read the letter, which Set writers to work copying, proclamation Practice revolvers in court. ald against, all; Victoria Hotel, tacks, Seed speciedn procyon tion Y. immediately. Despatch Taotai's card'
Hongkong, September 2nd, 1891. nen, two chairs, for Wong, Liu, Tab, Lob. Dear Mx. Brazizn,—You will be surprised (6) Five cutlasses, 5 revolvers, 2 rounds, to see me sending from this place, having come here, I may say, purely by accident. I under Croskey, to telegraph, First wire cholera, Shanghai and Wuhu. 8. and W. found in Shanghai a letter waiting me from All steamers not to touch. Disconnect all my uncle in India, saying he would be able lines. Yang Chin's headmen (4 and 3). to get his leave and would join me in 'Two' sea-dogs with revolvers and cut. Nagasaki, if I could get away by the middle lasses. Croskey return, bring operator along of September. This knocked my catching the Viadivostock steamer on the head, 20 all papers and ae-knowledge. and leave 3 Chinese la, change to receive Jhinese to let thought I would rest a day or two in Shanghai, 10 one out. Send rations and men in morn-letting the Saikio go without me. When th One man to guide Creskey pact to C. second day I heard the Saitio had struck on M.S.N. Ca. See Morris and then come the bar and would not be off till 6 p.m, and camp. After finish send message to telegraph Thad founda day in Shanghai quite enough, and Morris on Kan-lu-ssu, started off to catch her in the Woosung (8) Crosskey despatches batches of 5 which altho-h I paid double to get gools and canal. Two armed her to start earlier, came half an hour late, revolvers send boat load over to seize law we could only yee the smoke of the ches and send for Kwachow to send back Saikio ax she rounded the corner, had then no ultemative but to sleep on the (9) Release passengers (unmolested.) Dis-exe gig lo Band nuail," which does not return to Shanghai tribute proclamations on Bund. till the following morning, and the next morning T got up at-seven and saw a mail Examination coutinued—I understand steamer getting up steam about a quarter in a measure what I was expected to do in of a mile off. This on enquiry proved to be avcurdanee with this plan of campaign, I the P, and 0, Mirzapore leaving for Hong-was told by accused that on his return b kong. Ithen thought Dash it, why not would give me five or six men with who scoot down to Hongkong and meet my uncle T was to go to the telegraph office and di there instead of returning ignominiously to Shanghai to waste a week waiting for the connect the wires, afier which T was to Japan mail had bring the operator to the Chins Merchants'
ngo my mind for the 20th jetty. I was afterwards to go to Silver passenger on the Mirzapore for inland and take possession of the forts, We had a splendid trip and I feel I spoke to Mr. Brazier the day after fully better for it, and shall stop here Mason first spoke to me, 1 did not agree for the next two mails, and if my uncle to join him untile short time before doesn't turn up leave for Kobe alone. There departure. I did nut carry out his i fare w nice lot of fellows in the Customs here, structions, and acted in every way in oppo-also found Mr. MeLeavy Brown very ki sition to the conspiracy, if it may be so I will write again from Jupan and remai called.
Yours truly, Accused put no question, Robert Edward Bredon deposed—I am Examination continued ~The second British subject and Commissioner of the letter had under the signature cipher 1. M. Customs at Shanghai. 1 first exw figares which were intended to give the date the accused on the morning "f 12th Sept.
accused's arrival in Chinkiang. At th at my office. A letter addressed to me was handed in xt the same time as accused vf the firat page were two lines in cyp pencil, which read Arrive Friday night was announced, I produce the letter which is us follows follow. instructions; everything as. arranged." I had promised accused to Chiyuen, enter into the conspiracy with him, after ref on two distinct occasions. I Shanghai, 12th September, 1891. thought that, had T refused, accused would have carried out his plans unknown to Srm,—Iam C. WY, Mason, fourth Assistant A, tie and that it was necessary 1 should know what he proposed to do, in order to transferred from Chinkiang to Veking with weeks' leave. Shortly before J left keep the Commissioner of Customs inform-{end of August) I was put in the way of ed, Before I agreed to join him I told the discovering & very serious conspiracy Commissioner about it. "At first I thought Ko Lao secret Society. I reported the matter accused was in enruest, but I was after-to Mr. Acting Commissioner J. R. Brazier at wards persuaded by Mr. Brazier and Mr. the tine. Although he made light of the Rickman that he would never carry vut portance of it, I employed my first forthhie plas, -T had no reason to believe that of leave in following it up, and now I he find abandoned them, though is frst have to report that a quantity of arms and letter from Hongkong gave me the imammunition—viz: G & Ca 35 packages shovels and steel—has arrived by this vessel from pression that he had, because he announced Hongkong en route for Chinkiang. that he was going from Hongkong to Japan, My object in giving this information is not Mr. Brazier never thought that accused's to ask you to seize it here, but to allow it to intentions were serious. After accused's go on, as applied for, to Uhinkiang. I have return from Hongkong I was handed by certain information that if it is seized here, it Mr. Rickman " memorandum book which will precipitate an immediate rise at all the ind belonged tu accused. It contained rts, and the seizure of Customs moneys. writing in cipher, which I was asked to no suspicion is shown the arms will be translate. I have made " translation of landed and stored at Chinkiang. The mo portions which were in cipher, and pro-iment will not be carried out for some weeks, duce copy of the translate and we shall be able to track the contraband tw its storing place, seize all previous stores, (1) Sell all furniture except bed. Leave and have sure evidence by which to secure with Croskey. Take Consular register and and convict the ringleaders and crush the bank receipts.
(2) Take baggage down with me; store in the imy of allowing the goods to go revolt. I can scarcely dwell sufficiently on
customs godown. quietly forward, and letting them be applied (3) Take to Hotel des Colonies. Visit for in the usual way at Chinkiang. The sailors' places in missionary disguise and win Society have their agents both on the steamers over men. Arrange receipt of letters. Wire and in the yamen; so for " guard, none of A. toland £500 at H ongkong. Call, Bredon the soldiers could be trusted. But as if I and Ready. Buy two ponies for Croskey. am suspected of treachery my life will be in Find Gutzeit ye coal steamers from Jai danger, I should be obliged if one or a couple Name: his own price. Gutzeit, see pilots of officers could be sent with me. I need take one down to Hongkong. scarcely say that the whole matter from I give arms, Croskey, ammunition, revolvers, beginning to end will be laid before the and cutlasses to 30 men (30 rounds for Inspector-General in a memorandum from me. yamen and 10 foreigners with rifles only).
I remain, ete., ete., (5) Officers and instructions. Belts. 100 rounds, Seize Taotai and let none go out.
(Signed) C. W. Masos, Bill of Lading produced by Mr. Mason:
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.