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New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12955, 26 August 1905, Page 5

BY. TiXEGRAPH.— ASSOCIATION.]

Dunedin, Friday. The matter of the shooting of Ham Ling Tong is still a mystery. He was generally considered to be worth £200, and as nothing was held in his name by the local banks, and only £70 was discovered, in Hie house, there is a substantial sum unaccounted for. All the cm-cu instances point to premeditated murder. The presumption is that deceased was first attacked with a whisky bottle, which was found .smashed, and that despite the severe blow on the head he resisted, which led to the use of a revolver. It is supposed that instead of the lamp exploding the perpetrator of the crime broke the lamp to put the kerosene on the bed clothes near the body, and then fired it, first placing the body in. a sitting position. As rigidity had not set in the body would fall forward and be found in the position it was. So far as is known the police have no clue as to who visited the house on the night in question. Tho inquest was concluded to-day. Dr. Robertson gave evidence that after further examination he traced and found tho bullet in the front of the upper part of the right shoulder. It was what was known as a 32 calibre long bullet, which might have been used either in a revolver or Remington rifle. The bullet wound would cause paralysis, and deceased would not be able to move. Constable Cowan gave evidence that he yesterday found £36 in the house and this morning* £24 19s 6d. The jury returned a verdict that Ham King Tone; had been wilfully murdered by some person or persons unknown. Constable Cowan in his evidence said he did not think the place had been used as an opium den. He had no reasou to suppose sly grog had been sold in the place.