nd
an
allt
་་
BUCK China" Mail
1928-
Smartness that catches the eye on any
Boulevard-Balck for 1828--now on
display.
INSPECTION IS CORDIALLY INVITED, · THE DRAGON MOTOR CAR CO., LTD. Telephone Central 1246 or 1247.
33, Wong Nel Chung Road, Happy Valley.
ESTABLISHE
1846
No. 25,750 HONG KONG, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1927.
A GRAPHIC CAREER.
YOUNG CANADIAN'S OFFENCES.
SEVEN ALIASES.
Story of Many Forged Letters of Credit.
The graphic story of a young man's "World Tour of Fraud" was told to the Chief Justice in the Criminal Sessions this morning by Mr. F. C. Jenkin who appeared to prosecute Richard Charles Williams (or Stone), 32, supposedly a Canadian by birth, who was charged with defrauding various banks, including the American Express Company.
NO MEDIATION.
The Treaty Powers and China.
PREMATURE SUGGESTION.
No Hope Of Settling Present Imbroglio.
London, Yesterday,
NAVAL ACTION.
Pirate Captures On Yangtsze.
THREATENING LETTERS,
Gang Demands $100,000 From
Batterfield & Swire. Ch
PRICE, $3.00 Per Month.
THOSE LEASES.
British "Policy" Again Declared.
GIFT TO LOT HOLDERS.
Sir A. Chamberlain And Future - Ownership.
Rugby, Yesterday.
"The Useful Christmas Gift”.
Buy an 8 power British or French Binocular at the Special Price of
$45.00
at
LAZARUS
KONGMOON RETAKEN.
KWANGSI FACTION'S SUCCESS.
IRONSIDES DOWNFALL.
Communists Still Blazing Red Trail.
Kongmoon has been retaken by the Kwangsi military faction from the Ironsides, marking possibly the first step in the gradual political downfall of the latter.
A distinct change is noticeable in the developments regarding the Canton Government. The Ironsides are willing to bow to the inevitable but they are going to choose their own successor and not hand over to the Kwangsi faction as desired by most-people.
Hankow, Yesterday. In the House of Commons, Mr. Activities by the British Navy In the House of Commons Sir EXECUTION OF SOVIET CONSUL-GENERAL IN CANTON DEMANDED. PRISONER PLEADS GUILTY AND GETS THREE YEARS IN JAIL. J. Duckworth (Labourite, Black- against pirates along the middle Austen Chamberlain was asked burn) suggested that Great course of the Yangtze River about the surrender by Great Britain, Japan, and the United have been extended and two more Britain of the leases in the Chi- States should discuss the desir-successes have been registered. nese Treaty ports conceded by the the offer of the joint good ser- on board which were six pirates and 1881. ability of ascertaining whether
A pirate launch was captured Chinese Government between 1851 vices in endeavouring to assist in who were all wounded in action He replied that the value of effecting a settlement of the pre- and therefore unable to escape. these lenses could not be accur- ably entertained by all parties in ed on Eent imbroglio would be favour- Then an armed guard was plac-lately assessed at the present
board a private launch, moment, but, according to valua China.
Another gang of pirates attackedition made in 1922, previous to the that the Government was con- turned by the guard, inflicting tions in China, the worth of the Sir Austen Chamberlain said this craft but their fire was re-cutbreak of the anti-foreign agita- stantly communicating with the many casualties among the reveratonary interest in land and Governments of Japan, the Unit-pirates.
butidings held under leases with ing their joint interests in China. ed States on all matters concern-
Divers Threats.
jan unexpired term of approximate- The Hankow office of Messrs. 30 years, was £780,000.
At al Whilst the British Government Butterfield and Swire (who are later date it was anticipated that Soviet Consul-General and those members of his staff in detention.
Organisations in Canton are agitating for the death of the was anxious to take any proper agents for the China Navigation these reversionary interesta might action within its power which might assist the restoration of Co.) has received two threatening have realised about £400,000. peace in China he did not see letters bearing the signature of any reason at present to believe that the step suggested would contribute to the attainment of this end.
Williams pleaded guilty to the charges and also admitted seven different aliases. He was sentenced to three years' imprisonment with hard labour.
After his career of fraud had been outlined, Mr. Leo d'Almada, Sen., who appeared on his behalf, put forward the fact that Williams had been gassed in France, during the Great War and had twice been an inmate of a lunatic asylum.
WORLD TOUR OF FRAUD.
The charges were:-
Prisoner. arrived in Hong Kong (a) that he on December 2, 1926, on or after December 1, 1926, and at No. 4a, Des Vaux Road Central, on December 2 obtained £600 from in this Colony, did by false pre- the American Express Company, tences obtain $502.62 in Hong Kong which was the subject of the three currency, and chattels or valuable charges. He also obtained £450 by securities, namely, 10 travellers' means of travellers' cheques, which cheques, Nos. 214170 to 214179 (in-he disposed of in Hong Kong and clusive) of the value of £5 each, and Canton. The balance of £50 he ob- 40 travellers" cheques, Nos. 341257 tained in local currency.
841296 (inclusive) the value
to 1412 en 1, sat by the Ameri- can Express Co. int. of No. 65,
Broadway, New York, with intent to defraud;..
(b) that he on December, 2.1926, at the same address in this Colony, did utter, knowing to be forged, a certain valuable security, namely, a letter of credit purporting to have been issued in his favour by the
From here, continued Mr. Jenkin, prisoner visited Peking and other
Soviet Interests.
agreed to the Soviet request to The German Government has
take charge of the latter's inter- ests in South China and has in- structed its Consuls accordingly.
FINE WEATHER.
The weather report fasued by the Royal Observatory; this fore- noon stated:-
The anticyclone is now central near Tokyo.
Monsoon is interrupted to the
It is semi-officially announced-North of Amoy. It will remain that the fulfilment of the Soviet's moderate over the China Sea. request is a matter of interna-
Forecast: North or variable tional courtesy and is not meant
winds, light; fine. to be taking charge of diplomatic representation which is impossi-
Japan, where he obtained a letter of political strife in China is intend-in case of non-payment. credit from the Hundredth Bank ed.
He
The German Consuls are
questions of high politics,
I
The position in China, however, rendered it impossible to proceed with the scheme for the sale of these interests without guarantees
Blazing a red trail wherever they go, the armed Communist horde fleeing from Canton is now making its way to join the "local Soviet government" near Bias Bay.
MOSCOW'S HAND DISCLOSED.
of tenure, which would be wholly protesting against the closure of Regarding the Chicherin's Note Inconsistent with the policy of the the Consulates and denying that British Government;
The land was acquired under revolutionary movement among the Canton Consulate guided the perpetual lease from the Chinese peasants and workers, it is learn- Government, to whom fixed grounded from a semi-official source in currently. by purchase from actual burned and numbered B/12857-10, rent continued to be paid and con- Canton that a document, partly Chinese owners.
Tuesday, the last of many train- Such has not been the case. On loads of Ironsides left Canton on section) for Sheklung, which is the Kowloon Railway (Chinese 40 miles east of Canton, on the East River..
Out to Walchow. From Sheklung, Ironsides have endorsed by the seventh enlarged been moving out to Waichow, The Concession areas were situated
plenum executive committee of which is further up the East at Tientsin, Hankow, the Communist International, was River and further from Canton Kiukiang, Chinkiang, Amoy, and discovered in the raided Consulate than Sheklung.
Nanking expedition Canton. They consisted of a total of 232 acres, dividend into 284 lota,
urchives.
Neither the Kwangsi garrison The document explains how the at Swatow nor the supposedly pro- on the
These properties were chiefly in Communist party must take com-
ter.
KONGMOON "CAPTURED."
tent.
ble as Germany has not yet recog- Hu Chun who demands the sum parts of North China, and subse- nised the South China Govern- of $100,000 from the British British, but partly in other hands: mand of the peasant movement in Kwangtung-Fulien frontier has quently turned his attention to ment. No intervention in the firm, threatening divers penalties They were to be transferred to the accordance with the propagands shown any appreciable sign of
The Ha Chun pirate gang present lot holders without pay of Agrarian revolution, and in-moving against the East River. in Yokohama for £80. Against that not authorised to interfere in claims to control the banks of the ht and unconditionally, except structing, inter alis, the disarm- · · Campaign of Vindication, on January 22. he drow £75.
Yangtaze at Shusi and Kingchow, for the proviso that the lot holdere ing of the people's militia and About 200 miles separate the succeeded in forging this letter of
"The announcement, adds that it Their threat is that if they are should bear any expenses arising other forces of the gentry while East River Ironsides from their
from the assignments. credit.
follows that the fulfilment of the not paid shortly, they will kill all
As regards their future owner
arming the poor and middle-class foes; whereas on the Weat River From Yokohama Williama got to Russian request does not mean the captains and compradores of Banque Imperiale. Ottomane at Chili, where he opened another let that Germany is now in a post-the company and burn the ships, ship he has no reason to anticipate peasants to form an army-Reu- the enemy is only 50 miles dis-
any change likely to be detrimental Jerusalem for an amount not ex- ter of credit with the Nationel City tion to shield Communist pro--British Naval Wireless.
to British interests, but it was the ceeding $2,000, with intent to de- Bank of New York at Valparaiso, paganda or excesses.
Like Down Here. fraud; and
Counsel could not find that anything
Christmas Cheer.
[Note: Hankow is about 600 policy of the British Government had been done with this letter, The Y.M.C.A. is appealing for miles from the mouth of the to relax rather than to extend in this Colony, did feloniously and though it appeared that he had been funds for special Christmas festi-Yangtsze. It is at present held British control in the administra 13th (Kwangsi) Division Again with intent to defraud, demand and experimenting with it, noting the vities for the British troops by Nationalists who are short of tion of these municipal areas. Accordingly, the Other foreign Powers had immedi action of ink on the paper, ete. abroad, including Shanghai, Hong Naval craft. on certain
Amongst his papers was found an- Kong, and Wei-hai-wei. A sum of British Navy has had to convoy lately transferred their perpetual leases to their respective lot $602.02 in Hong Kong. currency, and other letter of credit, this having £400 has so far been contributed, merchantmen and has been inholders, and in no other case was
been issued by the National Bank but much more is required.-action with pirates already. of Egypt.
Shasi is 287 miles above Han- foreign Government ground land- kow, in territory which supports lord of any similar area in Chi- neither Nanking nor Peking. nese territory British, Wireless Captain Lalor was rescued from Service,
.. Surrendered Leases,
(e) that he on December 2, 1926,
receive certain moneys securities for
namely, money,
50 travellers' cheques issued by the American Express Co., Inc., 10 of which were of the value of £5 each, and 40 of the value of £10 each, by virtue of a certain false instrument, to wit, a forged letter of credit pur porting to have been issued by the Banque Imperiale Ottomano Jerusalem in his favour for an amount not exceeding on the whole
at
£2,000, knowing it to be forged.
Mr. F. C. Jenkin, instructed by Mr. C. S. Hugh-Jones appeared for the prosecution, whilst the accused was defended by Mr. Leo d'Almads
Sen.
Mr. Jenkin briefly outlined pri- soner's activities so far as they re lated to the charges framed against him. Counsel exhibited a letter of credit issued to prisoner in the sum
7
belongings
Among prisoner's were effective for removing ink, also were two bottles of chemicals which
Reuter..
GREAT FIRE.
MANILA.
TWO FATALITIES.
a phial containing a curious kind TWO THOUSAND HOMELESS IN this vicinity.
of ink and a brush, a box of aniline powders, a box of paints and a sheet of carbon, which, when held to the
Ight revealed the tracing of a cont
of arms.
The loss is estimated of a million
Manila, Yesterday. Counsel then said that prisoner had been in the hands of the police as the result of a
Two thousand people are homeless in various parts of the world. He suburba.
fire in Manila
stowaway, and was subsequently was fined at Liverpool for being, a Two natives perished.
convicted at Rome and Vienna. He pesos.-Reuter. was imprisoned in Versailles in 1926 for two years for swindling. Coun- sel added that the police here had prisoner's Scotland Yard record.
Concluding, Mr. Jenkin emphasis.
A GOLD BASIS.
NEW ROYAL DECREE IN ITALY.
are so common
in Control.
Pakkai (Kongmoon), Dec, 20. All danger of a Communist ris ing here has passed.
The city of Kongmoon and. adjoining area has changed hands again as the 19th divi- sion (all Kwangai troops) has arrived.
The "China Mail" political correspondent, learns from a re- liable source that the Ironsides are bent on a rather dramatic campaign of vindication.
Even if Canton is lost to them in the absence of their main strength the Ironsides are bent on exterminating the So- viet government which has been set up in Hoifung and Lukfung,
Where the Reds Hold Sway. Heifung and Lukfung are coastal districts between Swatow and the East River, forming what may be described as the hinterland of Blas Bay...
With the 18th division in gar- The threats made by the Yang- In the House of Commons, ques-rison here, agitators are fleeing taze pirates are similar to those tioned regarding the lenses sur-
or lying very low and the fear on the rendered in the six Concessions in of trouble in the absence of a which West River that they fail to pro- China, Sir Austen Chamberlain garrison is now over.
Peasants' corps, Communists duce a thrill. Such messages said he did. not anticipate that the
In about a month, Kongmoon and bandits have combined to set have, in the past, been directed change was likely to be detrimental has been "captured" twice with up a local Red government in the mostly to Chinese shipping and to British Interests. He reminded out a shot being fired.
the House that it was the Govern-
name of which untold horrors small river craft.]
Recent Changes. ment's policy to relax rather than
have been perpetrated. `· When the Ironsides overthrew extend British control in the ad- the Kwangsi military faction in at war, neither side has deemed it Owing to the rival armies being ministration of those municipal Canton, the 18th division evacuat-wise to spare any men for work ed Kongmoon and withdrew in- against the Reda who are imper-
FULL ARMAMENT.
4 British Gunboats in Pirate Patrol.
arens.
EX-BRITISH CONCESSION
BLAZE.
and.
fectly inorganised and poorly equipped.
The Ironsides and their friends then arrived from Canton and
Not Red or Even Pink. Having been accused for either or two, they were recalled post-complicity or carelessness in haste to Canto nto fight the Reds. allowing the Reds to break out in In their absence; the Kwangel Canton, and realising that their troops who have been here for position must soon be untenable over a year have returned. against increasing opponents, the Our own correspondent.
Ironsides are backing on stamp Ing out the Reds in Hoifung and Lukfung and thereby proving to Nationalist China that they are not Red nor even Pink.
POLITICAL TREND.
Effect of Coup on Ironsides' Policy,
Rugby, Yesterday. of £200 which had been burned ined the seriousness of the prisoner's
According to advices from BIG HANKOW FIRE, took over. After a stay of a week China, pirates are again active on four places. Prisoner's explanation facts, pointing out that they had
Rome, Yesterday.
the (upper) Yangtze River, be- was that whilst dismounting from a gone to great pains to get him, hav
The king has signed a Cabinet tween Shast and Chenglin. Bri- horse in Palestine be placed his ing to have him extradited from decree making it obligatory for the tish gunboats have captured a jacket on a blacksmith's anvil and a Chill.
Bank of Italy to convert. Its notes pirate tug but the crew escaped ploce of hot iron fell on it, burn- Ing the letter. At his request, the fence, said Williams
DYE CO.'S OFFICE GUTTED. Mr. Leo d'Almada, for the de- to a gold basis as from December inland.
was born in 22. The obligation has been sus-
A convoy of lighters was at- bank issued a new letter of credit Quebec 30 years ago. At the out-pended since 1894. The now parity tacked from a river bank and Bri-
Hankow, Yesterday. fox $200, through their Beyrouth break of the war he joined up and is on a basis of about 92 lire to one tish gunboats repiled with their
The ex-British Concession of branch, and prisoner sent them a
full armament. was gassed at the Battle of the pound sterling-Reuter.
Hankow was the scene of a large receipt for it from Mount Lebonan. Somme. After that he went to Gal-
British gunboats at present em-fire to-night (Wednesday night), He then travelled around Palestine poll, where he suffered a similar was willing to hand over
It is anticipated that by the ployed on "pirate patrol" are the in which the offices of the Aniline
time the Tronsides have done. and Irak.
fate. He was once mentioned in prosecution as partial retribution. British Wireless Ber-British Naval Wireless." -
to the "Gnat." "Cricket," "Mantis" and Dye Co. were almost gutted.--- That the Ironsides are not bent their work in the Red country, a In reply to His Lordship, Mr. Jen- despatches, and was invalided out Prisoner was also a partner in an vice.
on holding on to Canton at all change will have come to pass in kin, said that prisoner had made of the Army. He returned to Cana-8,000 acre estate in South Africa,
[Note: The former Concession costs is evident from the fact that the Canton Government. But claims to have been born in Hello da and after a while laft, the coun- and had already given instructions
is now administered by the Na- they are only half-heartedly con- having vindicated themselves polis, in Egypt, in Barcelona, Spain, try in order to earn his bread and for his share to be realised in order
tionalists as a "special Chinese centrating on defence along the then, they will be supported in a and his heaviest claim seemed to be butter. Like other young men, he to pay back what he could.
district."]
West River and have sent at claim to be given other work for Quebec, in Canada, he having was tempted from time to time, and
least 10,000 men to the East River the Nationalist cause. His Lordship, in passing sentence chosen, in this instance, Christmas be fell. His war service was in the of three years' imprisonment with
where the chance of invasion is Loss of Face Intolerable. Day as a birthday. It was obvious name of Charles Stone which, coun- hard labour, said Williams had The flag of the Rear-Admiral,
remote.
Accordingly, the Ironsides aro that he was a linguist of no mean vel understood, was his correct pleaded guilty to an offence of Senior Officer on the Yangtze, is
Pursuing their present policy, now hoping that when they lose. order and was able to converse with name.
the Ironsides have even given up Canton which el. are likely to very serious character. It was not flown on HM.S. Bee. The most people. This was not his only Dealing with his previous convica case in which a person had been other gunboats under his com-
the important city of Kongmoon do in any case because they claim to notoriety,
tions, counsel said prisoner had been driven by some great necessity or
without any pressing need to do have not enough men they wil mand are the Cockchafer,'
And if only to show that hold to win further laurels.
* again be sent north or elsewhere.
2 NEW GUNBOATS.
Now Stationed on the West River:
む
LEVY ON SALT,
Trouble With Nationalists at Wuhn.
Wuhu, Yesterday. Some more trouble has arisen
....
Eventually, continued counsel, he in trouble in Liverpool, Rome, by some great temptation to bring "Cricket," "Gnat Mantis, in connection with the shipments ing of territory does not count The majority of people in Can- feteked up at Bombay on October Vienna, Budapest, and Versailles himself within the reach of the Scarab, "Teal, Widgeon," of salt which pass through Wuhu with them, they have handed over ton desire the return of General 14, 1926, and drew another. 475 on His mother, said Mr. d'Almada, had criminal law. "Woodcock" and "Woodlark from the lower Yangtze, up- control of Canton city to a friend- Li Chal-som of the Kwangsi fac- this letter of credit. A little later, been addicted to drugs and had been "You seem to have started out by altering it, he was able to ob in a lunatic asylum Prisoner, too, with the intention of levying con- West River had are gunboats Note: Trouble in the past has the to the Kwangal military fac The Ironsides once served Li
The Senior Nava Officer on the river-British Naval Wirelessly general" who is not antagoniston fain another 41,000. He then went on two occasions (in Florence and tributions from banks and bus-viTarantul Moth, been caused by Nationalist off tions to Calcutta, and Singapore, and at Vienna) had been. confined to a nesses of that kind, in the course Cicala," "Moorhen and Robin cials wanting to levy on and hold- the latter place obtained £480 from mental asylum, t
of what might almost be calle the American Express Company by Counsel submitted there was some world tour. I will take into const-armed launches Faulknir, from one Nationallet zone to an-If the Ironsides are preparing
To these have been added the ing up salt transhipments going a further forgery. It appeared that mental derangement in Williams. deration what has been urged by he altered the letter to show itsHis Lordship: His aberration counsel on your behalf and will also value at $900 face value, and also does not show any sign of insanity, pay regard to the fact that you altered the drawings, so as to show Counsel, went on to explain that only Joined up during the war, but been
· that he was still 'entifiad to a large there ware two other ters of that after you were gassed you amount. He got another £85 at credit, to the value Singapore.
$3,500 which prison
roughly | báck to the front Beuterce
ssed and then passed.
cently
un
otherd
which re
aut, fróm. Home have outik up the Rivet ¿The T Wuchow and the “25t
"the
-
East, Not West.
edge for war, they would have to send all units they can spare to Sam shui, which is about 40-miles west of Canton and is the objec tives of the Kwangsl counter- attack" (esstwards) - down the West River
The DOLLAR
of the day was 2/0 6/16
l Chal-sum but rebelled against accordingly, a political surrender him. From their point of view.
LI Chal-sum will incur loss of face
a
A deadlock has been reached s In the negotiations behind the scenes at the moment
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.