A COLD-BLOODED CRIME.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 78, 28 March 1912, Page 8

A COLD-BLOODED CRIME.

On November 17th a Chinaman named Charles Ching was horrified on returning to his home at Alligator Creek, Queensland, after a visit to a neighbouring town on business, to find the bodies of--his wife and three children, who had been cruelly murdered. Two other children were missing, and their bodies were subsequent-ly,-found in a back paddock. Subsequently G.oorge Silva, a Cingalese was arrested and charged with the crime. Detective-Sergeant Head said that when arrested, defendant said, “I did not murder Mrs Agnes Ching, Winnie Ching, Eddie Ching, and Oily Ching.” To the charges of murdering Maud and Hnghie Clung he made no reply. Constable Brett detailed a long conversation with the prisoner, who was employed on a farm, concerning I,is doings on the day of the crime. Witness said to prisoner: “Your’re only fooling. You know who murdered the Ching family.” The i prisoner replied, “God knows theye were too good to me, 1 never murdered them.” "When the bodies of the two missing children were found in a back paddock, the prisoner broke down and cried. Detective-Sergeant Head said the prisoner stated that he and Dooley Khan, a neighbouring Hindu farmer, and bis mate, a white man, Sam Butler, conspired to murder the Ching family on returning from a hotel a few, Sundays before. Prisoner further stated“ Dooley Khan shot the mother and . killed the baby beside her I shot Maudie and Hugliio in a hack room., When Eddie and Dollio returned from school I told them that their mother and the children were waiting for them in a back paddock, playing on the tram line. We went together. Dooley Khan was waiting with a pea rifle and shot them. He wanted to marry May Ching and got the farm, and 1 wanted Maudie, hut the mother objected.” The prisoner admitted be used a revolver to shoot Maudie and Hnghje, and after searching in the cane paddock found the weapon in the trash. Detective-Sergeant Head said he confronted the Hindu, Dooley Khan, and his mate, Sam Butler, who had been accused by the defendant of having been accessories. Butler replied, “There j s no truth, in it. I never heard anyone say he would murder the Ching family.” The Hindu said, “It’s not true. I did not murder them. 1 was not with him. I was at Frank Kiosk’s, a neighbouring farmer, when the children were coming from school.” Accused called out at this juncture, “I have told what I have done. If yon know whore the rifle is, why don’t yon give it up?” Dooley Khan replied, “J don’t know where the rifle is.” The witness also said, “Wore the clothes yon burnt bloodstained?” Accused said, “Yes, a little.” Witness asked, “That is why von burnt them?” The prisoner said, “Yes,” and added, “I was frightened the police would suspect me of the murder.” i