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*Please note that archival source materials are original historical documents that have not been censored, reviewed or otherwise altered by the Royal BC Museum.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.
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No. 2
a further search. About daylight the next morning a number of chinamen came up to my place. I Henry Brown Thomas Buckley and Thomas Park to go down to look for Ah Hing. We went down and made a search in the burnt house and found the remains of Ah Hing burned the body was all burned excepting one leg that was saved by the dirt falling from the roof and covering that part. The remainder of the body was burnt to a crisp there was a few ribs visible the head was entirely burned. We then made a search around Ah Maw's cabin where we found spots of blood on Ah Maw's door and also on a slipper under Ah Maw's bed. We also found traces of blood from Ah Hing's door along the trail for about fifty or sixty feet to a place where the trail made a turn. We found tracks for about 15 feet on the new snow off the trail where we found a place about four feet in diameter beat down very hard and a quantity of blood on the snow and on the bushes. I then examined Ah Maw's, person and found a bad cut across his left hand. He stated that he received the cut by cutting fish. I then asked him how the blood came on the door and on the slipper. He said it came from his hand. I then took him and showed him the blood along the trail down to the place where the quantity of blood was and asked him how
BC Archives GR-0419 Box 46 File 1892/116 / BRITISH COLUMBIA. ATTORNEY GENERAL. / Attorney General documents.