Honan, reports a cuse of wilful murder in which three members of one family lost their lives. This case after having been duly investigated in the lower courts was again gone into by memorialist in person and the following facts established, The accused, Chang Hou-peng, was a hired servant of Li Chin-ting, a resident in the Hainhsiang district; and there iso reason tu believe that there was any ill-feeling between the two. On the morning of the 28th of April Li Chinting and his wife went out to see some friends, and two nephews, Li Shu-lin and Li Han-lin, went to their work in the fields, In the afternoon Chang had reason to go into the inner rooms to fetch some water, Unfortunately his master's daughter, Li Chtin-lan, was standing inside the door kneading four, and in' going in he pushed her over, whereupon she proceeded to abuse him in rather strong language, On coming out he was set upon by the girl's grandmother, Mrs. Li, nee Huang, who accused him of wilfully behaving improperly towards Li Chin-lan and hit at him with her stick. Chang in self-defence tuck up a weodchopper and knocked one of the old lady's fingers off, in addition to wounding on the forehead Li Lin-qui, her great-granddaug! ter, who had come te her assistance. Mrs, Li then sat down on the floor and, beginning to ery, told Chang to wait until her so came home, when he (Chang) would be sent to prison and sentenced to death for whi had done.
At this stage of the proceedings Chang's rage got the better of hit, and a desire for murder entering his youl he hacked at the old woman again with his chopper and wounded her sv. severely that she died. He then likewise murdered Li Chin-lauand Li Lin-qui, who were standing in the room erying and abusing him. A tipao, Li Mien-ni, who heard their cries for help and came to their assistance was likewise so severely wounded that he died. Some neighbours then came in and suveveied in securing the murderer.
Memorialist would point out that in accordance with law the penalty for murdering three members of one family is death' by ling chih, and as the case in point ig one of extreme gravity he has had the sentence carried out immediately and now reports for H.M.'s information.—Let the Buard of Punishments take note.
DANGER TO A CITY ON THE NORTH DANK
OF THE YELLOW KIVEK, Liao Shou-feng submits " report dated the 18th of September from Wang Lin-sei Magistrate of Vu-hsien in the Huaich'ing Prefecture. The Magistrate states that his city is situated "close to the Yellow River, and that about 3 li from the.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.