AN ATTEMPT TO MURDER A GOVERNOR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15061, 2 August 1912, Page 5

AN ATTEMPT TO MURDER A GOVERNOR.

SIR FRANCIS MAY'S ESCAPE. INDIAN' SERGEANT'S COURAGE. [FROM OCR OWN' CORRESPONDENT.] Sydney, duly 21. Tin; mail from tho East which arrived yesterday brought details of the attempt made on the life of Sir Francis 1 May, late Governor of Fiji, on his arrival at Hongkong on July 4to take up the Governorship of that possession. " It was an incident." paid Captain Winckler {who was an eye-witness of the occurrence), "that one is not likely to forget. The whole thing was so sudden and so unexpected I could not but admire the courage of the Governor. He was practically unconcerned, and at once paid attention to Lady May. The man, who made but little resistance, was caught, and taken away by the police.' 'Hie report in the Hongkong Times is as follows:— Sir Henry and Lady May, accompanied by their, four daughters, had only just received the glad welcome for which Hongkong had been preparing ever since tho news of Sir Henry's I appointment became known. It was as generous as it was sincere, and the scene on Blake Pier will long bo remembered by those who witnessed it. The call for three cheers, and the subsequent ' tiger' was responded to by a splendid gathering who little thought of the cowardly attempt to bo so shortly made upon Iho life of the i new Governor. It was with smiles and graceful bows that Sir Henry, Lady May, and their daughters took chairs at Blake Pier for the City Hall, but within a few yards of the happy scene on Blake Pier the dastardly attempt was made. Sir Henry and Lady May were foremost, followed closely by the Misses May. A Chinaman was seen to leave the pavement by the side of the post office, pass through the line of soldiers, and aim a revolver point blank at Sir Henry May. Tho report was followed by a faint cry from tho lips of Lady May Bub tlio bullet had failed to find its mark. With the utmost COuTWja and commendable promptitude, Indian Sergeant No. 725. ou seeing the revolver,' knocked up the hand that held it,' and tho bullet embedded itself in tho woodwork of Lady May's chair. Immediately, and before the would-be assassin could fire a second time, he was in tho grip of British police officials and civilians, who witnessed the sensational incident. The man. who was responsible for the shooting is a Chinaman, who was, it is stated, in, tho employ of the Government some years ago as a dispenser in the civil hospital. Several reports were current concerning the '/nan's identity, but he gave his nam© at the police station as Li Hon Hung. He is, it is said, the eon of an ex-lukong, who was imprisoned during the gambling scandal 15 years ago for bribery. If this is true, the motive for the crime is at once manifest, for it fell to tho lot of Sir Henry May, then captain, superintendent of police, to rid tho force of much corruption which then prevailed."