Robbery
2.
on Chinese territory.
In the correspondence then-carried on between this Government and the Vice Roy of Granting through the Mediation of Consul Robertson, I had been extremely careful before surrendering the Criminal to insist on his having a fair trial and that neither before, during, nor after his trial was he to undergo any torture whether legal or not according to Chinese Custom.
I am still awaiting the result of enquiries regarding the trial and I now enclose all Robertson's reply.
1.
The result is singular - for it appears that despite the clearest evidence of the Prisoner's guilt, which there never was a point of doubt, no punishment can be inflicted on him - because the prisoner refuses to confess, and without some previous confession, no punishment can be inflicted.
3.
This pledge the Vice Roy finally gave in as complete a manner as possible, and not having heard for nearly two months anything further from the Consul on the subject, I caused a Communication to be made.
Under Ordinary Circumstances, the prisoner would have been forced to confess by torture, but the guarantee given to me by the Vice Roy precludes the application of any torture, and the criminal remains unmolested in China.