Prisoner is a Malay, and was brought up on remand charged with unlawfully escaping from the British gaol, on the 19th inst,, while under a sentence of two years' imprisonment, represented H.B.3f.'" Consul and Sherif, Mr. W. H. Tarr, the Registrar of Shipping, Prisoner pleaded guilty.
Phe following evidence was taken:—Aurrgp Barxes deposed—I am chief con-arable of the British gaol. On Sunday morn-
of the og lat, the 19th fant T marched the whole then twoly Tleft the constable in charge. This quarter to eleven o'clock. I told and constable that I was g I minutes past ig down the gaol compound I met the native constable who told me that the prisoner had. escap asked him if ho was sure that promises, He replied that he was, as ho lad been all round the gaol, I went ion at the Central Police the Hongkew Station, I got a fo there to show me where Deighton, prefer, lived.
ybton was out at the time. I left a chit T wanted to him. I next reported the matter to the if, and then returned to the gaol. Wi was away prisoner's trousers were fou in the N.E. compound. His cap_was afterwards found near the same place. 'The exercise yard is at the North-end of the premises, a long way from the entran ty Mir. TaPP—Tho warrant now produced, dated 29th March, 1878, d its me to confine the prisoner' in gaol for two years for unlawfully wounding with intent, " He was also to be deported at the expiration of his sentence. I was present when he was sentenced, and have not the least doubt that he quarter n o'clock on Sunday morn-the came man. Isaw him last in gaol at
ing last. He was not in the gaol on Sunday afternoon.
Tuomas DetenTox deposed—I keep a Malay boarding house. I was the interpreter when the prisoner was tried for unlawfully wounding with intent. His proper name is Ahmed, but he is known as Batchow. He wat found guilty and sentenced to two years' imprisonment, to be deported at the expiration of his sentence, and to sacrifi Int hits wages. He was sentenced about two week: after his trial, I was present. 1 last caw him on Monday night, on a German barque in the first section of the river. I had gone on board with a warrant to search the ship. The warrant is now produced. It is stamped by the German Consul, The mate of the barque told me that the prisoner was not on but would probably be there in the evening. 1 went away and returned about seven o'clock, when I found the prisoner on board. I apprehended him and took him to the Hongkew Police Station, Kwo Soxa-Mrxe deposed—I am watchman at the British goal. On Sunday morning last at about 11 o'clock, I was watching the pri" soners. I heard prisoner ask the second constable if he could have a bath. The constable said "yes, and after you have finished your bath, you had better wash my og." 'The' second constable and prisoner then went out of the yard into the gaol, I remained in the yard watching the other prisoners. I saw nothing more of Batchow after that, About a quarter to twelve o'clock heard that he had escaped, The second constable told me. Search was made for Batchow, but he could not be found, His jacket and shirt were found in his cell, I now the prisoner, and recognise him as the man who escaped from gaol on Sunday last, Mr, Tare said he had received instructions from H.B.M.'e Consul to prove the conv' tion, escape and arrest of the prisoner, and having now proved those three facts, ho asked the Court to commit the prisoner for trial, without the examination of any more witnesses, His Wonsure aid that his instructions from the Judge were to take all the evidence, Ne Aw-poodeposed—I am door-keeper and gaoler at the British gaol. "About tifin time on Sunday last the second constable and the native watchman came and asked mo if I had seen any prisoners go out of the gaol. I said I had not. I wasat the door on Sunday, Iwas there all the morning, with the exception of a few minutes I went into the yard to atop some dogs that were fighting. I was at the door some Chivanen passed out, I did not see the prisoner pass out. I hi seen the prisoner in the goal. The Chinamen out were coohee carrying earth.
ner had noq 8 to ask the witnere, ho saw him in the garden when he walked out of the gaol.
Tastes Bowstax deposed—I am second cons stable at the British gaol, On Sunday morn-ug 1 took the prisoner to the cook-house for him to get some hot water. It was about half-past eleven o'clock, I told him to got some hot water and then go and wash. The cook-house is on the right band side of the entrance. It is outside of the mai body of the gaol. When I saw the prisoner go to get the water, I went over to the coach-howse and arables to all was right there. On my return T could not find the prisoner, I thought ho bnd gone into the gaol, and went and asked the watchman if he ad passed him. The watchman told me that be had not.. I then searched all over the gaol, but was unable to find the prisoner, I then locked all the other prisoners up and commenced to search the yard and stables, While I was doing thie Mr. Barnes returned, and I told him Batchow was mi ing. made further search and found prisoner's trousers in the long grass in the yard on the Soochow Creek. We afterwards found his cap in the same yard a little nearer the garden. the quarters are bai Hospital. I belie entrance doors were open when Batchow went to the cook-house. hey are open during the day, #0 that the cook and coolies can go in and out, Ihave bad no particular inetructions to keep the doors closed, while the prisoners are in the yard.
Mr, Tarp eaid he did not wish to call any more witnesses.
Prisoner, in answer to the usual caution, said that he ran away from the gaol because the work was too hard and the food not good enough.
His Worsure then committed him for trial in the Supreme Court, before a. jury.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.