We have had ample proof of the lawlessness of the country bordering on the New Territory and beyond, but we have seldom heard of a more diabolical outrage than the following, which took place quite recently. A. gang of ruffians kidnapped a boy about eight years of age, and sent a quite Beyond the latter's means and which message to his father demanding a ransom
he said he could pay. The gang, believing he could raise the money if he wished, sent a further threatening message to the effect that, if the money were not forthcoming by the time specified, the boy would be returned to him " in pickle." The money not being paid they actually carried out the threat and returned the dead body of the son to his father in a cask of brine!
So far the perpetrators of this outrageous crime are at large, and most likely will continue to be, for all the trouble the Chinese authorities are likely to take in the matter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.