Two men were charged with the above offence.
Mirs. Silva stated that as she was going to market on the Ist inst. she felt a hand in her pocket, and on turning round saw two men running away but was unable to catch sight of their faces. She found her watch was missing and reported the matter to the Hongkew police station.
Sergeant Lynch said that accused were arrested by the police of Central district, who found in the possession of one man a pawn ticket for a watch pledged for $4.50, and the man was identitied as the person who lawned the watch, which the complainant fully identified as hers.
sentence of 300 blows and six months' imprisonment was ordered, Before Mr. Cuaxe (Magistrate), and Mr. B. Gries (British Assessor).
A Watered Cotton Appeal Case.
The rehearing of a case in which the decision had been already given was taken, in which Mr. A. M. Latter appeared for the appellants, and Mr. A. B. Rosenfeld, Inspector of the Watered Cotton Assoriation, represented the prosecution.
Tt may be remembered that on the 30th April last the hong of Vu Tah were prosecuted on a char-e of bringing watered cotton into the Settlement contrary to the Taotai's proclamation. A question having arisen as to the percentage of moisture contained in the cotton, it was ordered by the Court that the matter be decided by the Chamber of Commerce, exch side to appoint its own representatives to see the tests carried out in a satisfactory manner. If the cotton were found to contain undue percentage of moisture a fine of Tls. 600 was to be inflicted. The tests were made and the results embodied in a letter from Mr. Bavier, who stated that of five samples tested three gave 14 per cent. while the other two gave 13 and 11.80 per cent. respectively. On this evidence conviction was recorded. Some time later on Mr. Latter applied to have the case reopened, on the ground that new evidence would be submitted tending to show the tests were unreliable, and that other tes's made by an expert pointed to the percentage of moisture being less than that stated by Mr. Bavier. The appl tion has been postponed several times and was finally heard to-day.
At the outset Mr. Rosenfeld asked on what grounds it was proposed to reopen the case, and the Assessor said that appellants claimed to have uew evidences.
'Mr. Latter desired to hear the evidence for the prosecution, which was repeated by Mr. Rosenfeld. (A full report' appeared our issue of the Ist of May.) The ess added that at the tests representa tives of all the parties concerned were present.
Mr. Latter—Where were the tests held, Mr. Rosenfeld?—At Messrs. Ibert & Ca. premises, the Watere] Cotton Assoc'ation's office.
Mr. Latter—As a matter of fact did the representative appointed by the Chines" go to a place in Sinza Road'—I do not know.
Did Mr. Kerfoot go to that oftice?—Ho left a chit saying he had called.
Mr. Bavier a.cotton expe: 2 Is he not rather a silk expert both, and like many other cotton merchants in Shanghai has had to pay dowly for his experience and knowledge.
Does it require special skill to test cotton?—Not particularly.
You are an employee of the Laou-kung-mow Cotton Mill?—Yes.
Have you had experience of cotton mills previously?—No.
Did the cotton mill managers approve of your appointment as Inspector to the Association?—I was appointed by the general managers and do not know what the mill managers thought about it.
Did anyone raise objections to your appointment on the ground of your want of experience, or that you being an employee of a certain mill, that mill might benefit by your appointment at the expense of others?—Not that I know of.
Is ita fact that the Laou-kung-m-aw still has been supplied with cotton at lower prices than others?—I decline to answer that question. It has nothing whatever to do with the case.
The Court upheld Mr. Rosenfeld's objection. Mr. Latter maintained that the fucstion was relevant, as his point was to show that Bir. Rosenfeld's inspections had not been conducted with absolute impartiality.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.