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(From our Correspondent). PORT MARIA, Monday—The ex amination into the charge of shop breaking and arson preferred against Willie Chin Fatt took place in the Annotte Bay Court recently before His Honour Mr. John Verity, Resi dent Magistrate for the parish, with Mr. Sydney L. Scott, Clerk of the Courts prosecuting, together with Mr. Ken Robinson. The court room was packed with an enormous amount of spectators. Mr. Kenneth V. Abendana of the firm of Messrs. Abendana and Aben dana of Port Antonio appeared for the defence. The first witness, Thomas Sue, said that he was in charge of the Lue Shue and Company’s Annette Bay business and he resided at the same place. The concern was insured with Megers. Cargill, Cargill and Nunn for £ 450. It was constructed of lumber and used as a bakery and grocery. On the 1st of March the shop was closed at 10.50 p.m. Wil lie Yat Fatt serves in the shop. Af ter the shop was closed Yat Fatt took the keys and retired to his room up stairs. Five other Chinamen, Har old Sue, Willie Yap Fatt, Chin Bow, Thomas Hull, and a chauffeur Loren zo Dunn occupied upstairs. Willie Yap Fatt and Willie Chin Fatt slept in the room where the keys were kept. Willie Yap Fatt was the last to go to bed that night. He went at 11.30. Witness heard a woman call out at about 2.30 next morning saying that a thief was in the shop and that it was on fire. Witness got up and looked through a window and saw a man running down the lane, also a man and a woman a few chains away down the main street. Witness went downstairs and saw the fire in the shop and attached hose to a pipe in the shop and put out the fire. The part that was burn ed was the provision counter. It was saturated with KEROSENE OIL. The loss was estimated at between £ 70 and £ 80 to the building and over £ 200 to the stock. After the fire three keys were found in the provi sion apartment, kerosene and sweet oils were kept there. Witness knew the defendant for about three years. Defendant knew where the keys were kept. Mr. Abendana cross-examined the witness who said that the keys found in the shop were made to open the bakery shop, up sairs, and the door to the lane The keys are Chinese keys and are made to open from the inside. He did not see who locked up the show. About six keys together besides the three Chinese keys were there. Ralph Kidd, a chauffeur living and working in Port Maria, gave evi dence. He said his car was engaged on the 2nd of March by Mrs. Mary Chin. He went to Free Hill with Mrs. Chin and two Chinamen, one of whom was the prisoner. After arriving there he dropped the pri soner at a Chinese shop at the cross roads leading to Jacks River and Oxford and then returned with the other two. Edward Chung said that he was in charge of the shop at Free Hill. Early on the morning of the 2nd of March, Cyril Chin opened the shop and Willie Chin Fatt came and called witness. Willie Chin Fatt re mained and Cyril Chin went away. Chin Fatt told me that on Friday night he burnt down Sue Chue’s shop and that it was Philip Lowe that had sent him to burn it down. Chin Fatt also said that he WOULD BE PAID £ 150 to do the job. Chin Fatt left wit ners at about 10 o’clock. The Court then adjourned until Friday. Three witnesses for the prosecu tion, and the defence will be heard on that day.
Newspaper Details
Kingston Daily Gleaner
Kingston, Kingston, JM
Mon, Mar 25, 1929
Page 5
Full Page
Clipped by
Averell C.
USA 16 Feb 2026
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