2:16
IMPORTANT MACAO CASE.
· ALLEGED IMPERSONATION,
CHINESE LOTTERY FARMER'S SON AS
PLAINTIFY,
name.
THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1905.
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Mr. Sharp produced the document purport. does not correspond with the signature of the ing to assign plaintiff's share to the defendant. | last owner.
Look at that signature? Is that yours? Mr. Sharp-It should not be so, but this case No, it is not my signature, and it is not my exemplifies what is done.
Hu Lordship—It is liks, a‘mortgags being brought in by a man named Smith and the last-mentioned owoar was Smythe. It would | be the duty of the registering officer to call attention to the fact of the difference in the namer. In this case not only is the meaning different but the way of writing the name is different.
Have you ever seen your name written like that before 7-Never..
You have heard that somebody has been 28th ultraising money on your estats?—Yes.
An action marked by some unusual and eren extraordinary features was opened, in the Supreme Court today (in Original Jurisdiction) before the Chief Justice, Sir Francis Piggott. Lo Kwong Chiu, a student, residing at Macao through his next friend Lo Foon Hing, of 23 Bonham Strand East, sued Vincenzo Pietro Musso di Peralta, merchant, 4 Queen's Road Central, claiming (1) That a document barring date the 28th of March, 1905, and purporting to be a deed of mortgage of the plaintiff, Lo Kwong Chip, to the defendant of the plaintiff's share and interest in Inland Lot No. 7 be set aside, and that the registration thereof in the Land Office by Mamorial No. 37,541 be cap celled; (2) That a declaration be made by this honourable Court that the said docu- ment is a forgery and void, and that no charge apon the piece of ground registered in the Land Office as Inland Lo! No. 7, or the plais. tiffs, share and interest thereis was affected theroby.
Mr. E. H. Sharp, K.C., with whom was Mr. Calthrop instructed by Mr. R. Harding, of Messrs. Eweos, Harston and Harding, appear ed for the plaintif; Mr. H. E. Pollack, K... fnstructed by Mr. E. A. Bonner, of Messrs. Dennys and Bowley, represented the defen. dant,
The statement of claim set forth that the plaintiff is a minor. He is entitled in a fifth share of Inland Lot No. 7, which purported to be assigned to the defendant in consideration of the sum of $16,000 which it was alleged had been paid to the plaintiff by the defendant. The documeni was registered in the Land Office. The document was get without the plaintiff's consent and the signature was a forgery. The plaintiff claimed that the document should be delivered up and cancell ed and the registration of the Land Office be onnulled and that the Court declare the docu- mont and signatura to be forgeries. The defen- dant, in reply, did not admit that the plaintiff was a minor. The defendant stated that the estato was assigned is consideration of the sum of $25,000 paid to the signatory of the document The signature to the docunient is the true and genuine signature of Le Kwong Chiu. The defendant "did not admit that it was made without the plaintiff's knowledge or consent nor did he admit that the plaintiff had not received the sum of $26,000.
THE FACTS IN BRIEF,
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Tell be when and where? The first time 1 heard about this mortgage was in my family house on the 31st March.
Mr. Sharp-The Land Officer has only a memorial and the only signature on the me morial is that of the vendor, so that they have no signature to compare.
Who told you?-My father had received a let ter from Sin Tak Fan and he told me about it Did your father reply ?—He sent a telegram. What did you do I took the boat to Hong- kong.
The plaintiff said he came across with Lotion is defeated. Kwong San. He had a younger brother, Lo Kwang Chai.
Hi Lordship-The whole object of registra Mr. Pollock-Only one, person' is required to sign, the purchaser. It seems to be a great "His Lordship—It seems a most important question.
Is there anything peculiar about his appear-pity. anco-He is pock-marked.
Anything else peculiar?—He is a little crazy. Is he entitled to any share in this property? |—No, he is not,
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Have you an uncle called Lo Chook Hin Ever heard of anybody called by that name —Not a soul.
No.
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Mr. Sharp, in opening the case for the prosecution, said the facts were of a very simple character. The plaintiff and his family all lived at Macao and he might say that the plaintiff's family was one of the leading families in Macno. About November, 1903,-when the history of this property began so far as this case was concerned-the plaintiff's father pur- chased this propcity for five of his sons, in- cluding the plaintiff, to be held, by them in equal shares. The price of the property was $130,000. On the 6th January, 1904, an assign- ment of the property was made pursuant to this purchase to the plaintiff and his four brothers and this assignment was executed at the father's house in Macao in the presence of Mr. Harding, rolicitor, and another. - It was registered in due course at the Land Office On the 31st March this year they alleged that this forgery was perpetrated under the following circum. stances. On the morning of that day Mr. Bonner of Messrs. Dennyi and Bowley came to the office of Messrs. Ewens, Harton and Harding to borrow the draft of the assignment of January, 1994 Mr. Bonner stated the pur- pose for which he required. it, that a mort- gago was being prepared in Messrs. Denys and Bowley's office of a fifth share of the estate in question. Messrs. Ewens, Karsion and Harding told Mr. Booner that they knew no thing about the matter and informed him that the plaintiff was a minor. Mr. Bonner went away with the draft assigament. Messrs. Ewens, Harston and Harding being uneasy as to what they had just heard wrote to the father in Macan informing him of what they had been told, that his son was alleged to be borrawing money on his share. That was on Friday, 31si March. On the Saturday morning Messrs. Ewans, Harston and Harding received a tele. gram from the father, in consequence of which they wrote at once to Mesars. Dennys and Bowley "We have just received telegraphic Instructions from Macao that Lo Kwong Chiu is at present in Macao and that some one ls attempting to personate him and to ob tain money by attempting to mortgage his share in the property. We may add that all the other registered owners of the properly are in Macao and have no intention whatever of mortgaging their shares. Please take notice that we are acting for the owners." Later on the same day another letter was written by Messrs. Ewen, Harston and Harding to Messrs. Dennys and Bowley stating that Le Kwong Chui had just arrived from Macao and had instructed them take action in this mat- ter: Between the times on which these two letters were written there had been an interview between the solicitors. Mr. Bonner stated that the mortgage had been put through in spite of the very prompt action of the plaintiff's solici. tore. He said that the alleged owner had been introduced to Messrs. Dennys and Bowley as the person entitled under the assignment, and the introduction was made by a person who described himself as Lo Kwong Chin's uncle. It would be proved that Lo Kwong Chiu had no such uncle. Mr. Banner further explained that the man introduced as Lo Kwong Chiu was pock-marked; beyond that he could not probably identify the man. Lo Kwong Chiu was certainly not pock-marked. It appeared that Messrs. Dennys and Bowley had been completely deceived by a number of conspira- tors. The chief interpreter of Messrs. Ewens, Harston and Barding's office would be called; ¦ he had known the father for 25 years and the sons as long as they had lived. The plaintiff, a young man not more than 20 years of age, would be called, along with some of his brothers entitled under the assignment to a share in the property. It would be proved that the signa- urs on the mortgage was a forgery of Lo Kwong Chiu's name. A daring fraud had been perpetrated and the plaintif was entitled to the rellaf which he asked for that this mortgage be declared a forgery and that it be cancelled:
Sin Tak Fan, the chief interpreter with Mesira. Ewen, Harston and Harding, was called and gave evidence regarding the draft ing of the original assignment. He maintained that the signature in the mortgage was a for gary. The characters were different and the maining was different. He also gave evidence respecting the proceedings taken when it was found out that an attempt to raise money on the assignment had been made,
The plaintiff, Lo Kwong Chiu, top of Lo Chook Chee of Macao, said he was born on the 25th October of 1885. He remembered his father purchasing Inland Lot No. 7 for himself and his brothers in January, 1904, and he was ons of those who signed the document in Macao. There were also present, besides his brothers, Mr. Harding, the solicitor, and Sja
Tak Far,
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Did you ever authorise anybody to borrow money on your share in this property-No.
Have you received any money or any ahare of any money which has been borrowed on this property ?—No, I have not.
Where had you beep during the whole of the 31st of March was in Macao the whole time, la cross-examination by Mr. Pollock, the plaintiff said his father did all sorts of business in Macao. He owns a bank, the lottery buriaZ39,
He carries on the lottery farm?--Yes. In Macao and Canten, too?—I am not certain of that.
Lottery and fantan in Macao then?—Yes, Why was this property in ilongkong bought in the name of yourself and your brothers ?=}{ was a gift from my father.
You paid no money for it?-No.
Who collects the rent for it?-Yu Yes Ting. He's in Hongkong?—Yes; he's employed in the Tung Tak Tai Bank..
What do you receive as your share of the rent?-The rent is sent over to Macao and 1 am entitled to one-fifth. -
Have you received any money at all as your share of the rent?--Yes, i have.
How much don't remember how much i have received altogether.
Plaintiff said the money was paid into the Po Hung bank of Macao. It was paid in to the credit of the plaintiff and his brothers.
Have you ever drawn cut any money, from the Po ung bank as rent?-No, I have not drawn cut a cash,
Hasn't your father been drawing money from the Po Hung bank on account of renis?-No,
Are you prepared to swear that?--Yes. It's our money.
You say you live in your "family house." who lives there besides yourself? My brothers.
Does your father pay expenses?—No, I pay for it myself.
How much did you pay last month7-5100.. Whom did you pay it to?-My wife. Who pays the rent?-ți's our own property, No need to pay rent.
Who gave you that property --My father. Your father has no house property in his own name in Macao?-1 don't exactly know.
is your father expecting to be sued by any, body?-We are grown up people now.
His Lordship-Up to a certain point your case is common-You sod Mr. Sharp are os common ground, and I don't think you should go beyond that in cross-examination.
Mr. Pollock-We join issue when they say that this was done without the plaintiff's con- sent. We say the plaintiff's father was belitud it all. The plaintiff must prove not merely that the signature was a forgery but that it was done without his consent. The matter is not settled by a question as to a signature. Supposing say to some friend-"Look here you may sign my name to a cheque. If my friend does that in my name I am bound by the signature to the cheque and I cannot prosecute my friend for forgery, and whatever results from that cheque 1 should be liable just as if I had signed it myself.
His Lordship said he merely wished to see how the master stood.
Mr. Sharp submitted that if they proved that the person who executed the document was not Lo Kwong Chiu at all but that it was executed by somebody who impersonated the plaintiff then it was for the defendant to show that the impersonator was acting under the instructions of the plaintiff.
Proceeding, the plaintiff said he had seen the defendant since this matter arose. He had beard his father speaking to the defendant, He had heard his father say that he had recover ed a sum of $9.300.
Did you hear where that money had been deposited ?—Yes, in the Portuguese bank.
Did your father say in whose name it was deposited?—No, I didn't hear.
Where's your father now ?-In Macao, Has he been over to Hongkong lately?-No. Are you sure of that?-Positive, Do you always follow him about?-1 sen him every day in 'Macao.
You have been over here for some time? Just two days. ・・
Where's your pock-marked brother?--I don't know.
When did you last see bim ?—I haven't soon him for some months.
Can't youpay what moon?-1 baven't seen him during the 4th, 5th and 6th moons.
In re-examination Mr. Sharp said the plain, tiff had said his father had recovered $9,300,
Bow did he manage that?-A man was ar rested at Macao. Choi Ling Po was arrested at the Beungthan wharf. He was searched and 59,300 was found upon him. They were on the look-out for him at the wharf.
Did the Magistrate give this money to your father?—Yes; und my father put it in a bank
Mr. Sharp (explaining to the Court)-Chol Ling Po is the name of one of the two persons who instigated this scheme.
Do you know what property your father has in Macao?—I don't know exactly,
You say that Lo Kwong Chau has assigned his share in this Inland Lot No. 7 to his mo ther-Yes.
Has any other of your brothers assigned his share ?—No.
Is this Lo Kwong Sau a full brother of the pock-marked Lo Kwong Chau ?—Yes.
Lo Kwong Sau is the only one of the five sons whose share bas had to be interfered with by the father?-Yes.
Does Lo Kwong Sau live with you?—No. Did he live with Lo Kwong Chau?—Yes, in
■ different house from ours.
LAND OFFICE METHODS.
After the adjournment for tifia Lo Kwong Sau was called and said that, with four of bli brothers, be was entitled to loland Lot No. 7 or, as he called it, the Falconer property. Be | remembered about Lo Kwang Chau coming to Hongkong and raising the money in question, and said that Kang Kit Shang and Tang Kan Hing told Lo Kwong Chau to write Lo Kwong Chiu's name as the document accord. ing to the "specimen written on their hands." His share of the property had been assigned to his mother. He spoke to the sending of the telegram to Hongkong and concluded bis evi dance by stating that he was a Chinese B.A. /
Mr. Pollock questioned him and at the out- set witness said he did not purchase his. B.Az- degree.
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What is your reason for the property being transferred out of your name into your mother's name ?--There, were rumours going about last year to the affect that I had been borrowing money all round.
Who was it that insisted 7-It was made at my own suggestion because of the rumours going about. In order to pacify my parents thought it would be better to transfer it.
Who gave instructions to the solicitor?-1 gave instructions.
But did not your father came to give instruc- tions?--I did myself.
Witness said bir father had spoken to him about borrowing money on bis (witness's) share of the property. In further evidence he said the sum of $9,300 had been recovered by his father out of the money advanced on mortgage. That money was in the bank.
Mr. Sharp intimated that he did not think there was any objection to the other side having that money.
Judgment reserved.
A SERIOUS OMISSION
MAKES CLUMSY FRAUD POSSIBLE.
30th ult.
guarded. Although of course the deed must be set aside in accordance with bis Lordship's | judgment it did not follow that the plaintiff would be entitled to conts. The fraud bad been perpetrated by a very near relative who it appears was not looked after as much as he might have been. There were circumstances in the case in which his Lordship could exer- cise his discretion as to costs by saying each party should pay their own.
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Stock of lista, crockery and glass-
wara, &c. .....
FANCY
48,998.71
THE TALE OF A SHIRT.
"IGI ON PARLE FRANÇAIS.”
Stock of wine, provisions, house- hold sundries and stationery as per inventories................... 364655,31 Shares in public companies 5.796.31
31st le Licences_attaching to half yest to
A correspondent who has recently returned 314 December, 1905 -******
*1,267.67. |- with a friend from a trip to Indo-Chinn sende Fire "insurance, unexpired premium: 2,480.59 us an amusing letter from which wo’fake the Value of steam launch, as
́per last account: ........... 7,000,00 Less written off, as per fast
reporteåter
His Lordship remarked that he was some- what impressed by what Counsel had said, but under the circumstances he thought the defen. dant had acted most rashly in what he had done, and if it had not been that a proper | Sundry debtors . investigation of title bad not been made he❘ Hongkong and Shangbai Banking might have met Mr. Pollock in some way.
Corporation (unclaimed divi- dead account)
Mr. Pollock then alluded to the plaintiff' having briefed two Counsel and said that to his | Cash in hand................................................ mind that was hardly necessary.
His Lordship replied that that was essential-
ly a question for the taxing master with whom he did not wish to interfere in the matter.
THE HONGKONG HOTEL COMPANY, LIMITED.
The report of the board of directors to be presented at the ordinary meeting of share: holders, to be held at the company's hotel, at 12.15 p.m. on Saturday, the 2nd September, reads as follows:
Gentlemen,-in accordance with section 56 of the articles of association, the directors now beg to submit their report for the half-year ended 30th June, 1905.
ACCOUNTS.
The profil on working account amounted to $114,540.90 as compared with $95,077.67 for the corresponding period of 1904, being an increast of $19,463,23.
The profit and loss account, including the sum of $3,554.92 brought forward from 31st December, 1904, shows a credit balance of $105,126.40, which your directors propose to apportion as follows:-
To pay a dividend of to per cent....$ 60,000,00 To transfer to repairs and renewals
account ..... TAYARLAR 30,000,00 To write off from value of electric
installation.
To carry forward to new account....
VALUE OF PROPERTY.
focola 10,126.40
5105,126.40
The company's land and buildings property has been, quite recently, re-valued by Messrs. Palmer and Turner, and the property account written up by the amount of additional value ($548,973.78), the reserve fund being credited with an equivalent sum.
INCREASE OF CAPITAL.
The directors propose, later on, to recom- mend to shareholders the advisability of doubl. ing the present capital of $600,000, by trans
capital account.
ISSUE OF NEW capital.
I propose to draw the attention of the Go-ferring that sum from the reserve fund to vernment to what seems to be a very serious omission in the law of registration, which does not make due provision for a proper investiga tion by the Land Officer of the identity of the parties by comparison of their Chinese signs iures. This omission it was which made what is really a clumsy fraud, possible." So Baid Sir Francis T. Piggott, the Chief Justice, in concluding his judgment this morning in the important impersonation case from Macao.
His Lordship, in giving judgment, said:— The mortgage on which the defendant relies in this case is a palpable fraud. It is quite possible that owing to the use of a name which was not the name of the true owner of the pro- perty mortgaged the case might not fail strictly within any of the definitions of forgery given by Stephens in his Digest of the Criminal Law; though I have little doubt that such a case as the present, if it had occurred in England, would have been added to the list of cases given in Article 356, illustrative of what is meant by making a false document. But even if this were not so, the offence of obtaining money by false pretences was committed. The argument of the defendant's counsel pressed to its logical conclusion comes to this: that although the maker of the deed had been found guilty of one or other of these offences, yet the true owner is not entitled to have it cancelled or set aside-if he comes to the Court under circumstances which raise suspicion as to hit documents of title; in other words, that the deed found be a fraudulent deed is to remain of full effect in favour of the non-fraudulent party who has benefitted by it. This argument is said to be supported by the fundamental maxim of equity that he who comes into equity must come with clean hande." The attempt to make this principle applicable to the present case shows how carefully the maxim must be applied. The suspicious cir cumstances connected with the deed of assign-- ment by Lam Sui Man to the five sont of La Chuk Chi, are that the purchase money was paid to the father; that he retained control of the property and received rents; and that he had made similar ortange. menti with regard to other property of his in Macao, and that the whole transaction looked very like an arrangement made with a view to | defraud creditors in the event of his going into bankruptcy in Hongkong. The true motive may of course have been to make provision for his sons, the consideration being natural love and affection. But for the purpose of the argu ment I assume that the other assumption is the correct one. Now the maxim is illustrated in the text books by the following case. If a per- son seeks to cancel an instrument on the ground of fraud, equity will not interpose on his behalf if he has been guilty of wilful parti- cipation in the fraud. But, the books continue, the maxim must be understood to refer to mis- conduct in regard to the matter in litigation, and not to any misconduct, however gross, which is unconnected with the matter in litiga tion, and which the opposite party in the cause bas no connection. Applying the maxim thus explained to the suggestion made as to the trus | signification of the father's method of dealing with his property, it is clear that with the idea of defrauding crediton the de- fendant in this case has nothing to do: that question could only arise in the Court of Bankruptcy. I hold therefore that the maxim doan not apply to the present case. The de fendant, however, la entitled to little sympathyj for he acted in the face of the warning given to him by his solicitor, and, as it seems to me, under the very peculiar, circumstances of the case, with unreasonable haste in pressing the mortgage through without a proper investigation of title, although Mr. Bonner did the best be could for him, by advising him of the risk he was running. The plaintif is therefore entitled to the relief he asks 'and judgment must be entered for him in the terms of the prayer for relief I propose to draw the at tention of the Government to what seems to be a very serious omission in the law of 16-
His Lordship What puzzles me is how it is possible for a subsequent document to be regis tered with an apparently different name to thatgistration, which does not make dus provision of the person claiming title, and the signatore for a proper lavestigation by the Land Officer of the identity of the parties by comparison is not verified by the actual document,
Mr. Pollock The signatura reads the name of their Chinese signature. This omission in English but it reads different in Chinese. it was which made what is really a clumsy
His Lordship-1 suppose that in the Land fraud possible. Registration Office in England the first thing they would do would be to compare the signs tures. The whole idea of registration is to pre
Mr. Pollock mentioned the question of corti because he thought he was entitled to impress on the Court that on the evidence given the
As there is urgent need of additional funds to repay the overdraft due to the Hongkang and Shanghai Ranking Corporation, and to complete the payments for the new building on the reclamation, known as "Hotel Man sions," the directors desire, at an early date, 10 obtain the sanction of the shareholders to the issue of additional new capital which they hope can be floated at a high premium.
"REPAIRS and RENEWALS ACCOUNT.
It will be noticed that it is proposed to place the large sum of $30,000 to the above account. This is considered necessary to meet the cost of extensive repairs to the old buildings which are urgently needed, and possible renewal of the hydraulic lifts which are by no means equal to the requirements of the present day,
DIRECTORS,
Mr. W. Parfitt retires by rotation, but offers himself for re-election.
AUDIT
The accounts have been audited by Messrs. H. U. Jeffries and J. E. Bingham (the latter in the absence of Mr. A. R. Lowe, C.A.) who offer themselves for e-election.
W. PARFITT,
Chairman.
"'ongkong, 29th August, 1905.
Accounts are as follows:-
BALANCE SHEET, 30th June, 1905, Liabilities.
PROFIT AND LOBS ACCOUNT.
liberty of making the following extract banya One very amusing incident took place of which 1 must tell you. On our first day there ; · *******. 2,000.00
(Hanoi) we sallied forth to buy a shirt each. $,000.00 We couldn't make anybody "saves' what wa ******* 36,094.97. | wanted, but at last espied our old friend, the Attorney General of the place, and tackled himų His reply was attender," which we did and: 3,107.00 were conducted to the Palace de Justice. We' 193.71 thought we were in for something, but this worthy gentleman' was merely trying. $1,911,939.15 to get our request translated. He sprang four men on us and their combined know. ledge of English would not hava sufficed to have produced a steak and chops in a London restaurant. Then arrived on the scans Bro.19 an important, if somewhat corpulent, gentle 503.41 man who having cast a look of icorn upon the four failures, proceeded to show them how the 1,046.15 2,361.23 matter should be managed. He brought his heavy guns to hear in a string of words of no particular language. Westared at him in silent admiration. He tried us with field güns and at last came down to rifle fire-and we still stared and spake no word for we understood not.) 10,975.89 Seeing that his chance of winning, great glory had güne hence, be screamed out, or rather spat 3.474.55 3,200.00 at us, these words" Do you not speak Ing. loss? We hastened to assure him that we, did when we were at home. A brilliant -
For the six months ending 30th June, 1905. Dr.
To bad debts and refunds... To crown rent genanvenonenki To rates.......àries
To fre insurance
To debenture int, on
$500,000 at 3 percent.=515,000.00 To less returned on deben- tores held by the com. pany**********
4,024.11
To interest account.................... To directors' and auditors' fees..... To amount transferred to reserve food being increased value of pro- perties as per contra................ 548,975.78 To balance, to be appropriated as
follows:
To pay a dividend of so
per cent... $50,000,00 To transfer to repairs
and renewals account 30,000.00 To written off value of
electric installation... 5,000,00 To carry forward to new
account
Cr,
10,126.40
By balance from 31st De-
cember, 1904.....588,876.58 Less dividend
at io per cent.......$60,000,00
Less transfer
to repairs
and renew.
als account 10,000,00, Less written offfurniture and fixtures account ... Less written
off
steam
launch ......
Less written
13,092.92
7,000,00
off electric Installation 1,318.74
By tents of shops and offi
ces, old building By rents of shops and offi
ces, new building.........
85,331,66
$8,115.00
2,287.59
By dividends on shares in public
companies
JUODEC
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you
inspiration was his. From somewhere he. fished out Madame, his wife, Madame spoke "Ingless "orsome of it. The lady explained, that the Court interpreter was having his hair cut or something of the sort, but would shortly return and would be at our disposal. "Would Messieurs wait, yes ?a. Seeing that so much trouble had been expended upon us, wo thought that the best way of saying "Thank was to await. Presently arrived the Court Interpreter. Only a litle more than 105,126.40 five minutes ware required for the assembled multitude to explain to him that we were there, $678,c23.60 that we wanted something, and that they were hanged if they knew what we did want.. Monsieur was at our service. Can youimagine the Gilbertan situation ? Two travelled stain- ed Englishmen explaining to a Court official in the sacred precincts of the Court of Justice that they had got ahead of their stock of clean shirts and desired to purchase new ones! }}- Joy of joys the grasped our idea to the chorus, of approval of an admiring audience. We were conducted across the unlit street to a store where everything was sold and no chits taken.
-$3.554-92
By scrip and transfer fees... By amount transferred from proper. By profit on hotel working account
ty account being increase of value $48,975.78
for the six months ending 30th June, 1905
........... 114,546.90
$678,022,60
REPAIRS AND RENEWALS ACCOUNT. For the six months ending 30th June, 1905. Dr.
To payments on account of repairs and renewals during the half-year anding 30th July, 1905
To balance
Cr,
By amount transferred from profit and loss account, as recommended in last report...........
...$600,000.00
Capital-
12,000 shares at $50 each (fully
paid up). 1,000 mortgage de
benture (6%).........$500,000.00
Less 268 mortgage de
bentures held by the company.......
134,000.00
366,000.00
Reserve fund, as per
last account ***** 100,000.00 Since added, being in
.crease in value of property as per con. tra...........
$48,975-78
Unclaimed dividends................... Sundry creditors Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Repairs and renewals, balance a Corporation (current account)......
$ 8,191.08 1,807.92
To an assistant who also spoke the tongue of the perfidious people the situation was ex- plained. It had taken two hours; but we got our shirts!
THE NEW CHINESE MINISTER
TO COURT OF ST. JAMES,
In connection with our special wire from the worth a few days since the following informa tion from the Ñ. C. D. News will be of in- 10,40250 | terest,--H.E. Chang Teyi, Chinese Minister to the Court of St. James, has lately written to $24.50 the Central Government that as his term of 34.00 office of three years is about, to expire he is
extremely anxious that his successor be ap | pointed as soon as posible owing to the bad.
state of his health. In view of this, ignoring his previous refusal of the post, the Watwupu has forwarded Imperial Rescript to India to his Excellency Tang Shao-yi, Imperial High Commissioner to reorganise Tibet, in which his Excellency is commanded to leave India without further delay for London to take over ILE. Chang Té-yi's post and continue,the negotiations regarding the Younghusband, Treaty at the British capital. Under the cir cumstances, there does not seem any way excused from going to London as the next whereby H.E. Tang Shao-yi can get himself
Chinese Minister to the Court of St. James. As a matter of fact, to those who undertand the workings of Chinese officialdom it is quite ap parent that his appointment to London as Chang Te-y's successor is "Irish promotion, since with the rank of an Imperial High Com- missioner, plus the brevet, grade of Fu Tu... tung, or Military Deputy Lieutenant-Governor, which makes the holder of the rank an officer of the Second grade, Class A, T'ang Shao-y! stands on a level with the Governor of a pro vince, whereas a Chinese Minister of the First Class accredited to any of the Great Powers usually bears a brevet 4th Metropolitan" rank, making him eligible at most for a Pro vincial Judgeship or Salt Commissionership. One can then easily sympathise with H.E. Tang Shao-yi's dislike to his new appointment Unless the Chinese Governmen! Increases the official standing of its representatives at the capitals of the Great Powers and raises them to the rank of Ambassadors, making them eligible. to the Governorship of a province, we shall continue to see men of ability and high rank constantly refusing posts abroad,
$10,000.00
$10,000.00
$10,000.00
GOLD MINE SHIZED.
A NATIVE WHO WOULD NOT PAY -
SQUEEZE,
Lo-to-ying is a mountain located 40 li east of the city of Lu-lang District, in the Yungping Prefecture, where gold is plentiful. The owner bas worked it by native methods, employing 648,975.78 some 30 men, The result of ten days' work 26,556.00 was an output of 1,300 taels of gold, of good 3,107.00 quality. This came to the knowledge of the District Magistrate who went to the spot to 160,366.05 make an inspection. The landlord was of
opinion that he owned the Mountain, and made Tux case in which Wong Hok's extradition to Profit and loss account, balance as
per statement.....
1.Bar.gz offerings to the Magistrate. The good magis: Shanghai was sought, on a charge of embezz
trate became enraged and reported this to the ling jewelry and money of the total value of per statement............... 105,126.40 Prefect who made a similar inspection in $2053.40, the property of Wong Wan Tre, was person but the landlord bolds to his opinion. called on before Mr. F. A. Hareland on Wed $1,911,939 15 The Prefect has now petitioned the Viceroy 10 Besday, Mr. F. X. d'Almada e Castro appeared the effect that should the man he allowed to for the prosecution. The case was in charge of work the mineral privately, troubles are liable Inspector Langley-The complainant said the to ensue. It would be better for the Gover defendant was her nephew, and she had mant to undertake its working by modern travelled from Hangchow to Shanghai with methods, and great profils can be obtained. him. She had on board the boat a box The Viceroy has ordered the Prefect to close of jewelry and money, and when she reached the mine and commissioned a mining expert to
Assets.
Value of Marine Lot No. sand remaining por tion of Marine Lot No. 3
372.045.60 Remaining portion of
Marina Lot No. 7.... 368,108.20
As per last account... 740,153.80 Add increase in value 325,326.10
3-501,065,380,00
Praya reclamation (Ma. rine Lot No. 288) cost of land, as per last account...... 22,39042 Add increase in value 213,749.58
W
Building thereon "Hotel Mensions," payments on account to date... Cost of three Chinese houses on Sections B, C, and D of Inland Lot No. 80......
Cost of Kowloon Farm Lot No. 3,
Section Aen Furniture and fixtures, as·
par last account.........62,092.92 Less written off, as per
last account.
Since added. .............
12,092.92
50,000,00 ∙15,117,18
Installation of electric light,
as per lasi sccount....31,228,74 Less written off, as per last
report
uomini 1,228,74
30,000.00 55.40
.......
tect title. Here; is 'a person who professes to fraud had been carded on by a person who was Have you ever raised money on that docubo entitled to register the mortgage. He brings more or less crazy, and who seems to have Since added ment or with it in any way i have not the mortgage to register it, and the signature, been left alone instead of being followed and
246,140.07
301,735-49
$3,000.00
make an examination. It is found that the Shanghai she left that box on board, and field occupies an area of about so li, and the did not bring it-The box produced was later sent defendant to get it for her, but ho mineral can be worked to a depth of 40 feathers together with the jewelry it contained The gold is of the best quality in receipt of as well as the money, 5150.40. When she left the report, the Viceroy appointed Tuotai Chang the boat Kwong Tre was in charge of 11. Chen-lang, Director of the salt-tax collectorate She told defendant to take it and deliver it for the seven districts of Yong-ping, to superin to her at the house of a relative in Kun Win tend the working of this. Taotai Chang will Lane in Shanghal. The box was locked whan at first work on a small scale, and when it is
the left it on board: She waited from 9 pm found successful, large sums will be raised for
one day until 4 p.m. the next, but defendant saplargement. Magistrate Li and others did not turn up with the box. Witness kept de have been sent to the spot to commance the fendant and supplied him with food and cloth work. A report bus lately been submitted that ing. His father was in Canton. Defendant | five lands of gold are obtainable out of every had never done any work, and had never 100 catties of earth and recommand the intro earned any money. Witness sever suspected duction of machinery. Thus official virtue is defendant to be a bad man-Detective Ser. iis own reward, and greed meets Nemesis in geant Earner deposed that be arrested defand the long run.-P. & F. Tima,
snt with the box of jewelry and money in bis charge on the ok. Kum Sang on arrival THE Japanese military authorities in Man- from" Shanghai.-Defendant said complainant churis have offered a reward of $100,000 for | told him to go to the boat and get the the capture of Ki Fung Poi, a native of Shan-box, and; bu did, so and when she want tung Provicce, and a notorious spy and in- to the address given he could not and former in the service of the Russian. The her. He then went to a friend's shop, and as Japanese have offered a similar reward for the | she was not there be left a message to say capture of Li Ping Sam, sx-Tactal of Tung be was going to Hongkong to look for the Pin, who has been found guilty of supplying complainant.-His Worship said he would information to the Russiaziz. - It is said that El | deal with the case summarily, Defendant api received a bribe of $300,000 from the Russians peared to be rather stupid; he had never done for his services. He not only acted traitorously say, work-in' his life, and a short sentence: to his own government, but, under the pro- should meet the case, especially an His Wor tacting wing of the Russians, ovarawed and ship understood that complainant did not wish corrupted the staff of the Tartar General at † to press the charge. He would be sent to gaoi) 30,055.40: Mukaon,
with hard labour for two months.
30,916.9
65,117.18