Two Cantonese were charged with beii concerned together in feloniously altering a figure 6 to 500 on a $5 note, and tempting to put off the same on one Woo King-pan, with latent to defraud him of $500 at 9.90 p.m. on the Gth instant.
Inspector Matheson told the Court that at about 9.30 p.m. on Saturday night last one of the accused went to the premises of the complainant, who keeps a bank, and there attempted to change the note, representing it to be for $500. The figures on the corners of the note and at the back had been altered, but the words in the body of the note were not, and read plainly "Five Dollars." This was noticed by the complainant, who told the man that it was a bad note, whereupon the latter bolted, followed by the banker, who ealled for police, and an Indian' Constable coming up,. was informed of the case and gave chase to the culprit, capturing him after a short run. When examined at the Station the accused said he found the note in Szechuen Road, but after further questioning he disclosed the existence of a confederate, who was subsequently arrested by Acting Detective Moore, who was told off to investigate the matter. The second man's story differed from that of the first. It seems that they went to the bank together, and the second man waited outside while the first endeavoured to cash the note. One of the accused can write and speak English.
The Assessor ordered the note to be returned to the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank for cancellation, remarking that he thought the Bank would pay $5 for it, as the original note was perfectly good, and the prisoners were each sentenced to 300 blows, one month's "cangue, 2 years' imprisonment, and deportation.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.