June 28th.—In the month of January last year the high authorities of Tsi-si-har were informed that a Manchu named Tuchinga was found to have been murdered. enquiry was instituted by their orders, which resulted in the arrest, first of a man named Wang Hsiao-ssu and then of the deceased's younger brother, Ishinga, and of his son, Tekochingo. The gravity of the case was such that the authorities desired to deal with it with all speed. But they were unable to bring it to an immediate conclusion, because the accused kept continually varying their statements and confessions. At k, however, the truth of the facts given below has been established beyond doubt. The deceased man, Tuchings, and his son, Tekockingo, originally he had answered him with abuse instead of giving anything. In the month of Decems er, the year before last, Wang Hsiao-ssu had lodged for a day or two in Tuchinga's shop. The son and brother happened to see him and began to talk of Tuchingy's stinginess, whereupon Wang Hsiao-ssu replied that no one would ever get the old man to part with anything except by force. Afterwards, when Wang Heiao-ssu wished to leave Tuchinga's house, his things were detained by the latter, because he was unable to pay 1,500 cash which he owed for board and lodging. About the same time Ishinga and Tekochingo were in a worse. humour than usual with Tuchinga because they had stolen a wadded coat of his and pawned it, and he had violently resented their conduct when he discovered the theft, Wang Hsino-ssu chancing to meet Ishinga, proposed that they should steal Tuchinga money. Ishinga then rhed that this could only be done by killing him, as he always carried it in notes on his person, They then determined upon the cummistion of the crime, and dskingn went off and persuaded Tekochingo to join them. At two o'clock in the morning the three men met outside the village and went together to Tuchinga's house. By peeping and listening at the window they found that he was alone, and then prizing open the door they made their way into the room. Wan; Hsino-ssu felt softly with his hand and foun where the sleeping man was lying, ind then dealt him two tre is blows with a cudgel, the first. taking effect on his fore: head, the second on his wrist. Tekuchingo then lit a lamp, and Ishinga, who feared the wounded man might. be still al stabbed him several times in the face. Th murderers found on the body notes. for thirty strings of cash, which they divided mong then, as well as two thousand cash in money and an old fur coat they discover-edin the room. In order to avert suspicion Ishinga then tied the corpse by a. string round the neck to a beam, so that the case night seem to be one of suicide, and set fire to the room. They then all departed. The fire, however, went out, and next morning people, comingtotheshopto buy wine, foun Uhebody hanging. Ishings, who was sent for, endeavoured to hush up the matter, saying inga had evidently committe: fit of tony insanity A report, however, was made to the authorities, and an enquiry held, which resulted in the arrest of the criminals and the di: covery of the facts above narrated. Ishinga and Tekochingo, the one a fratricide the other a parricide, have both been condemned to death by slow degrees as guilty of a crime against the natural relationships of mankind; and in the case of the latter, the heinousness of whose crime was such as to admit of no delay in the infliction of the punishment, the sentence of the law has already been carried into effect with all due formality. As regards Ishinga, and as regards Wang Hsiao-ssu, who is condemned to immediate strangulation, the instructions of His Majesty will be awaited.—Referred to the Board of Punishments.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.