At the Mixed Court on Monday morning before Mr. Chang (magistrate) snd Mr. F, E, Wilkinson (Briti-h Assessor), a was accused of attempting to bribe Mr J. Keeling's servant. in an opium shop on the Bubbling Well Road.
Chief Inspector Howard sid the case was one which had very little to do with the police.
Mr. Ko wg said that in this ease he had Teen advised by Mr, Ellis (El Browett and Ellis) to apply for a as Mr. Ellis was very busy no time that morning to attend the Court. Tu answer to the Covrt he said that" ecused came te his place on Saturday at G pan, and asked to see his chief mafoo. He h"ppened to be cut with his mafoo at the time, but accused had asked the second imago to make an appointment to meet the No. 1} mafoo at tea shop near the Yue Yuen Gardens, When he came back he advised the mafoo to go and see what the man wanted, but upon the mafoo gving there the place wus found closed. Shortly afterwards the No, 2 mafoo went to the village close by and saw the accused there. Accused said that if the No.1 mafoo would most him, t ere would be a youd chance" for him, He, Mr. Keeling told the mafoo ty qo and see the man, he seemed afraid to go, but eventually went, and afterwards" said he had been offered four or five hundred dollars to leave his present employ and appear on Tuesday morning as a witness in the ease of Mr. L. E. P. Jones said he "appeared in connection with the prosecarion for: the Crown inthe said case, On Friday morning he called on Capt-Superintendent Brisragon and asked if any of the detectives were disengaged as Mr. Stokes wh is the Crown Adveeate's Iecum tenons advised that it would be wise to ascertain the whereabouts of Mr. Kecling's mafoo. The fellowing day he was told by a detective that the man was still in Mx, Keeling's employ. No other information was sought or supplied. Mr. Jones added that he had come to the Court under considerable inconvenience and yet Mr. Keeling's mafoo was not present.
Mr. Keeling replied that his No, 1 mafoo was in Court and produced him.
Mr, Jones said he had applied through the proper channel for the information required and had found the mafoo was still in Mr, Keeling's employ. The trial of the case R. v, Keeling was coming off the next day and it was extremely desirable that this case should go en.
Mr. Keeling remarked that he had applied for a remand.
Mr. Jones "id that only accentuated the charge. Tt was necessary to have the case dismissed at once, as it was not desirable when the case came uj for trial that a mat should be suspected of having offered a bribe to obtain evidence for the prosecution.
The mafoo was then examined and repeated the story as told to the Court Mr, Reeling.
The Mugistrate remarked that as the man would be summoned to appear as a witness in the case on Tuesday, the absurdity of a bribe was evident.
Mr. Keeling pointed out that he was a witness on his side.
Accused in reply to the Court sid he had never seen the No. 1 mafoo. It was the second mafoo he saw and asked to appear.
Mr. Jones said it was clear that the foo was in Mr. Keeling's employ and it was absurd that an offer of money was made, The Magistrate thought the case not fon with. It was absurd that a bribe was offered to a man who was to appear on the wpposive side and especially an offer of $400 or $500, therefore he would dismiss the case.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.