AH DUCK'S FATE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1071, 15 February 1883, Page 1

AH DUCK'S FATE.

The genMem in 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 highbinder, which means an assassin, and belonged to a society of highbinders nani’ d the Simy Sing Tong Society. When ho was 18, he murdered t«c men in China, and then escaped to this country, where lie added nine more .nnirlers to the list. Slid he was at I irge, pr dectecl by his fellow highbinders. Again ho took a human bfe, ami t'ds time, being con\icted, lie was sentenced to life imprisonment in Sin Quentin. While there, he had a quarrel with another Mongol conv et about some opium, and having sworn vengeance against All Mow, which he Hid hy purchasing a chicken, and, while killing it, rigistering t lie usijAJ Chinese vow done by decapitating the fowl with josshouse ceremony, and meanwhile praying that as the chicken dud so might his emuny die within a moon, Shortl) afier, seeing his enemy asleep in his cell, he went in and slabbed him ag nil ami again, the last thrust leaving the blade buried in the breast, and breaking it off at the handle. For this horrible murder Mr Duck was hanged on the Bth of this month, the affiir causing much excitement on account of l he desperate chnrac'er of the man. He tried to commit suicide previous to his death, hut failed. He did not fear death, hut disliked the hanging mode, as most people do, strange to say. The scaffold dress of Ah Duck was elaborate and rich— bhek beaver pantaloons, with spo'less white underclothing, and > ver .'ll a costly purple si.k 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 ciste, 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 frpm his piison as soo; 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 (err Anna lie won hi he placed in a heaven > prison, to be tried by a Chinese god, win ■ he expected to he acquitted ami sent bad. to eanh. He requested the sheriff to wri'e liim a ‘ pass’ to the Celestial g.to' which lie stowed away in (he pockii. of his garments. Ah Duck took Ids sen tecce in a philosophical light. He viewc his Coffin, and hoped it would ho a ‘goo fit..’ There was one man against whom ho bore deadly enmity. This was the officer whose testimony convicted him 'During the pinioning of Ids arms and lev 1 he assisted as much as possible, and shoo' hands wi'h hilarity wi'h each .and all ■ the officials, but his eyes wandered net vousl y a way in search of some on After saying ‘ Good-bye, all people.’ h commenced a curse against Ids enemy, as lie considered. The drop fell in the rnidsi and, with the half curse on his lips, 1. went over to the other side. So endc ' the life of one of the most harden' I crindmds eicr taken amongst ns, H t was buried by the highbinders with great honors.