Ernest Henry Tunn JP was born in 1887 Bedford. Educated Falconbury House, Bury St Edmonds. He left for Malaya in 1919 as Probationary Inspector of Police Straits Settlements (SS), Singapore then Malacca and then back to Singapore. From 1935 he was Chief Inspector SS Police. He died on 13.1.44 [57] at Muntok of dysentery. Initially buried at Muntok, Tunn’s remains were later reinterred at Jakarta.
Doris Lilian Tunn [nee Wise] of Fraser’s Hill, Selangor and formerly of Butterworth, Province Wellesley. Wife of Ernest, died in captivity on 15.6.45 [50] Belalau, Sumatra.
Ernest married Doris in 1930 at Brentford in Middlesex. Ernest appaered on the 1901 census:
The war grave entry for Tunn’s grave at Jakarta:
The Tunns’ Probate Records:
A mention of Tunn occurred in The Age newspaper of Australia on 10 December 1937: 
A List of Some Cases Involving Chief Inspector Tunn.
Because Tunn was involved in numerous court cases stretching over almost twenty years we have noted only some of these briefly below.
One of the first mention of Tunn occurs on 18 August 1921:
The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser 8 December 1939 Page 5
CORPORAL FINED AFTER MAN’S ESCAPE
The Straits Times 10 November 1939 Page 11
A FINE of $40 or a month’s imprisonment was imposed on Police Corporal Puma Bahadur in the district court yesterday, when he was convicted of allowing a prisoner to escape from the Central Police Station lock-up. The prisoner was a Chinese charged with possessing opium …. Court Inspector Tunn prosecuted. (61 words)
WOULD-BE THIEF AT NAVAL BASE
The Straits Times 24 November 1939 Page 10
Five months’ rigorous imprisonment was passed on K. Padmanabhan, in the district court yesterday, for housebreaking in Narayana Kuruppu’s house at the naval base coolie lines In order to steal $120. Chief Court Inspector Tunn prosecuted …. (41 words).
LOUD TALKING ALLEGED CAUSE OF STABBING
The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser 24 February 1939 Page 7
“The complainant received four stab wounds, one of which penetrated a lung, and for a time his life was in danger,” said Chief Court Inspector Tunn in the Singapore Criminal District Court at the outset of a case in which a couple. ……. (99 words)
STEPFATHER CHARGED WITH ASSAULT
The Straits Times 7 September 1939 Page 10
An assault on a Tamil coolie by his stepfather had a sequel in the Singapore Criminal District Court yesterday when an elderly Tamil named Somco claimed trial on a charge of causing grievous hurt with a dangerous weapon. Following the evidence of the complainant, …. (148 words)
BAIL REFUSED CHINESE
The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser 19 July 1939 Page 9
Bail was opposed by Chief Court Inspector Tunn in the Singapore Criminal District Court yesterday when three Chinese, Lee Ah Kwanor, Jong Ah San and Foo Ah Teng, were produced before Mr. J. McFall on charges of house-breaking and, alternatively, dishonestly retaining stolen property. Accused were …. (81 words)
BREACH OF TRUST BY EX-ASSISTANT BAILIFF: More Than $950 In Rents Put To Own Use.
The Straits Times 8 August 1940 Page 11
REMARKING that he was taking into consideration that the accused had a good character and had been serving the Colony by undergoing training as a Volunteer, Mr. Conrad Okutam sentenced Chan Khek Beng, former assistant …. Chief Court Inspector E. Tunn, the prosecuting officer, said that it was Chan’s duty to collect rent from houses under writs of distress and to pay watchmen …. (462 words)
INQUESTS IN PENANG
The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser 15 July 1931 Page 12
Two inquests were held by the Penang Coroner on Saturday and both related to deaths of Europeans. The first was into the death of Mr. Duncan Dare who died at the General Hospital on June 17, while undergoing an operation. Dr. J. S. Lawrie was the first witness called by Chief Court Inspector Tunn…
ACQUITTAL FOR A MALAY YOUTH
The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertise 9 February 1939 Page 3
Yusotf bin Ahmad, a Malay youth who was charged with gross indecency was acquitted by Mr. L. B. Gibson m the Singapore Criminal District Court yesterday. Mr. Mark Morrison defended and Chief Court Inspector Tunn prosecuted. It was alleged that Yusoff and another Malay youth went to the chapel in an old cemetery in Kampong Java Road with two Chinese and behaved indecently towards them. (70 words)
SCOT ACQUITTED AFTER HEARING IN CAMERA
The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser 8 June 1939 Page 1
DONALD Fraser Gordon Stables, a 58-year-old Scot, who was charged in the Singapore Criminal District Court yesterday morning, before Mr. J. McFall, with using criminal force to outrage the modesty of a woman, on May 15 in a house in Orchard Road, was acquitted after proceedings in camera. Mr.A. J. Braga defended Stables. Chief Court Inspector Tunn prosecuted. (66 words)
CHINESE HAD PISTOL AND AMMUNITION
The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser 16 June 1939 Page 9
PLEADING guilty to possession of an automatic pistol, 15 rounds of automatic pistol cartridges, and 12 rounds of revolver cartridges, on June 6, in a house in Upper Hokkien Street, without the permission of the Chief Police Officer, a 27-year-old Chinese, Lam Kam Tong was bound over …. Chief Court Inspector Tunn prosecuted. (83 words)
SCHOOL TREASURER ON TRUST CHARGE
The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser 31 December 1940 Page 7
CHAN Peng Kiong alias K. S. Chan alias George P. K. Chan, treasurer of the Chin Nam School Race Course Road, faced allegations in the criminal district court yesterday of committing criminal breach of trust of money given to him as (234 words)
EUROPEAN MAN ACQUITTED [Articles]
The Straits Times 8 June 1939 Page 14
EUROPEAN MAN ACQUITTED Case Heard In Camera DONALD Fraser Gordon Stables, a 58-year-old Scot, who was charged in the Singapore Criminal District Court yesterday morning, before Mr. J. McFall, with using criminal force to outrage the modesty of a woman, on May 15 in a house In Orchard Road, (67 words)
PENANG ASSAULT CASE.
The Straits Times 17 December 1926 Page 9
(From Our Own Correspondent). Penang, December 16. In the District Court the trial comm< Bead to-day of Mohamed bin Noordin, who was charged on November 25, with causing hurt to two Chinese in a compound house in York Road on September 18. The accused again appeared on (82 words)
ALLEGED BREACH OF TRUST
The Straits Times 31 December 1940 Page 13
School Treasurer In District Court CHAN Peng Kiong alias K. S. Chan alias George P. K. Chan, treasurer of the Chin Nam School in Race Course Road, faced allegations in the criminal district court yesterday of committing criminal breach of trust of money given to him (227 words)
3 HAI LEE OFFICERS ACQUITTED TO-DAY
The Straits Times 16 April 1940 Page 10
CAPTAIN M. Worsoe, Dr. Lim Poh Sin and Scow Kiat Joo, master, surgeon and chinch ew respectively of the 3,600 ton Norwegian vessel Hai Lee, were acquitted in the Singapore Criminal District Court this morning after a two-day trial on a charge concerning the (435 words)
USED AXE ON STEPSON, SAYS PROSECUTION
The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser 7 September 1939 Page 5
AN ALLEGED ASSAULT on a Tamil coolie by his stepfather had a sequel In the Singapore Criminal District Court yesterday when an elderly Tamil named Somoo. claimed trial on a charge of causing grievous hurt with a dangerous weapon. Following the evidence of the (151 words)
MALACCA “REDS.” [Articles]
The Straits Times 20 April 1936 Page 13
Detectives Interrupt A Meeting. Malacca. Apr. 16. Chiang Kai Keo and Dan Xi San were convicted today by Mr J. C. Derrick, Police Magistrate, on a charge of having been members of an unlawful society— the Malayan General Labour Union at Ujong Pasir. Chief Detective Inspector Tunn, prosecuting, stated that Chiang Kai Keo was a well-known figure, generally regarded as the virtual leader of what was almost a communist gang.
He (Mr Tunn) received information that some of the members were conducting a meeting on the night of Mar. 27. He went to the spot with some other detectives and effected the arrest of the two accused. There were others present, who made good their escape. Documents of a seditious nature were found. (153 words)
CHARGE MORE THAN YEAR OLD [Articles]
The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser 26 April 1939 Page 9
A CHINESE, Sim Bah Bet who is alleged to have participated in a stabbing affray in a coffee shop over a year ago was on trial before Mr L. B Gibson, in the Singapore Criminal District Court yesterday on a charge of voluntarily causing grievous hurt (167 words)
CHINESE BILL COLLECTOR SENT TO GAOL [Articles]
The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser 25 March 1939 Page 7
CONVICTED on his own plea on a charge of criminal breach of trust of $997, a 34-year-old Chinese bill collector, Song Kim Puah, was sentenced to four months’ rigorous imprisonment by Mr. L. B. Gibson, in the Singapore Criminal District Court, yesterday. Chief Court (231 words)
POLICE AND “CORRUPT & CROOKED FIRM” Four Members Sentenced To Terms Of Imprisonment
The Straits Times 23 January 1941 Page 11
FOUR members of what was described by Chief Court Inspector E. Tunn as a “corrupt and crooked firm” —the Commercial Corporation, which, until recently, had an office in Battery Road were sentenced to varying terms of imprisonment in the Singapore District Court yesterday on charges of cheating. (446 words)
WHAT AUDITOR DISCOVERED
The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser 30 November 1939 Page 5
ROBBERY CHARGE AGAINST CHINESE
The Straits Times 25 February 1939 Page 12
Two young Chinese, Yang Kang Woon and Ng Kun Chok, were on trial before Mr. L. B. Gibson in the Singapore Criminal District Court, yesterday on a charge of robbery. Chief Court Inspector Tunn said the case arose as a result of an incident in a public convenience in Maxwell Road on Jan 25. (124 words)
TWO MALAYS ACCUSED OF BURGLARY IN HOTEL ROOM
The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser 6 June 1941 Page 7
The story of the disappearance of $2,016 worth of jewellery from an hotel room was told in the Singapore criminal district court yesterday during the trial of two Malays and an Indian on charges of housebreaking and abetment of housebreaking. (892 words)
TEACHER ARRESTS THIEF ON ROOF [Articles]
The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser 15 May 1940 Page 7
ARRESTED by Mr. Francis Thomas, a senior teacher in St. Andrew’s School, a Chinese, Teow Tai, pleaded guilty in the third court yesterday to a charge of stealing five lead sheets off the roof of St. Andrew’s House. Chief Court Inspector Tunn said that at about 2.45 pm on Sunday Mr. Thomas heard a noise on the roof of St. Andrew’s House and on investigation saw Teow Tai tearing lead sheets from the guttering of the roof …. (113 words)
ALLEGED STABBING DUE TO NOISE!
The Straits Times 24 February 1939 Page 13
Coolie Charged With Causing Hurt. THE complainant received four stab wounds, one of which penetrated his lung, and for a time his life was in danger, said Chief Court Inspector Tunn in the Criminal District Court, yesterday, at the outset of a case … (145 words)
SHIP’S OFFICERS ACQUITTED
The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser 17 April 1940 Page 5
Without calling them for their defence, Mr J. McFall, Singapore criminal district judge, acquitted Capt. M. Worse, Dr. Lim Poh Sin and Seow Kit Joo, master, surgeon and Chin Chew respectively of the 3,600 ton Norwegian vessel Hai Lee on a charge concerning the signing of a statement relating to the number of passengers in the vessel. Opening the third day’s proceedings Inspector Tunn told the judge that he wished to close the case for the prosecution’s …. (94 words)
FOUR RIOTERS GO TO GAOL
The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser 10 January 1939 Page 3
Four Rioters Go To Gaol Convicted on charges of rioting housebreaking and theft, four Chinese’ Ling Hong Kow, Ling Hong KLs, Ngeh Ah Mong and Kwong Chin Kam Moy were sentenced to 15 months’. 14 months’, 12 months’ and 12 months’ respectively. Mr. L. B. Gibson, in the Criminal District ….
The case for the prosecution, conducted by Chief Inspector Tunn, was that the accused, on Oct. 30 during the ricksha strike, went to a Chinese-owned shop in Weld Road, smashed the door and took away about $3,000 worth of goods. (93 words)
GAOL FOR MALAY WITH BAD RECORD
The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser 7 January 1939 Page 3
MOHAMED NOOR BIN KUMING a Malay with a bad record, was sentenced to 18 months rigorous imprisonment, to be followed by two years’ police supervision, by Mr. L. B. Gibson, in the Criminal Court yesterday pleaded guilty to a charge housebreaking and theft. …. Chief Court Inspector Tunn told the court Mohammed broke into a Tamil’s house …. (112 words)
ALLEGED TO HAVE CARRIED PISTOL
The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser (1884-1942) 19 May 1939 Page 3
Bail of $250 in two sureties, was allowed to a Chinese, Cheong Leong, aged 22, in the Singapore Criminal District Court yesterday, when he claimed trial to a charge of carrying a Mauser pistol and a round of ammunition in public. The offence occurred in Kallang Road, it is alleged.
Chief Court Inspector Tunn asked for $750 bail, as the circumstances of the case necessitated it, he said. …. (97 words)
FORMER N.A.A.F.I. CASHIER SENTENCED: Former N.A.A.F.I. Cashier Sentenced Criminal Breach of Trust of $475.
The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser (1884-1942) 10 October 1939 Page 5
Asking for leniency as it was his first offence, Goh Kirn Chua, a young ex-cashier of the Navy, Army, Air Force Institute, Seletar, was sentenced to eight month rigorous imprisonment by Mr. J. McFall the Singapore Criminal District Judge, yesterday ….. Chief Inspector Tunn described how the discovery was made after a check of the invoices …. (95 words)
ALLEGED OFFENCE IN CHAPEL [Illustrated]
The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser 27 January 1939 Page 3
SCHOOL BAGS AS EXHIBITS IN COURT CASE
The Straits Times 29 August 1939 Page 13
SCHOOL bags belonging to students of the Anglo-Chinese High School were exhibits in the Singapore Criminal District Court yesterday in a case in which three Chinese, Yon Ah Chong, Tan See San, and Ng Ah Hock, claimed trial on charges of theft and dishonestly retaining stolen property. Opening the case, Chief Inspector Tunn stated that on the night of July 18 …. (195 words)
STABBING IN COFFEE SHOP A YEAR AGO
Alleged Participator Faces Trial
The Straits Times 26 April 1939 Page 15
A CHINESE, Sim Bah Bee who is alleged to have participated in a stabbing affray in a coffee shop over a year ago was on trial before Mr. L B Gibson, in the Singapore Criminal District Court yesterday on (181 words)
CHINESE WHO BROKE INTO MAJOR’S HOUSE
The Straits Times 10 January 1940 Page 11
Medals Recovered After Arrest Of Intruder
A STORY of how Major J. D. Wyatt’s cook was awakened by noises on Christmas morning, and how he ran out with a torch and saw a man climbing on to the roof of the house via a window, was told by Chief Court Inspector E. H. Tunn in the Singapore district court. (231 words)
SUSPICIONS OF AN AUDITOR
The Straits Times 30 November 1939 Page 11
Cashier’s Breach Of Trust pleading guilty to breach of trust of $3,532 belonging to the firm Heng Swee Hee, a cashier with 15 years’ service with Getz Brothers and Co., was sentenced to one year’s rigorous imprisonment in the district court (294 words).
$50 FINE FOR FAILURE TO DECLARE CURRENCY
The Straits Times 3 November 1939 Page 10
CONVICTED on a charge of falling to declare possession of foreign currency and gold coins to the immigration authorities prior to sailing in a Dutch ship on Oct. 7, Chong Fook Seng, was fined $50 in the District Court yesterday, with the alternative of two months’ rigorous imprisonment. He said that he was unaware that it was an offence.
Chief Court Inspector Tunn told the court how the currency which included Dutch guilders, gold medals, presented at a jewelry exhibition in India and American gold coins, were found in the accused’s suitcase (101 words)
ALLEGEDLY BROKE INTO CHANDU SHOP
The Straits Times 29 August 1939 Page 13
WHEN three Chinese Yap Ah Chor, Yer Kwang, and Kok Chor, claimed trial before Mr. J. McFall, in the Singapore Criminal District Court yesterday, on a charge of housebreaking in order to commit theft, Chief Court Inspector Tunn raid that they broke Into the Excise …. (97 words)