Chung Chi
As part of the Chinese Historical Wrongs Legacy Initiative, we’ve digitized a small selection of inquests and inquiries from 1872 to 1934, found in series GR-0431. These were chosen to reflect the experiences of early Chinese immigrants to B.C. – their living and working conditions, and their unfortunate accidental or unusual deaths. They range from a woman working in a brothel in Barkerville who died of natural causes to three sawmill workers who died from malnutrition. Learn more.
*All transcriptions are provided by volunteers, and the accuracy of the transcriptions is not guaranteed. Please be sure to verify the information by viewing the image record, or visiting the BC Archives in person.
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Current Page Transcription [edit] [history]
Thomas Edwards, undertaker, sworn:-
By Mr. Potts:- Did you receive the bodies of the 12 Chinese killed on the 15th July? A: Yes sir
Q: Did you make any examination of them? A: No. I searched them.
Q: Who was present? A: Mr. Stall, those that identified the bodies particularly.
Q: What was found on the clothes of these Chinamen? Any matches? A: No 1, Cheng Lung, a tobacco pouch, matchbox and pipe; No 2, Lung Luk, nothing; Lai Koo, nothing; Zumy Lang, nothing, Juong Chang, matches, knife; No 6, Ching Bing, knife, match box, key
Q: What kind of a key? Would it be one that you could open a safety lamp with? A: No, it would be a rim lock or a padlock key.
Q: Were there any matches in the match box? A: That I couldn't say now. No 4, Mah See, pocket knife, key & tobacco pouch
Q: What kind of a key would that be? A: I couldn't tell you now, but there was no keys except what would open cabins; there was one key for a padlock and another for a rim lock. Wong Lu, nothing; Wang Chung, knife tobacco pouch, lead pencil + silver watch; Chung King, money; Chung Cai Itap[?], nothing; Mah Lee, pocket knife
Q: You were present when Chung Chi was identified? A: Yes, I was; at the time the jury was there
Q: He was one of the Chinamen killed? A: Yes. Thomas Edwards
Taken upon oath and acknowledged this 14 day of August in this year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and three
James Abrams Coroner
BC Archives GR-0431 Box 6 File 3 BRITISH COLUMBIA. ATTORNEY GENERAL Inquisitions/inquests conducted by coroners in British Columbia.