Feng Chu-chun, the Chief Magistrate of Hankow, has greatly increased his reputation by the arrest of a famous smuggler, Cheng Kno-chang. For many years he was wanted by the authorities, but he was supported by such a numerous and powerful band of retainers that no one was able to take him, Lately, however, he went to Hunan where he had not been for over twenty years and where he had no great following, and information was given to the magistrate by an old accomplice. Cheng Kuo-chang was' arrested and executed in the presence of Feng and other important officials. At the trial Cheng stated that he had some four or five thousand followers. He was man of great wealth and a large body of troops accompanied him to his execution, as an attempted rescue was feared. As we have said, this is a grout feather in Feng Lao-yeh's cap, or, as one of his servants remarked, "When he arrested him he could feel his button turning red on his cap."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.