Miao Chung-yi

Background

Chung Yi Miao was an American Chinese with a doctorate in law. He was 28 years old.

He married his wife, Siu Wai-Sheung, in New York on 12 May 1928 after they had met at a dragon dance there on 10 October 1927.

After they honeymooned in Buffalo, New York, they arrived in Britain for a two month tour of Europe. After a couple of days in Edinburgh, they arrived at Borrowdale Gates Private Hotel, Grange-in-Borrowdale, in the Lake District on 17 June.

The offence

On the following morning, the couple went for a walk and returned in time for lunch. The afternoon saw them leave the hotel hand in hand for another walk in the countryside. Miao returned alone a couple of hours later.

At 7.30 that evening, Waii-sheung’s strangled body was discovered beside a riverside footpath in Cumma-cutta Wood by farmer Thomas Wilson. Waii-sheung was lying on her back with her legs spread. Her skirt had been raised above her knees and her underwear was torn.

Investigation

After police searched their bedroom, they found, hidden in a film carton, two of Waii-sheung’s rings, including her wedding ring.

It was established that the cord found around Waii-sheung’s neck was the same cord as used with the hotel blinds.

Miao gave the staff at the hotel various explanations for Waii-sheung’s absence, including a story that she had gone shopping in Keswick to buy warmer underwear.

Arrest

Police told Miao of his wife’s death.

Trial

Miao was charged with his wife’s murder.

His trial began at Carlisle Assizes on 22 October and lasted three days.

The defence was that Wai-sheung had been attacked by a gang of Chinese jewel thieves, but this did little to impress the jury.

After deliberating for 90 minutes, the jury returned with a guilty verdict.

Sentencing

Miao was sentenced to death after the Carlisle Assizes.

Appeals

Miao’s appeal against his conviction was dismissed on Tuesday in the Court of Criminal Appeal, as reported in Wednesday’s “West Cumberland Times.”

The Lord Chief Justice of England, Baron Hewart, heard in London the appeal of Chung Yi-miao, a Chinese law student whom a lower English court had sentenced to hang for murdering his Chinese wife.

Murderer Chung pleaded his own appeal before the Lord Chief Justice.

"It is impossible to say that there is not ample evidence to find that this appellant committed this crime. Miao is guilty of a diabolical, calculated crime. This appeal is dismissed."

As Murderer Chung Yi-miao was dragged protesting to his cell, observers noted that the Lord Chief Justice had mistakenly referred to him as "Miao"—apparently supposing that to be his surname. The account also stated that Chinese surnames or "last names" come first, and that the Lord Chief Justice should have said, "Chung is guilty," unless His Lordship desired to refer to the prisoner familiarly by his given name, which was Yi-miao, not Miao.

Outcome

Miao was hanged at Strangeways Prison on 6 December 1928 for the murder of his wife.

Aftermath

The arrangements for the execution devolved on the High Sheriff of Cumberland, Mr. Dayrell E. M. CRACKANTHORPE, New Biggin Hall, Westmorland. Mr. Ernest LIGHTFOOT, solicitor, Carlisle, was the Under-Sheriff.

The account also stated that the execution would take place in Strangeways Gaol, Manchester. It described this as the last prison in which he was confined after sentence to death had been passed upon him at the Carlisle Assizes last month by Mr. Justice HUMPHREYS.

Other details

Thomas Wilson was identified as the farmer who discovered Waii-sheung’s body in Cumma-cutta Wood.

In his reply to police after they told him of his wife’s death, Miao said: "It is terrible, my wife assaulted, robbed and murdered".