The Shanghai Taotai has formally written to the Senior Consul that he has decided to form a specie: tribunal to try the Ru-sian sailors charged with the murder of Cou Séng-yn on the 15th ultimo, and that as the case is one which affects to an important degree the good o: der of the International Settlemen's by (the Taotai) thinks that there cond be found a precedent in the case of Wan Fa-hua, the would-be assassin of the cashiered ex-Governor Wang Chih-chun. case of Fa-hua," wrote the Taotai, 'Swho was unsuecessfal in mpt, the Senior Consul and the Mu authori considered the man deserving of the heavy sentence of ten years' imprisonment with hard Labour, on the ground that he had been guilty of breaking the pence and good order of the Settlements. Now the Russian sailors in question, v-fossing to pry ricsha fare they owed, seized an axe and lied a Chine-e; they therefore several times over mora guilty thin the said Wan Fu-hua of bre-king the peace and good order of the Settlements. In view of the fet that the Senior Consul and the Municipal authorities in their an: to guard the pace of the Settlements hare I not healtated in insisting upon g heavy sentence on a person who, while guilty of premeditation, did nob succeed in accom-pushing a murderous deed, Imsy therefore conclude thst man evers much more serious cave where life hasbeen actually taken, the Senior Consul and the Municipal authorities will not hesitate in taking such steps as to preclude any interpretation that a Chine e should receive a severe penalty while a Russian must, en the other hand, receive a light one."' Therefore with tle precedent of Wan Fu-buys case before him the taotai concludes that he cannot do anything hotier, under the present unfortavae eircumstar ces, than form special tribunal to try impartially the easy under _conside: which he believes justice. quiet the people, and beneficially assist in the preserva on of law and good order within Ube International Settlements."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.