seizure they may wait. A watch might be kept ou goods leaving the Grand Hotel, Hongkong.
"Yours, etc. etc..
"(Signed) e..W. M SON.""
"Hotel des Colonies, "Shanghai. 12th September, 1891. "Dear Mr. Bredon, The enclosed was sipped into my haud by a Chinamau a few minutes after leaving your office. I know the writer as dangerously a man of his word, and although my nerves are pretty good I feel uncomfortable.
"I think I must go up to Chiukiang to-night; if once I satisfy them that I am all right I shall he admitted more into their confidence, and shall be able to move about with a safe skin. If you approve of my going, had not I better at least take along the boxes mentioned, if we can And them? I send this note instead of coming iu person, lest I should be watched.
"Unless you tell me to the contrary I shali come to the Club dinner at 8. Trusting you will exouse this letter,
"I remain, Sir.
"Yours respectfully,
"(Signed) C. W. MASON.
* If so, they might be taken on board after dinner and put in my cabin. To-night is Fuhwo, I think "
Enclosure in above.
"Are you betraying us? If you do not leave for C. to-night with the things you will not leave Shanghai alive. I shall meet you
there.
"(Signed)
A. 8." *Boxes 10 and 11 contain dynamite with caps fired also others."
As the interview on Saturday he told me th what had come in the Chiyuen oon isted of 35 caves, and he produced a bill of lading for them. I took a note of its contents. It stated that the goods had been shipped at ilongk ug by a Chi- nese fim called Wing Sbung, destination Sbang- hai, consignee bearer; two copies issued; 33 packages; contents shovels and steel; fr-ight payable in Shaugbai. $5.90. He said he did not produce the bill of lading with the object of claiming the goods. He said they would be applied for at Chinking by Chinese, Accused returned from Chinkiang on Tuesday, and I saw him on the following day. The arms were seized on the previous Sturday and were care. fully examined on Monday morning. The packages, which were opened in my presence, coutaited rifles. bayonets, revolvers and car. tridges. Some of the boxes were marked, inside. as explosive cartridges. When the boxes arrived they were wrapped in matting like ordinary Canton cargo. They were maked" G and Co. in a diamond and consecutively numbered from I to 35 There was no other mark, or label of any kind on thent. After accused's return from Chinking I received a letter enclosing a state- ment which he asked me to send to the Inspector- General. That was on the 18th:--
"Central Hotel,
Shanghai, 181 September, 1891.. SIE-I beg to hand you herewith. opon, a memorandum addressed to Sir Robert Hart ex- plaining my conduct: promising that I make these statements privately to the Customs an thorities on condition that these volunteerod con- fessions be not afterwards produced against me for the purpose of prosecution. This is in no way a defence banded in to a court of law; it is of the nature of a private letter, and its readers are at liberty to disbelieve every word of it just as the writer is at liberty to refuse proving bis statements or submitting to cross-examination on them. I farther, having ran short of despatel paper, beg to request that my letter enclosing the statement sont to you on the 16th inst, ad- dressed to the Inspector General, and purporting to be a draft, be sent ou as it stands. I enclose two notes for $200 from which I shall be glad to receive $50 change, being my salary for Septem- ber paid in advance aud now returned as obtained on false pretences. Meanwhile I remain bere and await (1) any prosecutions that may be deemed necessary, either for carrying dynamite or conspiring against a friendly Power, (2) the decision of the Inspector-General as to my continuation in or dismissal from the service.
"Thanking you very much for your consider. ate hudling of my case.-I remain, sir, your obedient servant,
"(Sigued) C. W. MASON."
I wrote to accused stating that I declined to receive any private communication or to bind Sir Robert Hart as to what he would do. 1 said I had rasd the memorandum, which was a lengthy one, that I thought he might submit it
to sir Robert Hart, and that I had not copied i it. After that I received one or two letters from accnsod with enclosures to Sir Robert Hart, which I have forwarded. I was also present at a mee ing at the Custom House when the Tuotai, Mr. de Luca, Mr. Zee Lan-char, accused, and myself were present. Accused did not at any time give any explanation as to the object for which the dynamite was in his possession.
The bearing was continued on the 8th inst.. when the following evidence was taken -.
Chou Ping-ssa deposed-I am a Chinese sub- ject. and weiyuan in the Customs opium godown at Chinking, I have been in that position since the 9th moon of last year I have known accused since the sixth moon of this year (the end of July). I then knew him through the tinychaż bringing him to the godown. Accused sait that he wished to study Chinese, that the Cominissioner (Mr. Brazier) recommended me 25 a good Chinese scholar, and accused wished to know if I was willing to toach him. I at fie t said I had no time, but finally agreed to teach accused, and weat to him for the first time on the following Monday (13th July). After that I went nearly every day. After about ten days accused spoke to me about the anti-Christian dis- turbances, and said he supposed it was all done by the Kolao Hui. Accused said he had heard that there were poople in Shanghai who were buying munitions of war. and that there were Chinese officials in the society. 1 paid no, particular attention to this conversation a the time, thinking it was merely gossip. I after- wards spoke to Mr. Brazier, and asked if he bad recommended me to accused. Subsequently ac- cused asked me what salary I got at the Customs. and said he supposed it was not much, adding that it would be better if I got another post. I said there was no other post for me. Accused replied that he was under orders to go to Péking and that he was willing to say a word for me with the inspector-General. I then wrote on some cards my name, residence, į and rank, and gave the cards to acensed, About the beginning of August accused asked me when I should be promoted and when I should be able to be a Taotai. I replied that it was not easy to get promotion, stiil less to be a Tantai. Acensed said, "If you enter the society yon can soon be a high official." At first I bad no sus- picion that accused was connected with the socia ty, but accused having frequently spoken of the society I began to suspect him." I asked what object there would be in my entering the society, whether accused knew anyone in it, who the. leaders were and where they lived. Accused ' replied that as I had not entered the society he coull not trust me, but that there wore two leaders in Shanghai. Next day, suspecting thai acoused was not a good man," I spoke to Ling, my colleague in the opium gedown, about the, matter. I went to see accused next day, and found his things packed. I asked noe sed for the cards. He replied that be had not fouud them, but would look for them and send them. I then returued to my own room. This was between 2nd and 4th August. I did not se him again. On 9th August I obtained two months leave from the Taotai, and went to my home at Tsingkiangpu. I know no one else of my name oconpying the position of an opium weiyuan and living at Tsingkian.. pu. I deny that I asked accused to join the society; I am an official. I never offered accused the post of Commissioner at Chiukiang at Tis. 500 a mouth, neither did I propose to Mason that he should go to Hongkong to boy arms. I never introduced Mason to another foreigner. Mason never asked me to introduce him to General E Tung-ling.
William Mosny stated-I am a British sub- jeet and hold the rank of Lieutenant-General in the Chinese army. I remember receiving
an anonymous letter (produced) on the 10th August.
Witness here read the letter, as follows,
Dear Blypel bag to rageans that a 7*** high official of Nanking commands us to write to you, for to make a contract.
1-To send land between Chinking to Shanghai, within limit of what tins the follow- ing viz. 100 repeating out ones, new pattern Like Colts Lightning, price wholesale about $17 with 500 cartridges sach, and straps; and 10 revolvers, Webley Bulldog American) Double action 4 inches barrel, 44 calibra, Cen. Price with 500 rounds each gun about $1.50.
33
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