The Governor of Kirin reports the execttion by cutting in pieces of a man convicted of murdering three members of one family. The parties concerned in the case were all inhabitants of a village in the Sub-prefecture of Ttungchou. One day the autumn before last the child of one of the villagers was bitten by aneighbour'sdeg. The child's father, Wu Lien-kuei, demanded satisfaction from the owner of the dog. An acquaintance named Han undertook to get the claim settled, and obtained compensation for him to the amount of about a couple of dollars. This having been paid, services, and Wa-Lien-kuei promised him Han asked for a present in return for his
two hundredweight of corn, But, as the child died soon afterwards, Wu Lien-kuei declined to keep his word. Han, nevertheless, continued to press for payment and one day in the spring, his wife went to Wu Lien-k'uei's house to ask again for the corn. When she met with a refusal, she made a disturbance, and threw some dirt into a saucepan which was boiling on the fire, Wu Lien-kuei went off to Han's house to expostulate. But Han took his wife's part and struck Wu Lien-kuei with his fist. The latter went home in a rage, and. after drinking more than was good for him, made up his mind to give Hana beating. As he knew that Han was his superior in strength, he asked a nephew to give him his help. Accordingly towards evening they went together to Han's house, the uncle armed with-a knife, and the nephew with a cudgel, On reaching the door they began to shout and curse, upon which Han came out and replied in similar style, Wu Lien-kuei thereupon stabbed him in the face and the nephew struck him with the cudgel. He fell to the ground, and as he lay there, he showered imprecations on his assailants and their ancestors, threatening them with revenge when he should be well again... Wu Lien-kuei then dete mined to take his life, and hacked him about the head till he killed him, Hau's wife, accompanied by her little girl, cane out to help her husband, and caught hold of the murderer, struggling with him with all her might. Wu Lien-kuei, who was in a state of great excitement, slew her also in order to stop her mouth, and even killed the little girl, who was standing by, crying. The nephew had taken no part in the murders, but he assisted his uncle to carry away the corpses and throw them into ditch, where they covered them with curth. While they were thus engaged, another nephew of Wu Lien-k-nei came by. The murderer could not conceal from him. what
say anything about it. Three weeks after-had happened, but persuaded hin not to wards a patrol of soldiers, who were looking for robbers, happened to pass by the house of the murdered man. Seeing it empty and noticing marks of the struggle that had urred, they made enquiries and found out. the truth from the spectator of the burial, Wu Lien-kuei was arrested, and after trial was sentenced and executed in accordance with the law. The nephew who aided him escaped and could not be found. As the murderer left no children, it has been ordered that the whole of his property be given to the family of his 8th March, MONGOLS AY EMPRESS'S FESTIVITIES, A Decree of the Empress Dowager deals with the presence of the Mongol Princes at the coming testi on the occasion of her attaining her sixtieth yeat.. Of the Mongol Princes and nobles who have the right of entry at court, those who are on duty that year are required to present themselves and make obeisance, while the rest may do so if they desire it. With regard to the other princes and nobles who have not the right of entry, but who ought in strictness to come to Peking on sult an occasion te pray for blessings port Her Majesty, it is ordered that the who are on duty that year shall appear at the capital, and the remainder of them are
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.