A native shroff was charged with being in possession of two revolvers, and 200 rounds of ammunition, and retailing same at 136, Muirhead Road, on the 22nd instant.
'The prisoner, who had been remanded from the 23rd instant, was sentenced to three months' imprisonment.
Shanghai, 25th November. Before Mr. Huaxc (Magistrate), and Mr.
Twrsay, (British Assessor) The Attempted Assassination Wang Chih-chan.
Wan Fu-hua, described as a schoolmaster, living at 15 and 17 Park Road, was charged with having in his possession a loaded revolver within the limits of the Settlement, contrary to the Municipal By-Law XXXVII; also with being a source of danger to the peace and good order of the Settlement; also threatening to kill his Excellency Wang Chih-chun in Hupeh Road by presenting a loaded revolver at his head at 7.30 p.m. on the 19th instant.
'A native student was also charged with conspiring with the said Wan Fu-hua and others, in the attempt to kill H-E. Wang Chih-chun, and with being a suspicious character and a danger to the peace and order of the Settlement.
Mr. L. E. P. Jones said that as Wan's nephew was also charged and had engaged Mr, Ellis to defend him, and as accused had expressed his willingness to have Mr. Ellis to defend him, he would withdraw from the case.
The Court decided to deal only with the above prisoners at this hearing.
Inspector Wilson: said that at 7.30 p.m. on the 19th instant, the attention of native constable 436 was drawn to accused, who had a loaded revolver in his hand. The man who called the constable's attention to it said that accused tried to shoot his master, ELE. Wang, ex-Governor of Kuangsi province. H.E. did not come to the police station, but witness saw him the following morning and he then corroborated all that had been said and wanted accused charged with attempting to shoot him, He was, he said, called to the restaurant by a bogus invitation and when he found his friends were not! there he at once left. At the door accused caught H.E. with his left hand and tried to shoot him, but his is arm back. "Accused admitted this and said he had come to Shanghai especially to shoot HE. Wang. He stated he had come from Canton, that he bud only been in Shanghai three day, and that he was living on a boat of the French Bund. The latter statement correct and accused he had been living in Park Road. A detective went to the address given and found accused had stayed there, He saw accused's nephew, who gave the une of the man who sent the bogus invitation. This man had not yet been arrested. H.E. had been informed that the case was coming up, but witness had not seen him in Court. With regard to the attempt to shoot H.E., the police hed only the statement of H.E. vants. The revolver, which was a fiv chambered one, contained four cartridges and had not been fired recently. The police therefore could only bring the charges of unlawful possession and of being " menace to the good order of the Complainant's footman, called, said he did not know if his master was coming.
The Assessor said that H.E. Wang would not be present at the hearing and the witness did not know whetly would come on a future occasion. The charges dealt with would therefore be those preferred by the police.
ive Constable 436 said that at 7.35 p.m. on Saturday evening the accused was attempting to fire a revolver. People were shouting for the police, xo he ran up and saw a revolver in accused's hand. He arrested him and brought him to the Station.
Cross-examined by Mr. Ellis—Whon witness's attention was called to accused he was on duty at the corner of Hupeh and Foochow Roads. He jad never seen accused before. When his attention was called he saw accused about two feet from the door of the Tsingpoo Resstaurant. The last witness shouted out to him that accused was going to shoot BLE. Wang, and when witness went up he saw the revolver protruding from accased's sleeve. Witness recognised the revolver. He took possession of it and handed it over to the police.
By Inspector Wilson—There was a shop and an alleyway betwoon the witness's post. and the restaurant.
Mr. Ellis asked that only evidence with regard to the two charges now before the Court should be taken.
Vai Ah-dong said he was outside the restaurant about 7 o'clock on Saturday evening. He saw accused rush forward from the south He saw the muzzle of the revolver outside accused's sleeve.
By the Magistrate—Witness was a mafoo and was waiting outside the restaurant.
By Inspector Wilson—Witness got hold of accused and called for the police. He went to the police station after that. Witness did not see the revolver taken away. Witness identified the revolver.
Cross examined by Mr. Ellis—When he got hold of accused's band accused almost let the revolver go and witness saw it. Witness was not the driving mafoo, He was opening the door for Mr. Wang to enter the carriage. Accused pointed the revolver at Mr. Wang. Witness described minutely how scoused came across the road, how he first saw the revolver, and how he caught accused by tke arm.
Wong Chung-juan said he was at the door of the restaurant. Witness saw accused try to shoot H. E, Wang. At first witness did not know that it was a revolver that was sticking out of accused's sleeve. Hoe thought it was a piece of iron, He saw the constable take it away from accused. Witness went to the station with the constable and accused, At the station the officer looked at the revolver and one of the chambers was empty. Witness identified the revolver.
Cross-examined by Mr Ellis—Witness, on the night in question, was attending H.E. Wang. He was walking alongside of him, He first saw accused a short distance from the stairs. H. E. had altogether seven or eight servants, When accused pointed the revolver at H. E. Wang, the latter partied it with his arm.
Native Constable 436, recalled, said he saw the cartridges taken out' of the revolver by Inspector Wilson. No one tampered with the revolver time it left accused's hands until witness banded it to Inspector Wilson.
Sergeant Morey deposed that he was on duty at Louza on Saturday. Accused was brought in by constable 436, who handed witness a revolver loaded in' four chambers, Accused anid the other car-bridge had dropped out.
Cross-examined by Mr. Ellis—Witness called Inspector Wilson to the charge room when the revolver was handed to him.
Mr. Ellis said that with regard to the possession of the revolver, he must admit that the evidence of the police went to show that accused was guilty of an infringement of the regulation, and was therefore liable to a certain penalty. As to being a source of danger to the good order of the Settlement, ho submitted that no evidence had been given gainst accused. The evidence had been conflicting and it that accused was seen aiming a revolver at any particular person, The witness seemed to have been frightened by the appearance of the muzzle of the inatrament. He submitted therefore that the first charge had alone been proved.
Judgment was reserved.
Shanghai, 28th November. Before Mr. HuaNo Hsvex (Magistrate) ant Mr. B. Tw¥Mas (British Assessor).
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.