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Prima facie evidence of participation in a murder against all the prisoners; and I think there is legal impediment to their being surrendered to the Chinese Authorities under Article 21 of the Tientsin Treaty.
In the proceedings before the Magistrate the prosecution was conducted by the acting Crown Solicitor. Mr. Ewens, a solicitor, appeared to watch the case for the Chinese Government; and the prisoners were defended by Mr. Wotton, a Solicitor.
The prisoners might legally be handed forthwith; but having regard to the provisions of the Extradition Act 1870, by which prisoners committed for surrender under that Act are allowed fifteen days wherein to move for a writ of Habeas Corpus, I think some reasonable time, say a week, from the date of committal should be allowed for a like purpose in the present instance. This, however, is a matter entirely in the discretion of the Court.
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