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1904-10 Rex vs. Wong On and Wong Gow – murder (at the Chinese theatre)

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*Please note that archival source materials are original historical documents that have not been censored, reviewed or otherwise altered by the Royal BC Museum.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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A H« say in a short time, in half an hour-MR TAYLOR; I want to call attention to this fact. This examination is very irregular. When the witness appears to be going all right he is taken in English, and then when he wants to take refuge in anything he goes back to the Chinese. Now this witness is either competent to be examined in English, or he is not, and if he is competent to be examined in English he should not have an interpreter We have sufficient evidence that he is entitled to be examined without the aid of the interpreter, who is very liable to give his version of what the witness says without understanding the legal technicalities that may arise in the difference of one word or so. Now your Honor knows Wing is a fine interpreter, but he gives his version of the evidence, and he turns it his way, not understanding the legal side of it, or the niceties---- MR MORESBY: You have your interpreter, MR. TAYLOR: Perhaps our interpreter may be the same he does not understand the niceties in English. COURT: (To witness) You try and answer in English; you talk English. MR MORESBY: I wish to put this on the record We are prepared to go as far as we can -with this man in English but when we have the witness say he does not understand the question, we are entitled to have him answer taken through the interpreter. MR TAYLOR: Sometimes a white witness does not understand a question, and we have to put the question differently or more fully; there are a great many cases where that crops up in our Courts, and that is the commonest thing in the BC Archives GR-0419 BRITISH COLUMBIA, ATTORNEY GENERAL Box 100 File 1904/10 Attorney General documents.

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