Two mafoos were charged with causing an obstruction to traffic in Honan on the 26th inst Constable Schmeling stated that on the date mentioned he observed the accused blocking the traffic by washing carriages, which were placed across the footpath at the entrance to their stables. Ho had repeatedly warned acoused previously about the habit, but without effect.
Fined $10 each.
Discovery of a Private Small-arms Factory.
Throo mon were charged with being concerned with others not in custody in manufacturing firearms at No. 32, Muirhead Road for an illegal purpose.
Inspector Bourke gave details of the matter. It seemed that from informa tion supplied the police made a raid on the promises at 7.40 p.m. on Tuesday night last, when a quantity of firearms of different kinds and in various stages of manufacture were discovered in the house, and a number of others were hidden under the floor. Some of the occupants of the house escaped, and it was thought that the principal was among them. The rifles that were manufactured were sold to men in the country, generally to loafers and bad characters. The accused an agent at Woosung through whom some of the arms were sold. The weapons were constructed from old porta, which wore refitted, and Wha accused themselves made the stocks, Detective Sergeant McDowell said that some of the parts were supposed to. have come from the Arsenal, and, prisoners stated that some" were bought at a German place in Canton Road where old iron is sold, among which Unlicensed Liquor Selling. is a lot of old riffo parts. "The prisoners had a complete plant for fabricating the arms, in fact quite a small arsenal. It had been ascertained that one of the men recently went to Woosung and there dis posed of four rifles. It was believed that this factory supplied pirates and others with their weapons. He had the name of the man at Woosung who bought the four rifles, and would like to be authorised to arrest him at once, as no doubt he could help in clearing up the case. It was obvious that the arms were being made for an illegal purpose because the stocks and other parts were found buried under the floor.
The Assessor said that the necessary authority would be given for the arrest forthwith.
Some of the firearms were exhibited in Court, and appeared to be of a very flimsy construction, being fitted and adapted from a number of parts from different descriptions of rifles.
The case wes remanded for a week to secure the attendance of the Woosung purchaser, and an order was issued that the house in Muirhead Road should be sealed up by one of the Court runners.
Shanghai, 4th August.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.