Transcription Page

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*Please note that archival source materials are original historical documents that have not been censored, reviewed or otherwise altered by the Royal BC Museum.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

Current Page Transcription [edit] [history]

27:

purposes?

Mr. Taylor: He is not here for honorarium - I know that. That is quite a joker. So one knows better than my learned friend that he is not entitled to ask what somebody else did.

Mr. Powell: Surely there is a limit to all of this. My learned friend does not want any evidence to be taken up to one o'clock. Now, I am not asking him a leading question (and I can take this man and question him along certain details until I get to the crux of the matter, and I am leading this man up and having him tell of the different people in the room and bringing him up to the point where he can arrange his story. There is no use of my friend, being on his feet every moment and objecting to every question. I know my business in that respect. I will put another question. He has already told us that he was preparing some opium for this Mann Quann, and I want to know what did this man do after that.

Mr. Taylor: That is a perfectly fair question.

Q After he prepared the pipe what did he do? A He is always telling of things, something different than what you ask for. He says after he prepared the opium Mann Quann asked him to bring Nam Yuen down.

Q You have told us that - what did Mann Quann do after that after he prepared the opium? A He smoked it.

Q Well did anything happen while he was smoking? A While he was smoking? There was nothing going on except he asked him to go up and bring down Nam Yuen.

BC Archives GR-0419 Box 100 File 1904/10 / BRITISH COLUMBIA. ATTORNEY GENERAL. / Attorney General documents.

Current Page Discussion [edit] [history]

Image 34 of 111