petition to Your Excellency" that I know the eleven Chinese prisoners, (whose extradition has been demanded by the Chinese Government) to be innocent, and that they have not made their defence."-
will allow
Before substantiating my statement to that effect, Your Excellency will allow me to clearly state, that it was not my intention at all to blame in any way the sentence given by the Magistrate in the case, as I entertained and entertain the greatest respect for his judgment and I think I have clearly stated in my petition that a prima facie evidence could have been ascertained but that it was not a sufficient proof of their being guilty as many who have been rightly committed by the Magistrate to the Supreme Court on a prima facie evidence have been found not guilty when their case was fully heard at the Supreme Court. On that meaning also I understood when I said that their case was not heard, as I was quite persuaded that full opportunity had been given to the prisoner's lawyer to make their defence.
Having stated that I proceed to substantiate my statement with regard to the men being innocent.
My statements are based 1. in the informations given three years ago by my Missionaries who live in the Mainland. 2. in the informations which I ordered to be taken from the