at the present time, seems to the resort of clever criminals and beachcombers, and it is difficult to draw line between the two classes. The annual average of convictions of foreigters Jor misdemeanours and felonies dur-"e years almost equals of the seventies, when Shanghai had attained its present of civilisation. From Monday's proceedings at the Russian Consular Court, we learn that our latest visitor of the enterprising criminal class is one Semen Vidnitchak, a Russian, who arrived here ax recently as Sai and since his arrival huis victimised native storekeepers by the larceny of silks and Mrs to the value of about $2,000. On his arrival here, the most valuable of his worldly possessions seem to have been one or two showy articles of jewellery, a some great coat, with astrakhan ngs, and capacious inside pockets, ndle of bank-notes, consisting of one-rouble notes. His underclothing, however, contrasted strangely with his outward appearance, as it consisted of pants, socks, and boots and a shirt that narist have done yood service since it last left the hands of the laundryman. His method was to enter a fur oF silk store, make a display with his bundle of notes, Uhy sone remark distract the store: keeper's attention—he had a fair kno\ of the Manchu dialect; then seizing portunity, he would take up a valu-fur, or a' roll of silk, conceal it ath his great coat, and after some {urcher conversation, leave the store without making a purchase. After defrauding it is said, some twenty, odd, storekeepers this manner, Vidnitchak played the game once too often. He adopted the Sanie method in a Chinese sible store on Sunday afternoon, but was observed by some of the assistants, who gave chase. He kept ahead of his pursuers. for some time, but crossing the Szechuen Road bridge, attracted the attention of P.C. Kingston, who abruptly but. effectively brought "him to a_ standstill, and took him to the Hongkew. " Police Station, where he was placed under arrest.' The prisoner was questioned through an interpreter, but protested his intwocence of any crime. Asked where he had slept the previous night, he asserted that he was living in a Chinese house in Boone Road. Detective-Sergeant McDowell, howerer, thought otherwise, as he knew of a house in Hongkew which is frequented by Russian sailors. Asked to show the way to the man boardinghouse, was taken by way of the Russian revert above-mentioned, and though he protested that he did not know the house, he was taken inside. On entering, he
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.