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1858, received from a Chinese pawn-broking firm, a large bribe, avowedly for having tampered with the administration of criminal justice.
There had been made, through Mr. Caldwell, a most improper, yet most successful, application to Dr. Bridges' Government,—for the remission of the sentence of transportation, passed by the Supreme Court, on one of their partners,—who had been convicted of the offence of receiving stolen goods, under very aggravated circumstances; and against which application the Chief Justice, the jury, and the Attorney-General, had strongly protested.
This Shap Lok was the go-between, who negotiated the business, and the hand to receive the bribe;—only a small portion of that bribe being intended for her own recompense;—at least, so it was understood between her and the Chinese applicants.
The punishment of fourteen years' transportation was altogether remitted;—and the short term of imprisonment for three years—certainly not more than three—was substituted.
The bribe was thereupon duly paid. With reference to these deplorable facts, the Commissioners' Report is as follows:–
"It has also been proved that a Chinese female
they rejected the testimony of a score of witnesses, who came to prove the family-connections of Mrs. Caldwell.
It is curious that she, and even her husband, in denying her own sistership with Shap Lok, admit that of their respective mothers (pp. 27, 29), and that "Chinese connections" were only thrown off by her after her "conversion" to, and marriage in, the Church of England, some years after their first intercourse, and they do not deny that, even now, Shap Lok "frequently" sees him officially at his own house and, on those occasions, sees Mrs. Caldwell also (p. 96).
