1903/18 Rex vs. D.L. Ray and Wing Wo – murder (Trail)
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*Please note that archival source materials are original historical documents that have not been censored, reviewed or otherwise altered by the Royal BC Museum.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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A. Yes.
Q. What did he pay for the laundry ?
A. Hundred dollars.
Q. Did he buy Sing ?
A. No; he bought laundry from the other boy; Sing stayed there.
Q. What did he pay, what did Sing pay for his board ?
A. Sing board himself.
Q. Was he working ?
A. Well he did'nt know he was working while he knew him.
Q. He knew him for how long ?
A. He say about between nine or ten months, time he bought the laundry.
Q. He bought the laundry nine or ten months ago ?
A. About nine or ten months ago.
Q. And Sing was there then ?
A. Yes; that's what he said.
Q. He did'nt know Sing was dead ?
A. He said he know Sing was dead when there was a funeral, not in the meantime.
Q. Did the doctor ever attend him while he was sick ?
A. He said just only once, when you went down there.
Q. He was a friend of Sing's ?
A. Yes; he was a friend.
Q. You saw the blood and never got a doctor ?
A. Well, the doctor come that time.
Q. How long was it since that ? Ask him how long.
A. He say he could not say how long. He just know he was there.
Q. How much he pay to keep him-how much he expend in medicine, he owns the laundry and had to buy grub-how much cost him to keep Sing ?
A. He said he did'nt know-he buy his own food.
Q. Sing bought his own food ?
A. Yes.
Q. Who did he buy it from, does he know ?
BC Archives GR-0419 Box 95 File 1903/18
BRITISH COLUMBIA. ATTORNEY GENERAL. Attorney General documents.