Kuang-yo were two neighbours living in (2) Cheng Wan-lin and Chang Hosieh-Chung Chou in Szechuen who for various reasons had been on unfriendly terms for a yang are brothers-in-law living number of years. As far back as 1877 8 the Wen-chisng district in Seechuen, In Tawauit had taken place between them 1880 the former sold some property and respecting a boundary question. Some time gave the balance of the proceeds, Tls. 300, later Wu Ts'an-lien and a party of friends to the latter. Tls. 160 of the amount was to be considered as a deposit for a house in were anioking foreign opium one night, and formed a project of opening an opium shop. which Cheng resided, and the remainder A relative of Chéng's, who was local bailiff, Chang was to place' at. interest for the dencfit of his brother-in-law. Cheng, bein, informed upon them, and they were each sentenced. by the Magistrate of the district subsequently in need of money, obtain to wear the can for two months and to sundry loans from Chang, of which, as the receive 100 blows in accordance with rules men were on very friendly terms, no written which were promulgated in 1859 for the account was Kept. A couple of years ago punishment of persons who, to the number Cheng moved into another house and or more, met together to smoke received back the deposit money of Fla, foreign opium. "Two years ago the district 160. Very shortly afterwards, Chéng's in which they lived had a very short son, a young scamp who had never done harvest, and the superintendents of the any good, attempted one night to steal local granaries received permission to issue pig belongings to his uncle Chang, but was grain at reduced rates. Among the others caught in the act and killed by Li Lao-san, who acted upon this authority was Chen, man servant on the premises. The de-Kuang-yo who placed over 100 piculs cceased's father was duly informed of the grain on the market to supply the wants of fact, and regular inquiry was held, which the people. Wu Ts'an-lien thought he resulted in Li Lao-san's being sentenced to saw in this an oppo f making misreceive 100 blows and three years' banish-chief. He and some of his friends spread ment. Annoyed by the death of his son
grain to his own use, and affixed a notice a report that Cheng had appropriated the and the slight sentence that had been passed upon the murder, Cheng climed repayment on the granary forbidding the unauthorised of the money he had lent his brother-in-law, issue of any further supplies. clerk who The latter was willing to pay on the understanding that a reduction was to be made was sent by the Magistrate to investigate the case reported strongly against Wu, who for the loans which Cheng had subsequently was deprived of the official button he received. Cheng refused, took the case into possessed and put in confinement. His wife court, and obtained decree in his favour. pressed hard for his release and for the Tls. 40 were paid, but frequent demands restoration of failed to obtain mote from Chang. Cheng to procure was so stung by his son's death and the loss courts, she appealed successively to the of his money that he determined to carry Chief Justice, the Viceroy, and the Literary the case on appeal to Peking. Being hin-Chancellor, all of whom referred the case self a cripple he could: not undertake the back to the Magistrate. She was told by journey, so he sent his brother Cheng Wan-the latter that her husband's case could not fan to nct as his proxy. The latter, 1 be dealt with until the accounts of the sale ing failed to obtain a hearing at the Con-of the grain had been closed. Thinking sorate, found an opportunity of appealing from this that his punishment would be a to the Emperor in person. For this piece severe one she sent one of her husband's of presumption he was sentenced by the Board of Punishments to 100 blows and labourers, Li Chi-ch'tian, with a statement of the cate to Peking. The facts alleged banishment to a near frontier, and this were not sufficiently proved to obtain a sentence has now been confirmed by the hearing of the suit at the Censorate or the provincial tribunal. Cheng Wan-lin him-Gendarmerie Ofice. The petitioner, hear-self pleaded guilty immediately he appeared ing that the Emperor was proceeding outside in court, and considering his bodily de-the city on a certain day, determined to formity, and the fact that he was influenced prostrate himself as a suppliant in the imby a father's feeling for " lost son, the punishment to which he rendered himself peril presence, and in order to gain acoeptance for his petition he got some unknown liable has been remitted. He is further to persontowrite oura very rated version receive back the Tls. 100 Chang owes hit, of the affair. He has now been sentenced no account being taken of the various loans to 100 blows and banishment to a near of which no documentary evidence exists, frontier for his reckless behaviour in pre-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.