Dec. Ih.—I Ying-yuen, your Majesty's slave, with others, beg to lay the following information before the throne, waiting for your Majesty's instructions.
'A man named Hoo Tso-peaou from the district of Yung-ming in the. province of Honan, has lodged information at our office "of the murder of his father Hoo-selli-kin by one Chin-sin-chang and others, and we aye given instructions to the proper oficial to investigate the matter thoroughly.
According to the evidence, the plaintiff Hoo Iso-penou is 35 years of age, and resides in the village of Hoo-yuen in the district of Yung-ming, in the province of Honan, He gains his livelihood by cultivating land. In the 2nd month of the 10th year of the present reign, his father was engaged in carrying burdens on his shoulder for hire, having the sum of fifteen Aollars about his'person. When he came, on one of his errands, to a place called rye, he was suddenly attacked cly Chin Sin-chang and several others who, rushing out of a cave in the Cha shoo mountain, robbed him of his money and clothes, and finally murdered him. The witness then laid information before the trate of the district, in order that so grave a crime might be duly investigated. He also laid his ease before the you-tae and the Che-choly, 3 family, in the village The elders of th where the robbers resided, named Chin Gau-sze and Chin Yuen-sny, discovered on the premises of Chin Sin-chang a garment having marks of blood upon it, which they took, along with the culprits, before the Che-chow, who referred the ease to the dis: trict magistrate in order that the matter might be enquired into. Chin Sin-chang confessed the crime; stated that his asso-clates were Chin Tsze-se, Chin Kne-hed, and Chin Shun-chung; and without the slightest attempt at concealment described the whole affair. The district magistrate, however, being a person of undecide scharactet, took the advice of one of his—subordinates named Fan-shing, and released -the elders Chin Gan-sze and Chin Yi Sexaminal He merely detained the any, instead of subjecting them to a
prisoner Chin Sin-chang in custody.
The witness-next proceeded to the office of the Chefoo of his native district and lodged his complaint there. He was told,.in answer to his petition, that the district "magistrate was summoned to appear before the Che-chow. Hearing, however, that the subordinates of the Ghe-chow had apprehended another of the murderers, named Chin Taze-se, but being bribed by Chin Yuen-yew, had again set him at li-betty; the witness immediately proceeded to lodge information at the offices of the Taoutae and the Criminal Judge, and in reply he received an assurance that the -Chefoo should strictly examine the district ~mnagistrate, and arrange the matter properly.
As the case, nevertheless, still remained unsettled, the plaintiff came up to Peking and lodged his complaint at our office. We have carefully examined the evidence in the case, and finding that the statements of the plaintiff are in perfect accordance with it, we lay the matter before your Majesty for further instructions. The Emperor replies that the case is recorded.
10th.—Win-yuh, Commander-in-Chief at Foochow, and acting Viceroy of Fokéen and Che Keang provinees, with Wang Kao-tae, the Footae of Fokéen province, kueel_and petition that a certainimpractic~ able D strict Magistrate may be deposed from office as a warning to others.
In the district of Yew-chang-tseuen, in the' province of Fokien, the inhabitants are said to be addicted to violent practices, They are disorderly in conduct, following only the bent of their own inclinations.
They frequently assemble in crowds and obstruct the Magistrates in the performance of their duty. Nevertheless, if an upright and just Magistrate were placed over then, who would punish them when they were incorrigible, and who would maintain own dignity among them. these people might be reformed, and there is no reason whatever why they should not become tractable. - The petitioners themselves have issued stringent orders to every official to act in strict accordance with the law, in order, if possible, to bring about a reformation among these people.
In the township of Too-sing, which is under the jurisdiction of Wang Show-chang, the District Magistrate of Chang-foo, there lives a sharper named Hung She-joh, who is a quarrelsome, violent and disorderly person, and who has frequently been sum-The former Magistrate of the district had moned to appear at the Magistrate's office,
often tried to arrest him, but failed in every attempt. Whenever he collected together a band of soldiers and volunteers, and proceeded to arrest this man, the latter always hid himself and escaped.
On the 24th of the 7th month, Wing Show-chang went in person with a guard of soldiers to arrest the culprit, but Hung She-joh went so far as to lead out his banditti, and to resist the Magistrate with spears, killing three of the volunteers. He then proceeded with his armed band to the Mfagistracy, plundered it of money and property, and killed two of Idiers on guard. © Wang Show-chang himself barely escaped with his life, This was certainly a most lawless proceeding.
The petitioners state that they have explored the township of Too-sing, and find {hat it pillows mountains and supports the sea* he roads and paths are numerous and divergent; and the township is more than 30 lo in circuit, It is entirely inhabi ited by Hung's clan to the number of at Toast 1,000 families; but none equal Hung She-joh in wealth, who has the entire pop: ulation under his own control. When soldiers enter the district to arrest him, if they are few in number, he beats them off; many, he runs away and hides; the nature of the country and the feelings of the inhabitants being alike favourable to him. The Taoutai and Chefoo of Chang-chow-chin having received petitions from the district Magistrate, and having consulted together on the matter, sent forward six battalions of soldiers, and gave orders to Li Hong-mow the Admiral of the Station to send a naval force to proceed by water to arrest Hung She-jh, if, taking alarm, he should attempt to escape by boat. The petitioners also issued orders to Sun Kaehwa the Commandant of Chang Chow-chin
order to guard that point with the force to proceed with a war steamer to Amoy in under his command. An Imperial official waiting at Amoy, who was sent to act as Che-foo, also received orders to enter the district, and in conjunction with the other forces to surround the place and seize the culprit. 'The former general of the gartison at Chang Chow-chin, by name Luy Chin-chao, and the Taoutai of Ting-chow, Chang-chow, and Lung-nton-chow, named Wan-keih also signified their desire to proceed with the rest in order to arrest the' culprit, being assured that if he could once be arrested the district would enjoy peace.
"At the time when the district Magistrate Wang Show-chang was appointed to office, the people, ko being a stranger, -had not yet placed confidence in him.' He was Well aware, at that time, that Hung She-joh's band was numerous; and yet, without taking counsel with his superior officer, how the matter could be properly arranged, he, on the impulse of the moment, entered the township in order to arrest the insurgent, and thus eoveral lives were lost, and he himself barely escaped. Such conduct as this is wholly inexcusable.
It is further reported that the Magistrate Wan Show-chang, not having taken proper ela extensive, precautions for his own safety as well as that of his soldiers, was himself the cause of the riot. The Taou-tae and the Chefoo have themselves forwarded full information on this subject to the Fantae and also to the joner of Justice; and, as there can he no possible doubt as to the accuracy of their statements, the petitioners pray that His Majesty may deprive this District Magistrate of his office, and order the whole matter, from first to last, to be thoroughly investigated. Also, fo issue strict orders to the Magistrates and to the military to lay some plan for the arrest of the ringleader and. all others concerned in the late riot, and thus terminate the whole affair.
His Majesty is besought to lay the matter before the proper Bourd, and replies that the case is recorded.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.