1914/195 Rex vs. Lem How – attempted murder
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*Please note that archival source materials are original historical documents that have not been censored, reviewed or otherwise altered by the Royal BC Museum.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.
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7.
38. A. Did you see him later? A. No, I don’t know that I saw him later.
9. Q. Did you see anyone arrested that morning? A. Yes, there were two men arrested.
40. Q. Could you say whether either of the men arrested was the man who administered the blow? A. No.
1. Q. Did he look like him? A. Yes.
2. Q. Does the accused look like him? A. Yes.
QUESTONS BY MR. COWAN:
3. Q. Where is the eating house where you were? A. In Carral Street Yards.
4. Q. Where is that? A. Down Shanghai Alley, about fifty yards from where the fight was.
5. Q. Fifty yards south? A. Yes in the B.C. Electric yards down there.
6. Q. So that you came North on Shanghai Alley? A. Yes.
7. Q. And took a position I supposed somewhere on Shanghai Alley? A. Yes.
8. Q. Where? A. We stood on a sidewalk just a little North of 556 ½.
9. Q. Just a little north of 556 ½? A. Yes.
50 Q. And the fight was taking place where? A. Well about three doors north of 556 ½.
1. Q. About two or three doors you say? A. Yes.
2. Q. Do you happen to remember whether it was taking place in front of a store of any kind? A. Yes right in front of a store.
3. Q. Do you happen to remember the name of the store? A. No, but I could show you if you had the photographs here.
4. Q. Will you tell the Court again what you witnessed? A. Well, I saw a row and there was a fight with stocks and then there was a fight with an axe.
5. Q. Did you see a man knocked down? A. No.
6. Q. Did you hear that a man had been knocked down? A. Yes the morning after.
BC Archives GR-0419 Box 193 File 1914/195 / BRITISH COLUMBIA. ATTORNEY GENERAL. / Attorney General documents.