At the Mixed Court on Friday morning, before Mr. Chang (Magistrate) and Mr. S. F. Mayers (British Assessor), two men who were charged on the 15th of February with stealing $700 from a passenger on the China Merchants' steamer Kienyyung on the 22nd of December again appeared before the Court. They belonged to a gang which infested river steamers and made it a business to rob passengers unless premium was paid upon their effects, Several others had been arrested in French Town. The compradores of the various steamers were so much afraid of them that they allowed them to travel backwards and forwards on the Yangtze River free of charge.
Detective-Sergeant Johnston said the compradores were afraid to come to Court. Only a few days ago a lnveeny by the gang was committed from a steamer in French Town, and when they were interfered with they made an attack on the French Police, The Assessor said he had not received the expected communication from the compradores of the steamers. One of the men at " previous hearing suid he intended turning over a new leaf by starting an ice company, and had obtained the es of a foreigner.
The following are copies of documents in connection with the proposed scheme, The first is the deed between the promoters and the foreigner; the second is " circular forwarded by the foreigner to the various Yangtze steamer companies; the remainder speak for themselves.
(Copy.)
Know all men by these presents, that Mow Han-ching, Yoh Tai-ang and Chun Chan-ling, parties of the first part, are held firmly bound unto Win. Brown in the sum of four hundred dollars as ascertained and stipulated damages to be paid to said party of the second part (\Vm. Brown) his heirs, executors, administrators or legal repre sentatives, for which payment we bind ourselves jointly and severally each one hereto signing as will our and each of our heirs, executors, administrators and a frnily by these presents.
ned, sealed with our seals, dated and delivered this 12th day of January, 1901.
The condition of this bond and above obligation are such that the parties of the first part are desirous of forming an insurance company to insure personal cflects along the Yangtze River between Shanghai and Hankow to insure shippers against loss by theft, and desire to employ the party of the second part to ussist in the organisation of said company and to engage his services as manager of said company to be organised at the monthly salary of two hundred dollars per English calendar month, beginning the first day of March, 1901, provided said company shall be then organised, or at such later day as the company shall organised, and said parties of the first part hereby agreeing to pay all expenses incident to the organisation, operation and maintenance of said company, including rents of proper offices, pay fur clerk, hire of shroffs and compradores, and further, the parties of the first part agree to beat and pay all losses sustained under the policies of insurance issued by said com. pany, they the said parties of the Grst part to have for their profit and benefit all premiums earned by sale of said ness whereof we have this year and day first above written, set out hand and seal at the end of this instrument, it, being understood and agreed that if' we the parties of the first part shall well and truly keep and perform the conditions of this bond as herein set forth, then the
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.