The deed referred to is on s par with two previous murders, namely, that of Mr. Fong and that of the returned student. And all three murders are such as ordinary police protection, however careful, can hardly prevent.
One of the chief drawbacks under mich the police of this Settlement have to work is foned in the atter apathy—to give it no stronger term—of the general Chinese pablic when minor street crimes' such as snatching occur under their very eyes.
In Europe when a serioos crime happens, such as the Into much to be regretted murder, there is almost invariably found some passer-by onlooker who dors not hesitate to range himself on the side of the police in taking immediate action, Here in this crowded Settlement the exact contrary the rale, On the occasion of the murder referred to above it is known that passers-by both aw and heard the crime committed. Tt may br taken as fact that police inquiry, however confidential, among those perfectly innocent. persons who might give some evidence, la the signal for each and all of them to obliterate as far as can be done connexion they may be known to have with the occurrence.
Some months back it was necessary to point out for the information of the Watch Committee the disastrous consequences which would probably follow the inaction of the Chinese authoritier, if the latter did not promptly deal with the murderers of Chinese Constable No.
664, Mob Cha-kong, who it may be remembered was stabbed to death in th"
Honan Road on Januery 21, 1909.
The murderers 80 far as is known, still in the custody of the Chinese authorities at Sangkiang and have not been executed.
No one regrets more than I do the fulfilment of my prognostication, but to anyone acquainted with Chinese eriminals aod their character it was obvious that the inaction of the Chinese Authorities in the shove case was nothing short of a direct incitement to desperate characters to take life in this Settlement without any fear of panishment.
Fires.—Daring the month of October eleven fires were reported, seven of the houses in which the fires originated being covered by insurance. The general alarm was sounded five times, also twice for fires out of limits. The total number of fires reported during October is (he lowest for the equivalent month daring four years. There were two prosecutions for arson during October, in both of which cases convictions were obtained.
It may be interesting to note that the Jessfield Ion was totally destroyed by fire on October 13 last Intelligence Ofice.—The establishment of " Criminal Museum at the Central Station is now an accomplished fact.
Though at present only on very small scale, yartly owing to the fact that sach institution has hitherto exisud and that therefore objects for "xhibition bad gote into various channels, mosenm will it is hoped become in time an extremely interesting collection.
The non ber of fir ger print imprees-
"taken by the Into increasing by. nearly 1,000 a month-
These figares speak for themuelvce of the work being done.
Training School—The fifth training class for foreign recruits commenced at Gordon Road Station on October 15 last, The existence of the Training School is meeting the want which it is hoped such an institution would fill, and when the time comes when all foreiga constables in the Force have graduated through this institution the general standard of efficiency will be greatly increased, Trafic.—Cases in which police on traffic doty bare narrowly escaped serious accident are not infrequent, Refereoch in made to the reckless manner in which some drivers both of motor-earn and other vehicles pose the traffic police stationed on the stroete, I would point out that traffic constables posted At street crossings are entitled to every consideration for although they are able to move a few paces either way in the int reste of traffic, it la their duty to give all their attention not to their own safety bat to the particular work they are engaged upon.
Now that the cross-country riding season is about to commence the attention of the riding public la requested to ths traffic regelation under which it is laid down that "Ponies being led in the Settlement are to be led a; inst the traffic, that is, on the right-hand side of of the road." If owners would be good enough to point out to their mafoos that the Latter should always be between the horse and passing traffic, when leading, there would be less risk to valuable animals from motor and other vehicular traffic.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.