I have received a petition from Wu Tsai-chia, a graduate of the district of Ying, which states as follows My son Ying-ting is a merchant by profession, and has been guilty of no punishable offence. About noon on the 11th instant, he was unexpectedly accosted and arrested at the West-gate by a party consisting of one of Colonel Cooke's men and some runners, and thrust into the foreign police station. 1 humbly submit that if my sou had been guilty of any crime, he should have been arrested by the local Authorities; Colonel Cooke has presumed to arrest my son on his own authority I therefore beg that you will be pleased to have him brought before you, and issue orders for his release.
When a Chinese subject commits an offence where foreign as well as Chinese interests are concerned, the case should be investigated and dealt with by the local Authorities in conjunction with (the foreign officials.) In the present case, 1 was quite at a loss to understand how Colonel Cooke could have taken it on himself to arrest the man without authority; Llost no time in communicating with him on the subject; at the same time had the acoused brought before me, and released on my own responsibility. I am now in r tot Colonel Uooke's reply to my communi He states that Wu Ying-ting was arrested at the West-gate by certain members of the Shasigbai Municipal Police Force, and one of his men, who was sentry at the gate, aceing a disturbance take place, asked them were about, to which they replied taking a man to the foreign police the sentry accompanied them to the but had nothing to do with the arrest, arrival at the Station [the Shanghai bles}, produced a letter from the Central Station stating that Wu Ying-ting had dwindled some one in Shanghai, and then ran off to Ningpo; and that orders bad been issued to the Municipal Police by the Mixed Court to proceed to Ningpo and arrest him, but take no further action till the Court should hi yhen they could obtain the ningpo-police] to conduct goes on to state that he nothing what-cured back to Shanghai. Colonel Cooke bout the matter; had issued no warrant nor had his men taken any part in the feat; that he cannot therefore understand why Wu Ying-ting should have presented petition ao full of fabrications, and begs L may order him to be brought unfor examination and committed the off Shanghai attributed rely pur ether Wu has lied.
to him or not, and run off in consequence, no steps can be taken in the matter till a proper official communication has been received from the local Authorities on the subject; so that wuds at present. I cannot ought up for examination, further instructions to Colonel Cooke how toact. By Treaty, when a Chinese subject commits any offence, it is the duty of the Consul to communicate the local Authorities and request them to deal with the case. In the present case, whether Wu has there is a letter from the Central Police swindled any one in Shanghai or not, though Station, there la no official communication from the local Authorities, nor have Lreceived any communication from yourself., What right have the Shanghai Police to come to Ningpo and take it on themselves to make an arrest in another provine Thave therefore to request you will be good enough to write to the Consul in Shavghai, and beg him to take the case in hand, 1th Moon, 6th day.
14th December, 1874.
And the following reply agreed upon, embodying explanatiouof thecireumstances and an expression of the Council's regret at the occurrence, At the same time stating that instructions had been given to the Police which will prevent similar proceedings in future.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.