1920-03-13 — Page 12

RIDICULOUS.

HONGKONG, SATURDAY, MARCH 13, 1920.

When a Chinese was charged before Mr. Smit with attempting to pawn # metal bracelet, alleging it to be silver, he said the bangle belonged to 2 friend!

MONETARY AND

COMMERCIAL.

The silver market has been fairly well supplied, so that, notwithstand ing the weakness of the U.S. ex- change, the price has slightly given way. U.S. Treasury officials, Feter ring to the silver position in the United States, mentioned on Dec. 4 the huge quantities of silver now held for speculative purposes." This is in marked contrast to the size of the stock in London, which is very

WRONGFUL ACCUSATION.

་

A respectable looking Chinese, dressed in a tong coat, an employee of the Yur Loy Restaurant of No. St. Connaught Road, West, was this morning, charged with rifling the safe of the Yuen Loy Import and Export Company, occupying premises above the restaurant, and stealing $412 con- sisting of Hongkong notes and Ameri- can gold coins. He pleaded. "not guilty."

Inspector Macdonald said the de- fendant went to a pawnshop in. Third Street, West Point, yesterday, and producing one of the two bangles. (pro- duced) offered to pledge it for $3, alleging it to be silver. The pawn broker tested the bangle and finding

Inspector. Macdonald said this look- that it was made of white metal, re-small indeed. The Japanese Governed like a case of pure spite. The turned it to him. He was arrested ment is coining silver, nickel,, and principal witness in the case, who said outside the shop by a Chinese con-copper coins amounting to 120 he saw the defendant take the money,

table.

now only alleged that he saw the de- fendant go upstairs whilst the pre- mises were empty. The inspector said. he had decided that there was no

When

million yen, and withdrawing the 10, The pawnbroker gave evidence 20 and 50 sen war emergency notes. bearing out the Inspector's statement. The stock in Shanghai on Dec. 20 The constable was then called and consisted of about 17,500,000 ounces. said he was passing the pawnshop in sycee, $10,800,000, and 5,900 bars. when he saw the defendant with one No fresh news has come to hand. of the bangles in his hand.

The Shanghai exchange in quoted at questioned, the defendant said he789d. the tael. Bars are now quoted

761d. per oz. bought the pair of bangles from a fmend for 60 cents.. The defendant further stated that he knew they were made of white metal and he took it to the pawnshop in order to deceive the pawnbroker and get $3 from him.

Official statistics give the produc tion of gold by the United States, as 12,829,396 ozs., value $54,888,800,

55,285,196 ozs.. and of silver a value $61,566,412. The gold" output is $10,000,000 less in value than in 1918 and $25,000,000 less than in 1917.

evidence, but as the manager of the firm persisted in pressing the charge, he brought the case to Court, Con- tinuing, the inspector said the safe was rifled on the night of Feb. 22 and, 23, and it was not until two days ago, that any charge was made against the

accused.

+

A wimess, also an employee of the Yut Loy Restaurant, said on the night of Feb. 22 and 23, he saw the defen- dant go to the upper floor twice. He did not see him rifle the safe, nor did he see him come down with any-

The defendant said a friend offered to sell the bangles to him for 60 cents, and he took them to the pawnshop to- The directors of the London Joint have them tested. He did not in-City & Midland Bank, Ltd., report tend to defraud the pawnbroker, that the net profits for the year thing. All the employees of the Yuen was not true that he tried to get $3 ended Dec. 31 last, after making Loy firm were then on the first floor for one of them. He simply handed provision for all bad and doubtful of the building. The Yuen Loy Brm the pawnbroker the bangle and asked debts, amount to £3,079,460, | Das situated on the top Hoor of the him if it was worth $3. The pawn-which, with £675,098 brought building, and the restaurant on the broker said it was not and he was forward, makes £3,754,558 for second floor. That was all he knew. taking it away when he was arrested.appropriation 29 follows For Without calling the accused to give Defendant submited that as he had dividends for the year 1919 at evidence, his Worship discharged him. not paid for the bangles yet, it could the rate of 18 per cent. per annum less not be said that they were his pro-income tax, £1,052,503; for salaries and bonus to members of the staff perry.

BIG ARMS SEIZURE..

Prior to the departure of the Empress of Russia," for America

A witness for the defence said the with His Majesty's Forces and bonus to other members of the staff, bangles belonged to his deceased wife.£474,203; for special "Peace" bonus The defendant admired them and wit-to staff, £250,000; to reserve for ness offered to sell them for 60 cents, depreciation of War Loans and future Witness knew they were not made of contingencies, £1,000,000; to bank silver or he would not have sold them premises redemption fund, £250,000; on Wednesday, the Chief Preven so cheaply. The defendant did not and to carry forward, £726,852.tive Officer and some of his men went pay for them, but took them away with The dividend was at the same rate on board to search for contraband. him.

Witness did not know what the for 1918 with appropriations of They searched everywhere, but found défendant did with the bangles. £1.839,132, and carry forward nothing. Just as they were about to give up the search, they came on the Inspector Macdonald said that if the £675,098. defendant had taken the bangles to an

The

Chinese Engineering and boiler-maker's storeroom, adjoining ignorant person he might have suc- Mining Co, Ltd., advise that the the engine room, and decided to search ceeded in deceiving him, but the dividend No. 14 on the share war this place before leaving the ship. A pawnbroker was an expert and sawrants to bearer will be paid at the few minutes of vigorous search by the the fraud at once. He asked that the

party, resulted in the discovery of 22 bangles be ordered to be destroyed.

Colt revolvers and several thousands Fourteen days' hard labour and the

of rounds of ammunition. Enquiries were made on board the ship, but no bangles to be destroyed..

one seemed to know anything about the presence of the arms on board.

ARRIVALS.

March 13.

Tha B.B. KATSUNRA MARU, Jap. 1,024 tone, from Bangkok, Capt. Yama moto, Carroll Bros. CIS.

Transfer Offices of the Company, No. 5, London Wall Buildings, E.CZ, or in Brussels at the Banque d'Outremer, 48, Rue de Namur.

Bonds to the value of £77,480 nominal of the City of Tokyo Five per Cent. Loan of 1906 bave been purchased for the purpose of can- cellation, and are now cancelled.

A financial contemporary, pointing out some cheap foreign bonds, notes that several Chinese issues are cheap.

The 3.4. ICHANG, Brit, 1,298 tons, The 5 per cent's (1896), quoted 85, from Shanghai, Capt. J. 8. De Wolf, add on H. & 8., C47.

All efforts to discover the smuggler having failed, the arms were taken ashore by the searchers and deposited with the Police, and up to now no one has claimed them.

It is surmised that the contraband was put on board in America on the last trip, to be smuggled into Hong-

the Maritime Customs, kong, but owing to the sharp look out,

The sa. CHONGVA, Chi. 538 tons, yield 6 per cent., apart from the the local Police and Revenue Officers from Haiphong, Capt. Fletcher. Hing annual drawings at par. for redemp-have kept on all incoming boats, it Lee 020.

CLEARANCES

March 13.

The SHANSI, Brit., 1998 from tion (in February), which will pay off was impossible, while the ship was Weibaiwel, Capt. Lewis, B. & ., 019. the whole of the remainder in issue in dock, to get them off the ship with- within 13 years. The 43 per cent out detection, and the arms remained the storeroom until discovered. The | (1898), quoted 73;:are also attractive preventive service is to be congratu

in view of the big drawing due this lated for this seizure which is con- month. In this case annual drawings sidered the biggest haul of arms, yet at par will be completed within 24 made in the Colony since the intro- years. Japanese 4 per cent.'a (1910) duction of the Arms and Ammunition

Ordinance. at 62 are around the lowest touched, comparing with 80 early last year. These bonds are also redeemi able by annual drawings at par, which will commence this year, in June. /.

The BB, HWAH KUN, (Chi.), cleared to-day and will sail for Sigon at eam

.to-morrow.

The .. TAIZEMA, (Chi.) cleared to-day and will sail for Haihow via Pak- hoi at 3.30 am; to-morrow.

DEPARTURES.

Canton to day.

Marcb 13.

A Reuter wire from Washington

TRIAD HIRELINGS ?

During the hearing of a Chinese says it is understood that the Pacific assault case, in which the parties were

The .. SINTAH (Chi.), Capt. J. Development Co., including several strangers to each other, Inspector Glen. Agents M. B. N. Co left for New York banks, has advanced Macdonald said the defendant was undoubtedly paid to assault the com- The 8.8. PALEMBANG, (Dutch) Capt. $5,000,000 to China; and that other

plainant by some Triad society which Bottems: Agents. P. Co., left for Can-loans will follow if the conditions had a grudge against him. This sort ton to-day.

The PIN SAMUD, (Siamese) warrant

of thing was becoming very common,

Royal Dutch-Int. divd for 1919 and the assailants were rarely caught.

Capt. Ratankel, Agents Fur Tai Cheong |

Meth for Bingapore via Haiphong to-day.

Costa Arente Un Fak Song left for

Haibow to-day.

Jan. 8,

The . NAM IWAN, (Port) Capt. rate 15 per cent. London:

The inspector asked, in view of that press, fact, that a beavy penaky be imposed

on the defendant.Three months”.