Transcription Page

1910/58 Rex .vs Lee Sing and Lee Lewis – carrying dangerous weapons

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*Please note that archival source materials are original historical documents that have not been censored, reviewed or otherwise altered by the Royal BC Museum.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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Q Is O'Brien a white man?

A Yes sir.

Q Did the white man give any explanation of why he was chasing these men?

A Yes. He said that the Chimaman had told him to come down as there was something wrong down at the wharf.

Q So you gathered from what you heard from this first Chinaman that he had been spying somebody else, and wanted these people to go down and see what he had been spying? And in consequence of this you went down towards Dunlevy Avenue.

A I did.

Q And you found the two accused there.

A. I found three there altogether.

Q And what become of the third person?

A He got away form me --- he got away in the bushes.

Q Now was there anyone handcuffed that morning?

A Yes sir. These two accused were handcuffed together.

Q That was the first thing you did when you got hold of them?

A No; we got hold of the guns first.

Q Did you know they had guns?

A As soon as this Lee Sing Pulled his gun I came down with my baton on his arm.

Q Is it not a fact that you put the handcuffs on them before there was any sign of a gun?

A. No.

Q You handcuffed them, that is you put the one set of handcuffs on both men, leaving them one arm free?

A Yes.

Q Had they started away from their grigs before these revolvers were produced?

A. No they were standing right beside the grips.

Q You were in uniform?

A Yes.

Q When you came up with them did you have any conversation with them

A No: I asked them to put their grips down hold their hands up.

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