THE WOMEN OF CHINA.
The Chinese woman has many grievances (says a recent writer). Her subjection is ■so complete that she has no . individual existence. When a Chinaman has only daughters he says he has no children, and girls are of so little value that they are often not named, and merely called first-born, secpnd-borU, etc. At no time of her existence is she considered an independent human being. As a daughter she is the chattel of her father, who can dispose of her as he pleases, and without consulting her wishes, as a wife she becomes the possession of the man who will pay the highest price for her. She then no longer belongs to her former family, but to that of her husband, and if she becomes a widow, they can resell her to whom they please, or else the control of her passes to her sons. Widows of high social position, however, are allowed more freedom. She can never inherit property, 1 but she is entitled to a small dowry on her marriage ; it may be only a few clothes or a humble chest of drawers wherein to put them, but if the bridegroom does not supply the dowry her father is obliged to do so. As io is considered the duty of every Chinese to marry, from both social and religious points of view, the number of unmarried women in the Celestial Empire is inconsiderable, and practically all are brought "under the yoke. The code of Manus contains very different laws for meu and women. The law for a widower states that . "after Having accomplished- with consecrated fires the funeral ceremony of a wife who has died, let him contract a new marriage" but the widow is informed that "a virtuous woman who desires, to obtain the same abode of felicity as her husband must do nothing which may diplease him.- either during life, or after death. After losing her husband let her not pronounce the name "pf any other man.'.' '"' "Now, however, the Chinese women are awakening to the brutality and injustice jof this state of things, and they are demanding education and legal rights. Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12476, 1 March 1909, Page 4
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
SAM CHEW LAIN.
The death of Mr Sam Chew Lain, whioh oocurred at bis residence, Tuapeka Flat, on Sunday last after a short illness, will be heard of with regret throughout the whole distriot, and even, we might say, throughout the whole province, for he was a man who, catering for the public for the past 30 years, was most widely known and respected. Mr Chew Lain landed in Victoria from China when he was 15 years of age and after following mining there for some years came to New Zealand early in the sixties. After mining in Munros Gully for some time he left for tbe Switzers diggings and remained some years in that locality. He then returned to tbe Tuapeka distriot and in con-
junction with a fellow-countryman, named Wong On, built the Chinese Empire Hotel at Tuapeka Flat. The partnership was not* one of long duration, Wong On transferring his interest in the business to Mr Chew Lain shortly after the house was built, and " Sam " has conducted the hotel Einoe. As a businessman he quickly estab-
lished a reputation for thorough honesty and sorupulous exaotness in business matters, and
it is, therefore, not a matter of eurprise that he proved in every resppct a thoroughly successful businessman. To his oountrymen and Europeans alike he has proved in many oases a friend" indeed, and stories of largehearted generosity are legion. He leaves a widoff to mourn his loss but no family. The funeral, notwithstanding that it took plaoe in a heavj downpour of rain, was largely attended by the residents of Lawrence and distriot, and there Wiß also in the procession a- large number of bis countrymen. Funeral services at the grave were conduoted by the Rev. J. A. Will and by the Masonic body, of which order he was a member. Tuapeka Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 5046, 18 March 1903, Page 3
The death of Mr Sam Chew Lain, whioh oocurred at bis residence, Tuapeka Flat, on Sunday last after a short illness, will be heard of with regret throughout the whole distriot, and even, we might say, throughout the whole province, for he was a man who, catering for the public for the past 30 years, was most widely known and respected. Mr Chew Lain landed in Victoria from China when he was 15 years of age and after following mining there for some years came to New Zealand early in the sixties. After mining in Munros Gully for some time he left for tbe Switzers diggings and remained some years in that locality. He then returned to tbe Tuapeka distriot and in con-
junction with a fellow-countryman, named Wong On, built the Chinese Empire Hotel at Tuapeka Flat. The partnership was not* one of long duration, Wong On transferring his interest in the business to Mr Chew Lain shortly after the house was built, and " Sam " has conducted the hotel Einoe. As a businessman he quickly estab-
lished a reputation for thorough honesty and sorupulous exaotness in business matters, and
it is, therefore, not a matter of eurprise that he proved in every resppct a thoroughly successful businessman. To his oountrymen and Europeans alike he has proved in many oases a friend" indeed, and stories of largehearted generosity are legion. He leaves a widoff to mourn his loss but no family. The funeral, notwithstanding that it took plaoe in a heavj downpour of rain, was largely attended by the residents of Lawrence and distriot, and there Wiß also in the procession a- large number of bis countrymen. Funeral services at the grave were conduoted by the Rev. J. A. Will and by the Masonic body, of which order he was a member. Tuapeka Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 5046, 18 March 1903, Page 3
CHEATING THE HANGMAN.
Recently a brutal murder committed in the Chinese quarter of Fresno, California. The victim was a Chinese woman. The murderer, Ah Gee Yung, was caught redhanded, and covered with blood of the dead woman. The knife was still in his hand, and after he had made the first dash to escape, when the officers appeared, he resisted no more, and did not deny that he had committed the deed. His only excuse was that the woman had deserted him. The case was plain, the jury foundjhim guilty, and the penalty of death waßpronounced. The usual appeals to the Supreme Court were taken, but they availed nothing. Powerful Chinese companies had stood by Ah Gee Yung through all his troubles, and they showed no intention of deserting him as long as there was any hope, and, with them, ' so long as there was life there was hope. Twice he made his escape with keys conveyed to him, but waß captured. The night before bis execution, the condemned man lay on his bed, and seemed to fall asleep. About 11.30 that night the death watch observed a prolonged silence in the cell, and becoming suspicious unlocked the door and went in. Ah Gee Yung was apparently dead. The froth on his mouth showed that he had taken poison. Dennis, the guard, shook him, but the Chinaman gave no sign of life. The' guard called in the prison officials, and a messenger was sent for Dr. Lewis Leach, the prison physician. Dr. .Leach soon arrived, and, with the assistance of Sheriff Heneley, Janitor Smart, John Dennis, the death watch, and Charles Bond, the Chinaman was treated to revive him, for life was not extinct. It was pronounced to be a case of opium poisoning, and as a further proof of this a horn vial was found between the blankets of the bed. It would contain about an ounce of opium, but was empty when found The odour showed that it contained that drug. All the known antidotes for opium poisoning wero used. Three times the doctor pumped the Chinaman's stomach full of water and thea pumped it empty again. Coffee was given also. At three o'clock in morning life was not extinct, and the doctor left him, and thought it possible that the poison had been overcome and that his life would be saved for the gallows. But in an hour the Chinaman was pronounced dead. Soon after daylight that morning the body was put in a box and sent to the Coroner's office. ' The Chinese were early at the gaol with offers to bury the body as soon as it should be turned over to them. As the burial would be an expense to the country if done by the undertaker, and as the Chinese offered to do it for nothing, there was no objection, and they were told the body would be turned over to them as soon as a Coroner's jury had brought in a verdict of the cause of death. The inquest was held that morning. Dr. Leach said that death was due to opium poisoning. The jury viewed the body and signed a verdict that Ah Gee Yung came to his death from opium administered by himself. This done, the body was placed iv a rough box and turned over to the Chinese who were waiting at the door. The box was placed in a waggon, and the long procession of the Chinese funeral moved out of town to the Mongolian graveyard, two miles distant. No white man accompanied the funeral, for no one had any interest in the dead murderer. The graveyard was reaohed, a box was buried, the ceremonies and usual exercises were gone through with, food and papers were left at the grave, as is the custom, and that evening the delegation of tramps who had heard of the burial wandered out to the graveyard to eat the food left there, and that was the end of Ah Gee Yung, the murderer, it was thought. But it was not so. Fifty people saw Ah Gee Yung alive after the coroner's jury pronounced him dead. Finding that the last hope was gone, a Chinese druggist prepared a potion which would stupefy and, in a measure, Buspend liie. This was placed in the possession of Ah Gee Yung, to be used as a last resort. After his second failure to escape he drank the drug, and to still more simulate death he blotched his skin with a paint prepared for the purpose, so as to give his face and neck a dark purple, like that observed in a dead person, by the blood settling near the surface. As a still further deception an artificial froth was prepared for the mouth like that produced by poieon. All worked perfectly according to design. The rough and poorly- joined box in which the Chinaman was hauled to the grave admitted enough air to keep him from smothering. In the long funeral train there was concealed a second box, in general appearance like the first. It was hidden in the bottom of a waggon resembling the waggon in which Ah Gee Yung was carried. In the march to the grave the waggon with the empty box was driven to the front and the other was kept in the* background, well concealed beneath drapery. The empty box was buried, and the ceremonies were said about it as if it had contained the last remains of the murderer. The waggon containing the body of Ah Gee Yung was driven to a Chinese vegetable garden a few miles in the country and was then opened. In course of time the man who the physicians and the Coroner's jury had pronounced dead was revived, and was none the worse for his narcotic sleep, except that he was sick for a day or two, for the experienco had been a strain on his nervous system. He waa kept in concealment a few days and was then disguised and put on board the cars for the North. Evening Post, Volume XLVII, Issue 135, 9 June 1894, Page 1
Recently a brutal murder committed in the Chinese quarter of Fresno, California. The victim was a Chinese woman. The murderer, Ah Gee Yung, was caught redhanded, and covered with blood of the dead woman. The knife was still in his hand, and after he had made the first dash to escape, when the officers appeared, he resisted no more, and did not deny that he had committed the deed. His only excuse was that the woman had deserted him. The case was plain, the jury foundjhim guilty, and the penalty of death waßpronounced. The usual appeals to the Supreme Court were taken, but they availed nothing. Powerful Chinese companies had stood by Ah Gee Yung through all his troubles, and they showed no intention of deserting him as long as there was any hope, and, with them, ' so long as there was life there was hope. Twice he made his escape with keys conveyed to him, but waß captured. The night before bis execution, the condemned man lay on his bed, and seemed to fall asleep. About 11.30 that night the death watch observed a prolonged silence in the cell, and becoming suspicious unlocked the door and went in. Ah Gee Yung was apparently dead. The froth on his mouth showed that he had taken poison. Dennis, the guard, shook him, but the Chinaman gave no sign of life. The' guard called in the prison officials, and a messenger was sent for Dr. Lewis Leach, the prison physician. Dr. .Leach soon arrived, and, with the assistance of Sheriff Heneley, Janitor Smart, John Dennis, the death watch, and Charles Bond, the Chinaman was treated to revive him, for life was not extinct. It was pronounced to be a case of opium poisoning, and as a further proof of this a horn vial was found between the blankets of the bed. It would contain about an ounce of opium, but was empty when found The odour showed that it contained that drug. All the known antidotes for opium poisoning wero used. Three times the doctor pumped the Chinaman's stomach full of water and thea pumped it empty again. Coffee was given also. At three o'clock in morning life was not extinct, and the doctor left him, and thought it possible that the poison had been overcome and that his life would be saved for the gallows. But in an hour the Chinaman was pronounced dead. Soon after daylight that morning the body was put in a box and sent to the Coroner's office. ' The Chinese were early at the gaol with offers to bury the body as soon as it should be turned over to them. As the burial would be an expense to the country if done by the undertaker, and as the Chinese offered to do it for nothing, there was no objection, and they were told the body would be turned over to them as soon as a Coroner's jury had brought in a verdict of the cause of death. The inquest was held that morning. Dr. Leach said that death was due to opium poisoning. The jury viewed the body and signed a verdict that Ah Gee Yung came to his death from opium administered by himself. This done, the body was placed iv a rough box and turned over to the Chinese who were waiting at the door. The box was placed in a waggon, and the long procession of the Chinese funeral moved out of town to the Mongolian graveyard, two miles distant. No white man accompanied the funeral, for no one had any interest in the dead murderer. The graveyard was reaohed, a box was buried, the ceremonies and usual exercises were gone through with, food and papers were left at the grave, as is the custom, and that evening the delegation of tramps who had heard of the burial wandered out to the graveyard to eat the food left there, and that was the end of Ah Gee Yung, the murderer, it was thought. But it was not so. Fifty people saw Ah Gee Yung alive after the coroner's jury pronounced him dead. Finding that the last hope was gone, a Chinese druggist prepared a potion which would stupefy and, in a measure, Buspend liie. This was placed in the possession of Ah Gee Yung, to be used as a last resort. After his second failure to escape he drank the drug, and to still more simulate death he blotched his skin with a paint prepared for the purpose, so as to give his face and neck a dark purple, like that observed in a dead person, by the blood settling near the surface. As a still further deception an artificial froth was prepared for the mouth like that produced by poieon. All worked perfectly according to design. The rough and poorly- joined box in which the Chinaman was hauled to the grave admitted enough air to keep him from smothering. In the long funeral train there was concealed a second box, in general appearance like the first. It was hidden in the bottom of a waggon resembling the waggon in which Ah Gee Yung was carried. In the march to the grave the waggon with the empty box was driven to the front and the other was kept in the* background, well concealed beneath drapery. The empty box was buried, and the ceremonies were said about it as if it had contained the last remains of the murderer. The waggon containing the body of Ah Gee Yung was driven to a Chinese vegetable garden a few miles in the country and was then opened. In course of time the man who the physicians and the Coroner's jury had pronounced dead was revived, and was none the worse for his narcotic sleep, except that he was sick for a day or two, for the experienco had been a strain on his nervous system. He waa kept in concealment a few days and was then disguised and put on board the cars for the North. Evening Post, Volume XLVII, Issue 135, 9 June 1894, Page 1
FUNERAL OF LATE REV. W. MAWSON
The funeral of the late Rev. W. Mawson Foreign Missions Secretary of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, and a former missionary of the Church in China, took place this afternoon. There was a large attendance at the funeral service at St. John's Church, Willis Street. The service was conducted by the Rev. F. H. Wilkinson, Moderator of the Presbytery, assisted by the Rev. F. B. Barton, convener of the Foreign Missions Committee; Mr. Yun Shun, Chinese missionary (Auckland); the Revs. D. D. Scott, J. A. Thompson, and Dr. J. Gibb, , The chief mourners were Mrs. Mawson (widow), Miss M. Mawson (daugn-, ter), Messrs. G. Mawson, B. Mawson, D. Mawson, and J. Mawson; and amongst those present were Messrs. D Gordon, G. Gordon, E. Gordon, and Dr W P. Gordon (relatives), Messrs. Yue H. Jackson (Chinese Consulate!, A. D. Thomson (representing the Presbyterian Church Property Trustees, V. G. Chapman (general treasurer Presbyterian Church), H. W. Henley. F. E. Chappel .-(Presbyterian Young Men's Bible Class Union) C. S. Fal- Church), Mesdames Lopdell (Dominion president), R. Inghs- (Wellington president), and other representatives of the Presbyterian Women s Missionary Union. The service at the graveside was conducted by the Rev. J. M. McKenzie j (Canton Villages Mission), assisted by the Revs. G. Budd and F. B. Barton. Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 138, 13 June 1935, Page 10
The funeral of the late Rev. W. Mawson Foreign Missions Secretary of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, and a former missionary of the Church in China, took place this afternoon. There was a large attendance at the funeral service at St. John's Church, Willis Street. The service was conducted by the Rev. F. H. Wilkinson, Moderator of the Presbytery, assisted by the Rev. F. B. Barton, convener of the Foreign Missions Committee; Mr. Yun Shun, Chinese missionary (Auckland); the Revs. D. D. Scott, J. A. Thompson, and Dr. J. Gibb, , The chief mourners were Mrs. Mawson (widow), Miss M. Mawson (daugn-, ter), Messrs. G. Mawson, B. Mawson, D. Mawson, and J. Mawson; and amongst those present were Messrs. D Gordon, G. Gordon, E. Gordon, and Dr W P. Gordon (relatives), Messrs. Yue H. Jackson (Chinese Consulate!, A. D. Thomson (representing the Presbyterian Church Property Trustees, V. G. Chapman (general treasurer Presbyterian Church), H. W. Henley. F. E. Chappel .-(Presbyterian Young Men's Bible Class Union) C. S. Fal- Church), Mesdames Lopdell (Dominion president), R. Inghs- (Wellington president), and other representatives of the Presbyterian Women s Missionary Union. The service at the graveside was conducted by the Rev. J. M. McKenzie j (Canton Villages Mission), assisted by the Revs. G. Budd and F. B. Barton. Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 138, 13 June 1935, Page 10
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Friday, August 5, 2011
FATAL FIRE. TWO CHINAMEN BURNED TO DEATH SERGEANT CLARKE INJURED,
At twenty minutes past three on May rth, a fire broke out in Greystreet in a bnilding owned by Mr Neumegen, pawnbroker, and occupied by Sam Kee, a Chinese laundryman, and four assistants. Sam Kee states that in company with the other inmates of the house he retired to bed at, 1130 o'clock last night, leaving no fires burning. Some time after he heard a sound of something falling, and jumping up, discovered that the place was on fire, and that the room was full of smoke. He shouted out at the top of his voice to awaken the others, but could not say whether they heard him or not. He put up the window and jumped from it to the roadway, a distance of about 20ft. He was too excited to see if the others escaped. The brigade were early on the scene, but were unable to save the laundry or the adjoining portion of the buildings which was occupied by Mr Hadfield,- cabinet maker, and which, with most of its contents, was destroyed.
Constable Lanigaß was on the spot soon after the outbreak, and there was a strong body of police in attendance.After the fire had been got under about five o'clock, the police entered the building and discovered the bodies of two Chinamen named Willie Wah, 60, years o£ age, and Sing Hung, about 30 years of age,one in the front room and one in the back. To get the bodies out it was necessary to take them out of the front window and over the verandah. The first was got out without any trouble, and was lowered down by a rope. While the second was being taken over the verandah, on which Sergeant Clarke and Constables A. McDonald,were standing, it suddenly collapsed, and all fell to the ground. Sergeant Clarke, who fell underneath, struck the ground with his hip. The body fell on the Sergeant, and Constable Douthett fell head first on the body, wkile Constable Thompson, and half-a-dozen sheets of iron landed together on the heap below. When the men were picked up, it was found that Sergeant Clarke had been badly injured on the right leg, which he was unable to move. His head was also cut by a sheet of falling iron.He, was removed to the adjoining shop, where he was attended to by Dr. Lindsay, and was afterwards removed to his residence by Sergeant Walker and Constable Oliphant
During the progress of the fire, Miss Ada Hadfield was injured through jumping of thereof of the verandah. Her feet were slightly burned, and she also sustained a strain hurting her hack, though not seriously. Miss Hadfield was removed to the Hospital. There was no insurance on the furniture of either of the occupants of the building.
The .'building, the walls of which are left standing, was insured in the Nationallnsuranee Office for £500, and this sum was about the value of the structure. The origin of the fire remains a mystery. When the Ghinamen retired all lights were out and everything was safe. Mr Hadfield, who lost almost all his stock and furniture, is a considerable loser by the fire. Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 111, 12 May 1898, Page 5
At twenty minutes past three on May rth, a fire broke out in Greystreet in a bnilding owned by Mr Neumegen, pawnbroker, and occupied by Sam Kee, a Chinese laundryman, and four assistants. Sam Kee states that in company with the other inmates of the house he retired to bed at, 1130 o'clock last night, leaving no fires burning. Some time after he heard a sound of something falling, and jumping up, discovered that the place was on fire, and that the room was full of smoke. He shouted out at the top of his voice to awaken the others, but could not say whether they heard him or not. He put up the window and jumped from it to the roadway, a distance of about 20ft. He was too excited to see if the others escaped. The brigade were early on the scene, but were unable to save the laundry or the adjoining portion of the buildings which was occupied by Mr Hadfield,- cabinet maker, and which, with most of its contents, was destroyed.
Constable Lanigaß was on the spot soon after the outbreak, and there was a strong body of police in attendance.After the fire had been got under about five o'clock, the police entered the building and discovered the bodies of two Chinamen named Willie Wah, 60, years o£ age, and Sing Hung, about 30 years of age,one in the front room and one in the back. To get the bodies out it was necessary to take them out of the front window and over the verandah. The first was got out without any trouble, and was lowered down by a rope. While the second was being taken over the verandah, on which Sergeant Clarke and Constables A. McDonald,were standing, it suddenly collapsed, and all fell to the ground. Sergeant Clarke, who fell underneath, struck the ground with his hip. The body fell on the Sergeant, and Constable Douthett fell head first on the body, wkile Constable Thompson, and half-a-dozen sheets of iron landed together on the heap below. When the men were picked up, it was found that Sergeant Clarke had been badly injured on the right leg, which he was unable to move. His head was also cut by a sheet of falling iron.He, was removed to the adjoining shop, where he was attended to by Dr. Lindsay, and was afterwards removed to his residence by Sergeant Walker and Constable Oliphant
During the progress of the fire, Miss Ada Hadfield was injured through jumping of thereof of the verandah. Her feet were slightly burned, and she also sustained a strain hurting her hack, though not seriously. Miss Hadfield was removed to the Hospital. There was no insurance on the furniture of either of the occupants of the building.
The .'building, the walls of which are left standing, was insured in the Nationallnsuranee Office for £500, and this sum was about the value of the structure. The origin of the fire remains a mystery. When the Ghinamen retired all lights were out and everything was safe. Mr Hadfield, who lost almost all his stock and furniture, is a considerable loser by the fire. Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 111, 12 May 1898, Page 5
THE FIRE IN GREY-ST INQUEST ON THE CHINESE VICTIMS
An inquest was held this morning at Gleeson's Hotel to inquire into the circumustances surrounding the death of William Wah (cook) and Sing Hung (market gardener) who were accidentally burned al the laundry of Sam Kee in Grey-strect, early on Friday morning. Dr. Philson (Coroner) look the evidence and Mr T. Quoi aeled as interpreter. Constable Oliphant represented the police and Mr Ah Kew was present on behalf of his fellow countrymen. Mr James Collett was chosen foreman of Ihe jury.
Sam Kee, who was sworn in the Chinese fashion, deposed, through Mr Quoi, that he was a laundryman and livid at the laundry destroyed by fire. He identified the bodies as those of William Wall and Sing Hung, and said ihc, were natives of China. They lived in the laundry with witness and he last saw them alive at the laundry at II p.m. on Thursday. At this time witness said both men were sober and ihey had not been smoking opium. Wall was 60 years of age and Hung 41. Deceased had no supper before going to bed. The house was 2 storeys and was lighted by gas only in the lower storey. Deceased slept, in seperate rooms upstairs, but another man named Gee Tai slept in Wall's room. Witness slept in Hung's room. When they went in bed each had one sperm candle. Witness put out Wah's candle, but he was not sure if Hang's wick was extingmished. The candles stood on the table, and witness was soon asleep, He was awakened two or three hours afterwards by hearing a crackling noise below the stairs, and on getting up saw flame on the stairs: He gave the alarm and roused Hung up. He also called out to Wah, who got up. Witness did not go into the room, he then jumped out by a back window into the yard, some 20 feet below. He saw Gee Tai come out of a front window on lo the verandah but he saw no other persons. AI this time the Fire Brigade had not arrived. He saw the Fire Brigade afterwards endeavouring to put the fire out. Witness said the washing place was at the rear, where the boiler was located. It was in use on the day previous to the fire, Gee Tai put it out at 1 p.m. on Thursday. There was a charcoal stove at the back of the ironing room, he saw the fire there on Thursday put out. Witness believed the fire originated in the lower storey, but he could not say in which room. The Foreman: This appears to be another case like the fire at the D.S.C. The lire Brigade were not quick enough. : Constable Oliphanl: I have a constable here to say that the Fire Brigade were present five minutes after the alarm was given. The fire was burning some time before the alarm was given. Gee Tai, laundryman, who slept, on the premises, said the (fre broke out in the lower storey. He did not know how the fire began. To a Juryman: The windows of the house lifted, but there were no sash cords. Constable R. Lanigian in his evidence said he was at the fire at 3.25a.m. on Friday with Constable McDonald. At this time the fire had a good hold. It was mostly in Ihe back" of the building.Only the inmates of the adjoining shop were then about. It was impossible to enter the building, but witness went into a right-of-way on the left of the laundry. Witness thought the fire originated in the second drying room on the ground floor, 'there were three rooms on the ground floor. The fire Brigade arrived at the fire about the same time, as witness. He thought, the Brigade were late in getting the alarm,but they succeeded in saving the adjoining building. The fire traveiled very quickly. After the fire was extinguished witness found the remains of Wah face, downwards in the front room upstairs facing the street. Wah was evidently more suffocated than burned. Sing Hung's body witness found in an adjoining room. The body was completely charred.
The Coroner said no evidence had been put before the jury to show how the fire originated. Itwould be best to return run open verdict.
The jury then returned a verdict 'That the deceased came to their death through burning, but their was no evidence to show how the. fire originated.' Mr Quoi then made a statement to the jury that gunpowder had been wrapped up and lighted and thrown info the shop by larrikins. The Chinese had been frequently annoyed in this way.
The funeral of the two Chinese leaves Mr Little's premises to-morrow afternoon. Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 107, 7 May 1898, Page 2
An inquest was held this morning at Gleeson's Hotel to inquire into the circumustances surrounding the death of William Wah (cook) and Sing Hung (market gardener) who were accidentally burned al the laundry of Sam Kee in Grey-strect, early on Friday morning. Dr. Philson (Coroner) look the evidence and Mr T. Quoi aeled as interpreter. Constable Oliphant represented the police and Mr Ah Kew was present on behalf of his fellow countrymen. Mr James Collett was chosen foreman of Ihe jury.
Sam Kee, who was sworn in the Chinese fashion, deposed, through Mr Quoi, that he was a laundryman and livid at the laundry destroyed by fire. He identified the bodies as those of William Wall and Sing Hung, and said ihc, were natives of China. They lived in the laundry with witness and he last saw them alive at the laundry at II p.m. on Thursday. At this time witness said both men were sober and ihey had not been smoking opium. Wall was 60 years of age and Hung 41. Deceased had no supper before going to bed. The house was 2 storeys and was lighted by gas only in the lower storey. Deceased slept, in seperate rooms upstairs, but another man named Gee Tai slept in Wall's room. Witness slept in Hung's room. When they went in bed each had one sperm candle. Witness put out Wah's candle, but he was not sure if Hang's wick was extingmished. The candles stood on the table, and witness was soon asleep, He was awakened two or three hours afterwards by hearing a crackling noise below the stairs, and on getting up saw flame on the stairs: He gave the alarm and roused Hung up. He also called out to Wah, who got up. Witness did not go into the room, he then jumped out by a back window into the yard, some 20 feet below. He saw Gee Tai come out of a front window on lo the verandah but he saw no other persons. AI this time the Fire Brigade had not arrived. He saw the Fire Brigade afterwards endeavouring to put the fire out. Witness said the washing place was at the rear, where the boiler was located. It was in use on the day previous to the fire, Gee Tai put it out at 1 p.m. on Thursday. There was a charcoal stove at the back of the ironing room, he saw the fire there on Thursday put out. Witness believed the fire originated in the lower storey, but he could not say in which room. The Foreman: This appears to be another case like the fire at the D.S.C. The lire Brigade were not quick enough. : Constable Oliphanl: I have a constable here to say that the Fire Brigade were present five minutes after the alarm was given. The fire was burning some time before the alarm was given. Gee Tai, laundryman, who slept, on the premises, said the (fre broke out in the lower storey. He did not know how the fire began. To a Juryman: The windows of the house lifted, but there were no sash cords. Constable R. Lanigian in his evidence said he was at the fire at 3.25a.m. on Friday with Constable McDonald. At this time the fire had a good hold. It was mostly in Ihe back" of the building.Only the inmates of the adjoining shop were then about. It was impossible to enter the building, but witness went into a right-of-way on the left of the laundry. Witness thought the fire originated in the second drying room on the ground floor, 'there were three rooms on the ground floor. The fire Brigade arrived at the fire about the same time, as witness. He thought, the Brigade were late in getting the alarm,but they succeeded in saving the adjoining building. The fire traveiled very quickly. After the fire was extinguished witness found the remains of Wah face, downwards in the front room upstairs facing the street. Wah was evidently more suffocated than burned. Sing Hung's body witness found in an adjoining room. The body was completely charred.
The Coroner said no evidence had been put before the jury to show how the fire originated. Itwould be best to return run open verdict.
The jury then returned a verdict 'That the deceased came to their death through burning, but their was no evidence to show how the. fire originated.' Mr Quoi then made a statement to the jury that gunpowder had been wrapped up and lighted and thrown info the shop by larrikins. The Chinese had been frequently annoyed in this way.
The funeral of the two Chinese leaves Mr Little's premises to-morrow afternoon. Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 107, 7 May 1898, Page 2
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