This was some of the evidence Magistrate, to witness) You say Mah Chow Wang used to take 60 cash from every thousand but that when the new Market was opened his wife and the gang called the Kee Kee Hong reduced the squeeze to 20 per thousand. Now you knew Mah Chow Wang had no power, why did you pay? Witness:- Because we had to, if we did not pay we should be injured, or tortured or brought into trouble.
Magistrate.-Who would trouble you in this serious way?
Witness-I do not like to say who, I am afraid. Nor could all the Magistrate do to infuse confidence, induce him to say more than that it was some party who had influence with the Authorities.
The reign of terror is developing itself and our idea is that the Tepo's "flooring" is the inducement to the poor squeezed ones to speak out. Just fancy, gentle reader, the Tepo of Choong-wan is security for only 200 boats plying out of this harbour; and he, the Tepo, pretty close on conviction as a confederate with the worst pirates in these Seas. What a game! -Friend of China, June 29.
ONE of the market extortion cases will come before the Supreme Court we are glad to find, It is high time that these disgraceful proceedings were brought to an end. Extortioners' hopes have "risen" however, since the Tepo succeeded in getting out of the hands of the Magistrates.
-Friend of China, July 2.
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