May 6, 1899.]
THE MUTUAL STORE EMBEZZLE- MENT CASE.
HOPKINS BEFORE THE MAGISTRATE.
At the Magistracy on the 28th April, before Mr. T. Sercombe Smith, Reginald George Hop. kins was brought up on a charge of embezzling $1,000, the property of the Mutual Stores, Hongkong.
Mr. Hastings-I appear for the prosecution, and I propose to prove arrest, put in the war- rant, and then to ask your worship for a rémand.
His Worship (to defendant)-Do you admit this charge or not.
Defendant-No, sir. Inspector Moffat said-On the 5th inst. "I attended Her Majesty's Consular Court at Shanghai and produced a true copy of the original warrant of arrest together with a true I also copy of the original information. showed the original warrant, which was en- dorsed by the British Magistrate at Shanghai. That is now produced by me.
I also gave evidence as to identification of defendant. On the 22nd inst. I received the order of rendition signed by Mr. Eax Ironside, Her Majesty's Charge d'Affaires in China, and this I produce. On the 24th inst. I took charge of defendant at the British prison at Shanghai and to k him on board the P. and O. steamer Ballaurat, which arrived here
the 27th inst. I also received from the gaoler at the British prison at Shanghai defendant's property, which consisted of three boxes, Gladstone bag, one wicker basket, and a small paper package. I also received from the gaolor $35 in notes and $3.20 in coins. I saw defen. dant searched in the charge-room at the Central Police Station at Hongkong on the 27th, and an American $10 gold piece was found on him. His Worship-Mr. Hopkins, you have heard what Mr. Moffat has said.
Have you any ques- tions to ask him ?
t
on
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Defendant-No, sir. Mr. Hastings then said that he wished to renew the application which he made some little time ago under section 23 of Ordinance of 1889, for an order on the Hongkong and Shang- hai Bank for liberty to inspect and take copies of the entries in defendant's account.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT. ALLEGED ATTEMPT TO CÚT ANÒ WOUND.
377
Litton insists upon the Governor of Kueichow having him brought to justice.
French Consul Haas, who has been in Cheng- At the Magistracy on the 4th May, before tu for the last two months seeking to get Mr. T. Sercombe Smith, Michael Ryan, an settlement of the Roman Catholic Mission oiler on the Charleston, was charged with try-olaims, is to be delayed there for another month. ing to cnt and wound Frederick Melbuish, of the Criterien Hotel,
Complainant said that at about half-past eleven on Wednesday night defendant came to the bar of the Criterion Hotel, and began to use very obsene language. When he told him to stop he said he would not leave off for him and called him a foul name. He then ordered him away upon which defendant rushed at him, holding the clasp knife produced, which was open, in his right hand over bis shoulder. Complainant then knocked him down and took He was slightly cut the knife from his grasp. on the finger. He called for assistance and a member of the Garrison Police assisted him to take defendant to the Police Station. The man was under the influence of liquor at drink at his the time, but he had had no place.
Two gunners in the Royal Artillery corro- borated.
Defendant made a long statement to the effect that complainant attacked bim, and as he seemed to be getting the worst of it be pulled out his knife to soars him, but he never in- tended to usesit.
His Worship was satisfied defendant assaulted the landlord, but did not think he intended to use the knife, and he would consequently only deal with the case, as one of common assault; defendant would be fined $10, or 14 days.
ALLEG &D “ FILIBUSTERING."
The Japanese Consul is also in Chengta and intends to visits Yaunan-fu after his return.
Major Radcliff, who arrived here on 9th inst., left again for the coast on 1th, having made a large scale survey of the Upper Yangtsze. | China Gazette correspondent.
CHANG CHIH-TUNG ON GERMAN ACTION IN SHANTUNG.
ICHOUFU.
THE GERMAN OCCUPATION,
The Chinese papers report that the Viceroy Chang Chih-tung, has addressed a long despatch to the Tsung-li Yamen and a memorial to the Empress-Dowager on the question of the Ger mans in Shantung. Our contemporary says. that Chang dwells upon the manifest wrong and injury, which Germany is inflicting upon China by her action in Shantung. Iu bis opinion Germany is determined to take pos- session of the whole of Shantung province (and he might add to declare Prince Henry of Prussia, Governor-General or Viceroy). Chang concludes by saying that if China was sure this was really Germany's intention, she should without question up her mind to on- ter upon one last struggle for her integrity. But when China asked the Germans their in. tentions they declared their troops in Shantun were only intended for the protection of their missionaries, upon which the Viceroy remarks 、 "I do not believe they are." He implores all the high officers of the Central Government to give the matter the closest attention and to devote their energies to ascertaining the real The suit instituted Mr. E. B. Drew, Com-intentions and aims of the Germans and to send missioner of Customs at Canton, against Mr. the Throne early and correct information on the matter. Chaug evidently ees what is com. W. F. Sylvester, an American citizen. came before the American Consul-General at Shang-ing to China.-Chi ra Gazette. hai on the 29th April as referee. The circum- were these : Mr. Edward B. Drew, stances the petitioner, brought an action against the defendant W. F. Sylvester, of the firm Louis Spitzel & Co., in the Consular Court at Canton, in that he, being a citizen of the United States, and Commissioner of the
As indicated in my last letter, and confirmed Imperial Maritime Customs at Canton, had under certain circumstances demanded the by my telegram of the 3rd instant, the anti- sum of Tls. 15,000, which he alleged had be- foreign disturbance at this place have at length roused the German Government to action with come due under a boud made by the defendant.
On the 30th of March a From the petition it appeared that the bond startling effect.
cruiser landed number of troops, variously bore date of August 2th, 1898, and that on that day the defendant applied for a Customs stated at from eighty to one hundred and forty, permit to ship 500 Mauser rifles, and 500,000 at a point near Jihchao city. They marched to the city only to find the gates olised. Ac- Manser cartridges by the American steamer Abbey, which was at that time lying at Canton, cording to all classical precedents as found in the Three Kingdoms and other standard works, for Singapore. There was a clause in the bond
they should then have sat down, after soundly that a Consular certificate from Singapore as to the arrival of the ammunition should be cursing the city and its official, and entered produced within six weeks from the date of into prolonged negotiation. What did these the shipment, and upon that being done, unconventional barbarians do, however, but roid." The ammuni- promptly insert a "long thin thing" through the bond should be tion, however, was never couveyed to Singa. the crack in the gate and saw the bar of the pore, but was taken to the Island of Luzon, gate in two, after which they rudely shoved the gate wide-open and marched into the hsion where it was discharged and that therefore At the Magistracy on the 3rd April, be- under the bond the sum of Tls. 15,000 had be.yamen, where they proceeded to make themselves very much at home, and at latest accounts seem fore Mr. T. Sercombe Smith, Reginald G.
come payable. The answer of Mr. Sylvester to be in no particular burry to leave, Hopkins (aged 29), clerk, was again brought was an admission of the execution of the docu. up on the charge that he "on or about the 21stment referred to, but a denial that it had any day of March, 1899, at Victoria, in this colony, then being a member of the co-partnership under the style of the Mutual Store, feloniously did steal or embezzle the sum of $1,000, being the property of the said co-partnership, con- trary to Ordinance 3 of 1886, saotion 2.”
His Worship remarked, however, that he had not power under section 23 to enforce the order, and He should not make an order which he could not enforce.
Mr. Hastings-If your worship will grant a subpoena on the accountant of the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank we may get over the diffi- culty.
His Worship said he would do that on the necessary declaration being made.
•
Mr. Hastings added that he would have to ask for several remands. The accounts were in such a bad state that they had not been able to go into them on account of the difficulty as to
the bank-book.
The case was remanded until Wednesday
next.
His Worship-Do you apply for bail. Defendant-No.
Mr. O. D. Thomson (Messrs. Deacon and Hastings) appeared for the prosecution and Mr. Grist (Messrs. Wilkinson and Grist) for the defence.
Mr. Thomson said he should have to ask for a farther remand for a week, as they had not been able to get any further evidence.
Mr. Grist-A week is a long time. I would ask if Monday would be convenient.
His Worship-Monday is a heavy day for me as a rule.
binding effect upon him, or that he was under any legal obligation whatsoever in respect thereof, in fact, it was void ab initio.
Mr. Wilkinson appeared for the plaintiff and Mr. Platt represented the defendant,
The award was held over.
THE EXPLOITATION OF SZECHUEN,
Chungking, 17th April. Capt. Davies reached Yunnan-fa on his way from Burmah on 1st inst. Capt. Pottinger's survey party is still in the Pichich-bien district, in north-western Kueichow about three weeks' march from Yunnan-fn.
Acting Consal Litton reached Kueiyang-fu Mr. Grist-Then say Tuesday,
on 7th inst., having travelled the 16 stages The further hearing was accordingly ad- from Chungking in ten days. He left again journed until Tuesday afternoon next.
There were 2,109 visitors to the City Hall Museum last week, of whom 339 were Europeans.
for Panghai, the scene of Mr. Fleming's murder, on the following day. The headman of the village, who instigated this outrage, is known to be in hiding in this district, and Mr.
10th April.
At the same time they landed a force of filty or sixty men about one hundred and fifty li further south and thirty li north of Ch'ingk'ou. These proceeded at once to the village of Han- chists'uu, one hundred and fifty li from the coast and seventy li south-east of this city. This was the place where the three Germans were attacked, as related in my last letter. They notified the people that they intended to burn the village, which they proceeded to do as soon as the inhabitants had fled. It seems that they burned about half of the place, which is a large and rather wealthy village. Next day they went back to the coast. They sent on to this city two proclamations in Chinese, one of which announced that they proposed to occupy Jibchao until the pending cases are settled, and the other stated their purpose to burn Hauchia- ta'un' in retaliation for the attack upon the Germans.
The officials here were very much frightened, and, as is nsual under such circumstances, come to the foreigner for advice. We urged them to settle the pending cases at once, as the only mible means of securing the return of the
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