According to a report: presented by the Governor of Shingking, last year a prisoner who had been condemned to death for murder in Tichling Hsien was sent as is customary to the provincial capital for a final examination before the high authorities. He had formerly been an opium smoker, and, after he had given up the practice, he was subject to pains in the stomach, which he cured by taking medicine made of opium. His mother' was afraid that he might have one of his attacks on the journey, and therefore, just before he started, she bought a box of antiopium pills and gave them to him. The guards, who with the gaol-warden were in charge of him, knew that she had done so, but did not see any reason to prevent it. The journey to Moukden was accomplished, the examination took place, and the party se} out on their return,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.