Mr. Arthur Jordan Hughes, formerly a director of the "'Shanghai Mercury,."—attending subpoena, stated that he resigned from the Loard in October, 1921. He could not ce-operate with the managing director. Witness heard from time to time statements made that plaintiff might devote more time to the paper, but as far as witness's experience went, plaintiff's services were satisfactory. In connexion with the "En Passant" column witness was particularly interested in it. Once he congratulated plaintiff on his work for this feature.
Cross-examined by Mr. Macleod, witness was asked: It would be fair to, say that Mr. King and Mr. Sahara disagreed with you?—Yes, I think they disagreed with me.
Mr. R. T. Peyton Griffin stated that he handed in his six months' notice to resign from the '"Shanghai Mercury" on April 26. He had always been quite satisfied with plaintiff's work. On any other newspaper than the Mercury" Fraser would have been under the control of the editor. On.becoming editor, witness found a state of affairs which he did not contemplate on joining the firm, namely this dual control.
Mr. Reader Harris—Did you make any disparaging statement about Mr. Davey to Mr. Sahara?
Witness—I am afraid some of them could have been construed in that way.
Mr_ Reader Harris—Did you accuse Mr. Davey of dismissing people for his own advancement 1—No.
Mr. Reader Harris—Did you receive a letter from Platt's asking you to apologize?—Yes.
Proceeding, witness said that he regarded Fraser as one of the best four reporters in Shanghai. Had witness net hal plaintiff's assistance there would have been nobody else in the office, because although the rest were very nice people, they could not do the work. One did not get so much work out of plaintiff during the summer months, but his support never fell off after his salary was raised—that was when he only received $400 instead of Tls. 400, which plaintiff, witness thought, had expected to get.
The hearing was adjourned.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.