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money. It has also been proved that a Chinese female, named Shaplock, who had been in frequent communication with Mr. Caldwell (and is reported, but not proved, to be a sister by Chinese usage of Mrs. Caldwell), received from the Foo T'ai pawn-shop the sum of 400 dollars, because the sentence on a pawnbroker belonging to the said shop had been mitigated, as was supposed, through her influence, and that she received a further sum of 50 dollars for her personal trouble in the matter. Further, since the commencement of this inquiry, Mr. Caldwell has, solely upon the information conveyed in an anonymous letter that certain property had been stolen, personally and without the assistance of the police, searched a room in the occupation of Assow, the Police Court Interpreter, whom Mr. Caldwell knew to be about to give evidence before the Commission. Mr. Caldwell, in the opinion of the Commission, acted in this matter injudiciously, to say the least of it.
Notwithstanding these facts, coupled with the circumstance of Mr. Caldwell's connection with so notorious a character as Mah-Chow Wong, it appears to a majority of the Commission, that, although Mr. Caldwell's original appointment as a Justice of the Peace may have been injudicious, they do not necessitate so strong a measure as his removal from that office.
Finally, we would state that in the course of the inquiry it has come to our knowledge, that previous to the appointment of the Commission, certain papers connected with Mah-Chow Wong's trial, and which might have been of service to the Commission, have been destroyed; but it has been clearly proved that their destruction was ordered, solely because they encumbered the Chinese Secretary's Office, while it appeared that they were then of no value, and could not be further required.
We have the honour to be,
Your Excellency's
Most obedient humble Servants,
CHS. St. GEO. CLEVERLY, Chairman.
H. TUDOR DAVIES.
GEORGE LYALL.
A. FLETCHER.
JOHN SCARTH.
To His Excellency
SIR JOHN BOWRING, Kt., LL.D,
Governor of Hong Kong,
etc., etc., etc.
