Some time ago the authorities of Kuangsi heard of the existence of a secret society in Yung-ning Chou near Kuei-lin. The local magistrate was warned, and shortly afterwards he reported that he had arrested nine men at a place just on the border of his district. On examination, one of the prisoners, Tseng Fu-ti by name, confessed that he had been induced by' a certain Hunan man to join a secret society called "The Flying Bear Union," the object of which was the organised commission of robberies, The Hunan man had given him a piece of linen with an_ inscription on it as proof of membership, and told him to enlist recruits. The novices were at first only invited to enter a Parents' Union," the members of which were supposed to subscribe to the funeral expenses of each others' parents and help each other if oppressed, When after a time they became more intimate, they were told about the other society. None of the other prisoners, as both he and they declared, had gone beyond the first stage. In addition Tseng Fu-ti confessed that he had taken part in a robbery with violence three years ago, under the leadership of a man who had already been executed. The Governor of Kuangsi has ordered the immediate execution of Tseng Fu-ti, His eight companions will again be examined in order that it may be discovered how far they are really implicated. Ten other men have since been arrested as conspirators at a place under another jurisdiction, situated close to the scene of Tse Fu-ti's operations. They also will be tri and dealt with as soon as possible.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.