Seear M. Guterres,
4/5 140
M... F. A. Mercedes
Songkong
Septr 9th 1906.
I met Capt. Steel last Friday. He was telling me that someone had been lodging a complaint against you. I only saw him for a few minutes as he was in a hurry. He said you were accused of keeping back money when paying off ships' crews.
I have licensed agents in Hongkong for four years now & I feel it is my duty to inform you that I have been perfectly satisfied with the way you have always discharged & paid my crew. As to any change being kept from them, I have noticed that each had not sufficient cents. I saw how you have handled the silver coins at the time when giving out money by handing one coin to one man & told him he was to pass it over to the other man, then another coin, or whatever cent, he had to receive.
I asked my Boatswain (Chinese) if he had ever heard any complaint from the crew, & he replied "No". If this letter is of any use, please use it.
Yours sincerely,
Ithaw Merligan