Dean Sin,—The ex-detective Tsao Si-yung was released finally from prison last night, and has come to see me to-day to express his thanks for exertions made on his behalf. I have put some questions to him, and the following statements should, I think, be made public. In the first place he asserts: his entire innocence of all connection with the death of Wong A-an, and states his belief that Wong A-an's death was caused by cholera. As regards himself he says that he has been in prison altogether four years and three months. That during that time he has had to pay to yamen runners at Shanghai, Soochow, and Sungkiang, about $770 of his oven money, (is, inde: pendent of money paid for him by the Municipal Council). "OF this $770, about, $400 has been lent to him by friends, at rates of interest averaging about three per cent. per month, and this money he still owes: That he has had chains on him all the time that he has been in prison, and that they were only taken off yesterday when he was released: That at Sungkiang he was made to kneel on chains, (for the purpose of extorting a confession) for two hours at one time, and six hours at another time, the pain thus caused being very great. That he was born in Shanghai, and has now no employment, or means of support, and has much suffered in health by his imprisonment. To prevent misunderstanding I may mention that he had no idea of coming to me to complain of anyone, or anything, and having expressed his thanks was about to leave when I put the questions which elicited the foregoing facts, I do not think that I need say more.
Yours faithfully, W. V. Drvatoxn.
September.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.