magistracy Messrs F. A. in the afternoon. r. E. R. Hallifax conducted the inquiry, and the jurors were: McIntosh, A A. Alves, and F, T. Chappell.
After the jury had viewed the body, evidence was called.
The first witness was Mr. R. H. Craig, assistant superintendent in charge of Victoria Gaol, who said he received the deceased into his custody on 20th November under sentence of death, which sentence was duly carried out in his presence at 5-5 a.m. that day. He produced the Government warrant for the execution.
Dr. Thomson said he was present, at the execution. Death was instantaneous. He ex- amined the body and found that death was due to dislocation of the neck.
The jury found that death was in accordance being with the law, the immediate dislocation of the neck.
cause
THE HONGKONG DOLLAR.
In connection with the seizure by the police of å large amount of counterfeit coin reported the point was raised that a certain silver piece described as the Hongkong dollar was not what it was described, but was in fact the Straits dollar. Support to this theory was found in the fact that the coin contained what looked like an inscription in Malay. As the matter was of some interest one of our representatives consulted the Colonial Treasurer on the subject, who explained that the correct description of the coin in ques. tion was the British dollar, which was in- 895 for use in the Straits troduced in Settlements and in Kongkong. Two or three years ago the Straits Settlements adopted the gold standard, with the result that so far as the Straits were concerned this dollar was no longer legal tender. The only place in which it remained legal tender was in Hongkong, and this has led to it being termed the Hongkong dollar, a loose expression which is perhaps per- missible in the circumstances. By Ordinance 7 of 1895 the British dollar was declared legal: tender concurrent with the Mexican dollar.
Of course, there was a Hongkong dollar, prop- erly so called, minted back in the 'seventies. But it is no longer in circulation, and when found is Constable McClennan informed his Worship usually retained as a curio. The Hongkong that he had seen many dog bites, but he had Mint, which was rather an expensive undertak- never seen one like the scratch.on the complain-ing, was sold to the Japanese in 1817, and is
now in Osaka. ant's leg.
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