__A serious case of alleged fraud, in ing the reported misappropriation of $70,000 and Tls. 169,000 from the Zung Chang Bank, No. 49, Ningpo Road, was heard at the Mixed Court on Thursday, before Magistrate Tsang and Mr.' Jacobs (Assessor).
Wong Wan-thus, one of the bank's accountants, who, with six other employees not yet in custody, is charged with defrauding the bank, was remanded for two week: He was arrested late on Wedne: day night by Chief Detective Inspector Burnside and Det.-Inspector Cruickshank. On the way to Hongkew Police Station the man_handed a "chit"? to Inspector Cruickshank, at the same time remarking, "I_am under Italian protection." The chit was found to bear the telephone numbers of certain Italian residents, and there was also an acknowledgement of the receipt of $5,000, indicated to have been) paid in three sums, which was stated to be a "retaining fee." This receipt. was in the name of a Chinese.
Mr. McKean, who appeared for the prosecution, said it was he who had applied for the issue of warrants for the arrest of the seven men. All of them were employees of the bank, and the accused was one of the number. Counsel asked for a remand in order that the others implicated in the case could be tried together with the accused. Certain papers were found on the person of Wong, which led the police to believe that Mr. Musso had been briefed by the prisoner. This was the only information Mr. McKean and the police authorities had in the matter of the intended defending counsel.
Inspector J. E. Wheeler said that Captain Ferrajolo had requested him to inform the Court that the prisoner had already been tried before the Italian Assessor on other occasions. There were Italian interests to consider, and the Italian Consul intended to communicate with the Court, asking that the case be remanded for his Assessor to_deal with.
Mr. Jacobs (Assessor):—The case will be remanded in the usual way. If the Consul writes stating that there are Italian interests to consider, the case will be accordingly set aside for hearing by the Italian assessor. paar Seca etna
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.