An inquest was held by Mr. Li (Magistrate) and Mr. Blackburn (British Assessor) on the body of one Woo Sian-pau, the keeper of an exchange shop' in Doo-tsew-li alleyway, Chapoo Road. The deceased had been found by his wife at midnight on the 6th instant, lying in Doo-tseu-li alleyway, with wounds in the head from which he was bleeding profusely, and he was conveyed to St. Luke's Hospital, where he died immediately upon arrival, The wife of the deceased said that she had seen the body at the mortuary and it was that of her husband. She last saw him alive about 1 aim. on the 7th instant. She, heard a noise and went out and saw her husband lying in the alleyway. He telld her that he had been struck by a thief. Two days previously 32,000 cash and several articles of clothing had been stolen from the house. Witness did not know that her husband had gone out to catch a thief. She kept a small change shop at No. 115 Chapoo Road. She did not know that anyone had a grudge against her husband. She found the hammer (produced) under a door in the alleyway.
Det.-Inspector Reeves said that a burglary that had taken place at the house of the deceased had been investigated by Det.-Sgt. Schmidt. Witness thought that deceased had been killed by the same man. At the time he was struck, deceased was apparently putting up the shutters and fastening the door. The hammer was found underneath the door, which had fallen down. The wounds on deceased's head were apparently caused by the hammer, and a blood vessel in the ear had been broken.
Andrew Ozorio stated that he was employed at the Central Fire Road, opposite the house of the de-Station and lived at No. 26 Chapoo
ceased. He left the Station about 11.40 p.m. on the 6th instant and walked home. He saw two Chinese straggling with each other about six feet inside the opposite alleyway. Someone shouted " Save life' and witness could see that one of the men was dressed in white. About two minutes later the man in white ran out into Chapoo Road and towards the Soochow Creek. Witness chased him as far
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