Hugh Low Vindicates Ah Quee
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THE HURST, BOURNEMOUTH, 31st August, 1891.
DEAR MR. BOYLE,
I have seen in this home of my wife's father a copy of HARPERS MAGAZINE for September, in which is your article on Chinese Secret Societies, which I find to contain much interesting information, but there are one or two inaccuracies which I am sure you will take steps to correct, as they do great injustice to my friend Captain Chang Ah Kwi, of Perak, whom you have inadvertently stated to have been tried (presumably before British authorities) on a charge of murder.
As the Magazine is taken in at the Perak Club and other reading-rooms there, this must necessarily give great pain to Captain Ah Kwi and his numerous friends in the Straits Settlements and China. It is true that in the disturbances which preceeded the British intervention under Sir Andrew Clarke, in 1874, Captain Ah Kwi was one of the leaders of the Go Kwan faction, as Captain Ah Yam was of the other, or Li Keran party. But their operations against each other were conducted on the primiciple of open war by large bodies of men.
Long subsequently, On his revisiting his native country of China, an accusation was made against him before time mandarins in the Canton province, and he was arrested, but triumphantly acquitted of the charge of piracy, which had been alleged against him, and which, it was well known, had been advanced by rivals in the tin-mining business, which he had so extensively conducted in Perak.
Neither Captain Ah Kwi nor Captain Ah Yam, both of whom are at this moment and have long been members of the State Council, was ever arrested on criminal charges where British influence prevailed. Each of them has from time beginning been a strenuous supporter of the settlement of the State of Perak, which has been so successfully carried out under the Governors of Colonies of the Straits Settlements.
Khu-Tan-Tek was, I believe, reprieved on the representation of the distinguished judge Sir Bronson Maxwell, before whom his trial had taken place.
I am quite sure that you will understand my desire that my old friend Ah Kwi's name should be vindicated, and I am equally certain that you will take the necessary steps to bring this about.
Yours sincerely,