Wong Kong Ying et al
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.
*Please note that archival source materials are original historical documents that have not been censored, reviewed or otherwise altered by the Royal BC Museum. Some materials may contain content that is racist, sexist or otherwise offensive. The Royal BC Museum is only the custodian of archival materials; the content does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Royal BC Museum.
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70 say sometimes these verdicts are left open. Such and such a thing should have been done perhaps, not throwing any immediate blame on anybody. Personally I don't think the case should be left open in that way. It is a serious thing if three men die from negligence and it can still go on. When the evidence is in it may be that the Attorney-General's Department will wan to see it. You may put in any recommendation you want to put in and that clears up the whole works; that makes it clear from here on, and the Attorney General will go to work and he will send this affair to the proper Court, if he thinks it proper.
JURY RETIRES TO CONSIDER THEIR VERDICT. Verdict. We, the undersigned, find that Wong King Hing died on January 18th at 10:30 p.m., Lung Yuen Hung died on January 17th at 10:30 p.m. and Lau Bong died January 20th, 1934, at 7 p.m. The cause of death, according to the evidence of Dr. J.C. Thomas and the Government Pathologist, Dr. Pitts, was that they died of Beri Beri, caused by the lack of proper food containing Vitamen B.1. From the evidence we would say that some person or persons have been very negligent and that a further investigation be instituted so that a similar occurrence may not take place in the Province of British Columbia. Coroner: Is that your verdict, Gentlemen of the Jury. A. It is.
Inquest closed at 1.30 a.m. __________________
64.
BC Archives GR-0431 Box 13 File 6 BRITISH COLUMBIA. ATTORNEY GENERAL. Inquisitions/inquests conducted by coroners in British Columbia.