AH DUCK'S FATE.

Patea Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 1005, 5 March 1883, Page 2

AH DUCK'S FATE.

The gentleman whose name heads this article (writes “ Silverpen " in the New Zealand Herald) is only a Mongol, but one whose record is not to be beaten as a miscreant of the blackest dye. He was a high-binder, which means an assassin, and belonged to a society of highbinders named the Suey Sing Tong Society. When he was 18, he murdered two men in China, and then escaped to this country, where be added nine more murders to the list. Still he was at large protected by his fellow highbinders, Again he took a human life, and this time, being convicted, he was sentenced to life imprisonment in San Quentin. While there he had a quarrel with another Mongol convict about some opium, and, having sworn vengeance against Ah Mow, which he did by purchasing a chicken, and while killing it, registering the usual Chinese vow done by decapitating the fowl by joss-house ceremony, and meanwhile praying that as the chicken died so might his enemy die within a moon. Shortly after, seeing

his enemy asleep in his cell, he went in and stabbed him again and again, the last thrust leaving the knife blade buried in his breast, and breaking it off at the handle. For this horrible murder Mr Duck was hanged on 8th of this month, the affair causing much excitement on account of the desperate character of the man. He tried to commit suicide previous to his death, but failed. He did not fear death, but disliked the hanging mode, as most people do, strange to say. The scaffold dress of Mr Duck was elaborate and rich—black beaver pantaloons, with spotless white underclothing, and over all a costly purple silk Chinese blouse, belted in with richly embroidered satin ribbon, a black silk skull cap, having a red button on the top to show his high caste, white silk stockings, and new Chinese slippers. His belief was that he was “ fated ” to do as he had done, and for his doings to die. But then he was sure of being released from prison as soon as the rope had done its fatal work, and then he would return in the flesh to visit his friends —the other highbinders—left behind him. After the visit to terra firma he would be placed in a heavenly prison, to be tried by a Chinese god, when he expected to be acquitted and sent back to earth. He requested the sheriff to write him a “ pass ’’ to the Celestial gaol, which, being done, he stowed it away in the pocket of his garments. Ah Duck took his sentence in a philosophical light. He viewed his coffin and hoped it would be a " good fit." There was one man against whom he bore deadly enmity. This was the *cer whose testimony convicted him. During the pinioning of his arms and legs he assisted as much as possible, and shook hands with hilarity with each and all of the officials, but his eyes nervously in search of some one. After saying “ Good-bye, all people,” he commenced a curse against his enemy, as he considered him. The drop fell in the midst, and, with the half curse on his lips he went over to the other side. So ended the life of one of the most hardened criminals ever taken amongst us. He was buried by the highbinders with honours.