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1892/116 Regina vs. Ah Maw – murder, Cassiar

As part of the Chinese Historical Wrongs Legacy Initiative, the BC Archives has digitized a selection of documents related to criminal prosecutions against the Chinese community from 1866 to 1914, found in GR-0419. These are mainly records created as part of the preliminary hearing held before a judge in order to determine whether there was sufficient evidence to proceed to trial. There are often lengthy witness statements, and cross examinations by both prosecution and defense lawyers. The eventual verdict is sometimes recorded on the outside of the docket. They offer a fascinating glimpse into 19th and early 20th century criminal activity around the province, and ways in which the Chinese community was stereotyped. The records offered for transcription here are a small selection; for additional digitized material from GR-0419 click here. 

*Please note that archival source materials are original historical documents that have not been censored, reviewed or otherwise altered by the Royal BC Museum.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. In addition, GR-0419 records deal with subjects such as assault, murder and abuse, which may upset some readers. 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.
*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. 

BC Archives G-0419

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Regina vs Ah Maw

Murder of Ah Hing

Thomas Parks duly sworn upon oath says that: My name is Thomas Parks I am a free miner of McDavis Creek. I remember the night of 31st January last about 11 o'clock P.M. Ah Maw came up to my house at Centreville McDavis Creek in a very excited state and told me that Ah Hing was crazy and burnt his house. The next day in the morning I went with Mr. Metcalf to Ah Hing's house. The house was entirely burnt down with the exception of a few side logs. We searched the burnt house and found the remains of the body of Ah Hing burnt to a cinder with the exception of a leg which was saved from being burnt by the falling of dirt on it from the roof. The remains of the body was lying between the stove and the wall where Ah Hing usually kept his firewood. We then searched Ah Maw's house saw spots of blood on the door and one large spot of blood on a gumboot under the bed.

We then went out and traced the blood from Ah Hing's door down the trail for about 50 or 60 feet where the trail made a turn. Then about 12 or 14 feet from the trail we found a small space beaten down hard covered with blood I dug up the snow a few inches and found blood saturated

BC Archives GR-0419 Box 46 File 1892/116 / BRITISH COLUMBIA. ATTORNEY GENERAL. / Attorney General documents.

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