Assistant: Judge.
R. v. Masoy.
Charles Henry Allen Welch Mason was charged on remand that he did on or about the 13th September have in his possession or under his control five pounds weight or thereabouts of an explosive substance un-ich circumstances as to give reasonable with a strap, which could be carried over suspicion that he did not have it in his the shoulder. It was something like ion fur a lawful object." haversack. As far as I can remember, As before, Mr. H. S. Wilkinson, Crown accused said "There's more dynamite in Advocate, prosecuted; Mr. R. E. Bred there." Mr. Kindblad opened it, and took Commissioner of Customs, and. Mr. Yi out two small bags, which accused said deputy appointed by the contained his Derringers, and then some-king, were present in Cou thing else which accused said was dynamite. hoaring of tie case, H.E. the Taotai and The bag contained a few lovse pistol car-his interpreter, Mr. Zee Lan-char, occupied tridges There were also dynamite fuses. seats on the pouch, as did Mr. Liu (an During all this time accused made some expectant 'Taotai deputed by the Nanking reworks, He said his life had twice been Viceroy to watch the case in cun threatened, and in consequence of that I with Mr, Yii) and Mr. Liu To. asked Mr.' Rickman to allow two armed of the Kixugnau Arsenal, European officers of the Customs staff Oliver George Ready deposed—I am a come into the house. This was done. I British subject and a fourth class assistant had noticed when I weet on the hulk that in the ILM. Customs. I know the accused, there seemed to be great excitement among He has been a fourth class assistant in the the Chinese. The two officers who came Customs. I have known him about four were named Seitz and Stahre. The first is met him first in London during assistant examiner and the other a second the examination for the Customs. I came out to China with him at the end of 1887. class tidewaiter, "After, the luggage lid been searched and the oticers had arrived Since his arrival in China he has been sta-accused went to bed. Upon the discovery tioned at Chinkiang. Iwas stationed there of the dynamite and the serious appearance about " year anda half, from December, of the case, I asked Mr. Rickman to ask 1889, till uly of this year. T eae to Shang-for an_armed guard from the gunboat. hai from ChinkiangonJuly 10ortheteabouts.
Mr. Kindblad was also of opinion that I was in Shanghai during the month of guard was necessary. Mr. Rickman sub-August. I saw accused in the general office at sequently went to sve Mr, Allen, H.B.M.'s the Custom House. T am almost certain Consul, and returned with him to the we, first to Japan and subse-the 28th, He wid he was house. Mr. Rickman called accused, who Str, Alien finally said he could take accuse of up, and some conversation ensued. from Chinkiang the day before to go by jueutly to Vindivostock. He said he came on board the gunboat Kedpole. This was the Japanese mail, but had changed his done, Mr. Kindblad and myself accompany-mind wud let the mail depart, but having ing Mr. Allen and accused on board the heard that she was on shore at Woosung Redpole. We reached the ship between 3 he now purposed taking small steam-and 4am. After Mr. Allen had had a launch with the object of catching her. short conversation with Capt. Freeman This conversation tok place at abut 3 his cabin. Captain Freeman invited Stay in Shanghai on that occasion. was p.m. I did not see him again during his accused, Mr. Kindblad, and myself to gu into the cabin. A somewhat animated subsequently went to Chinkiang, and went conversation ensued between Capt free on 3rd September, I next saw accused man, Mr, Allen and accused. Mr. Kind-on Sunday, 13th September, on board the blad' and I occasionally spoke. Accused d Fuhwwo had was asked for an explanation with regard arrived from Shangh tothe dynamite. He wald he did not feel was on Messrs, Jardine, Matheson & Co.'s called upon to give any explanation about hulk. I think it was about 11 p.m. I the dynamite except to his chiefs, I think spoke to the accused. After the ordinary he said "Sir Robert Hart" but "I am not greetings I said "We know all, Mason sure, As far as I remember, Mr, Allen you had better come with me," ur words to said "You are British subject and as that effect. He went with me, to the such you must give an account to me." 1 Commissioner's house where T was living at think accused replied that he did not feel the time. Mr. Brazier, the Comn called upon to do so. Captain Freeman was at that ti asked him what he was going to do with Rickman. was the dynamite. Accused said that on land-tide-surveyor, and a ing he was to haud it to some one who accompanied accused myself to the should come and ask for it, Capt. Free-Commissioner's house. We went into the man said, "Your intention then was to dining room and sat down, 1 wrote hand: over dynamite to a lot of disaffected a note to Mr, Rickman, who came and. irresponsible Chinese?"—Accused five minutes afterwards. Mr. made no satisfactory answer. The question Rickman asked accused to give his word arose how the dynamite should be disposed of honour that he would neither barm of, and Capt. Freeman sent for his first
gage was sent for, and was brought. It himself nor anyone else, Accused' bag lieutenant, Mr. Foster. It was eventually decided that Lieut. Foster, in uniform, consisted of a trunk, a Gladstone bag, and and accompanied by an armed sailor, few sundries, Mr. Rickman had' pre-should go on chore, take delivery of viously given accused the option of remain-the dynamite, and bring it on board: the ing in the house as my guest or of being Redpole. I believe the intention was to handed over to the Consul. Accused said destroy it. Before going on board the he much preferred to stay as my guest. No Redpole I had wrapped the dynamite in a further conversation took place till the shawl and replaced itin the Gladstone bag. examination of the luggage. Mr. Kindblad Llocked the bag, put the key in my pocket, received instructions from Mr. Rickman to placed the bag under the sideboard and examine it. The rare locked. Accused covered it with a mat. I told Mr. Seitz gave the keys to Mr. Kindblad. Accused was
examination, Mr. Kindblad frat opened the present during the whole of the subsequent that there was dynamite in the bag and that it was not to be touched. I returned to the Commissioner's house with Lieut. portmanteau. Nothing contraband or of Foster, Mr. Kindblad and a bluejacket. special import was found mit. Mr. Kindblad On our return the bag was opened and the then proceeded to open the Gladstone bag. dynamite examined. Lieut Foster, Mr. Accused said, You had better be careful Jaont. Statements aa to the contents of Kindblad, Mr. Seitz and myself were pre-there is dynamite in that bag." Mr.
Kindblad then took out a package, about the packages were made by Lieut, five inches by four, which accused said Foster, Mr. Seitz and Mr. Kindblad. contained dynamite. The packet was Those statements agreed. The sub-wrapped up in clothing. Mr. Kindblad stance was in paper. Mr. Kindblad tore placed it on the sidd Mr. Kindblad off a corner of the paper and said said "Is there anything more?" and acthat in his opinion the contents were cused replied You had better look in tie other side ofthe bag." Mr. Kindblad dynamite. As far as I could see tents of the bag had not: been disturbed did 20, and found e small cloth or linen bag, during my absence, and the bag was still
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.