LAWLESS CHINESE IN SAMOA

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 277, 17 August 1921, Page 6

LAWLESS CHINESE IN SAMOA

MURDEROUS ASSAULT ON INTERPRETER CHINESE CONSUL IN THE DOCK By to-day’s mail there arrived Samoan papers which give the concluding proceedings in the case against the Chinese Consul, Dr. Ahlo, arising out of the murderous assault on an interpreter named Wong by Chinese coolies. Wong was unpopular with the coolies and was suspected of giving information to the police. Chinamen who have since been sentenced to imprisonment for life assaulted Wong. They were evidently endeavouring to put him to death through lingering tortures. They had. with nee dies stuck in a cork, destroyed one of his eyes, and had cut the tendons in his ankles so that he could not get away. While they were thus engaged a native policeman came upon them and they made off. The Consul, under cross-examination, denied any knowledge of the intention of the coolies in regard to Wong. Mr. Klimkrnuller,- the Consul’s counsel, adressed the Court at length on the concluding day of the trial. In the course of his remarks he said Dr. Ahlo and Wong were political enemies to a certain extent, but there was not any blood feud between them, and he submitted that there was no evidence that the Consul had conspired with the labourers. His attitude afterwards showed that he detested the crime. The Crown Prosecutor, in a lengthy address, sought to show that the evidence proved that the Consul knew quite well what was intended, and actually had money for the payment of the criminals.

His Honour, Chief Judge Wilson, in the course of his address to the assessors, indicated that the evidence against the Consul was in the nature of hearsay evidence. The Consul knew that there was a very hostile feeling against Wong, yet he. took no steps for Wong’s protection. All the Consul said in that connection was that there was a Chinese policeman and that therefore he did not think it necessary to warn the police. In conclusion, the Judge told the assessors that however suspicious the circumstances might appear to be. if they did not carry with them a reasonable proof that the accused had been, concerned in the crime they should treat the circumstances only as suspicious and give the accused, the benefit of the doubt. His Honour and the assessors then retired and on their return His Honour said: "The Court considers that the evidence is not of such a nature as to warrant the conviction of the accused, and the Court is of opinion that, although the evidence of the witness Ho Ip may be accepted as being a truthful statement as to what has been said, ye,t. it is quite possible that the persons who made statements to that witness made use for their own purposes of the name of the Consul as an additional inducement to these men to commit a crime. At the same time the Court does consider that the Consul acted somewhat unwisely in not being more open as to what was going on and that ho has perhaps misconceived what might probably have been done by him in giving information to the authorities as to the feeling against this unfortunate man. but wo do not feel that tho case is carried any further than that, and the verdict is that the accused is not guilty.” Dr. Ahlo has since left Samoa for North Borneo.