Transcription Page

Way Toy

As part of the Chinese Historical Wrongs Legacy Initiative, we’ve digitized a small selection of inquests and inquiries from 1872 to 1934, found in series GR-0431. These were chosen to reflect the experiences of early Chinese immigrants to B.C. – their living and working conditions, and their unfortunate accidental or unusual deaths.   They range from a woman working in a brothel in Barkerville who died of natural causes to three sawmill workers who died from malnutrition. Learn more.

*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 GR-0431

*Please note that archival source materials are original historical documents that have not been censored, reviewed or otherwise altered by the Royal BC Museum.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

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You now being recalled & duly sworn says I called her about six o'clock in the evening & receiving no answer I called her again & no answer. I then burst open the door which was fastened with an axe. I went in the room & found her dead. I left the corpse & sent a [illegible] up to see the Judge. She is the woman that paid Chinaman Charley $5.00 as license for whoring by order of the Judge. Charley was last in the House about to days back I swear he was not in the house yesterday. I suppose she locked the door herself. The key cannot be found she had jewelry to the value of [illegible] which I saw two days. she was then wearing them. I do not know whether she had them yesterday. I do not know whether she has money

Mr. Chipp being duly sworn says I was called to see Way Toy about seven o'clock in the evening of May 21st & went immediately & found her dead. I could detect only one slight bruise [illegible] on the left side of the body. It looks more like as if produced by a [pencil?] quite superficial not dangerous & consider her to

BC Archives, GR-0431 Box 1 File 3 / BRITISH COLUMBIA, ATTORNEY GENERAL. / Inquisitions/inquests conducted by coroners in British Columbia.

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