For stealing a quantity of wood, valued at $2, from the Old Dock, a boatman was sentenced to 50 blows.—For stealing a quantity of copper piping, valued at $21, from the Old Dock, a coolie was sentenced to onemonth's cangue.
Shanghai, 27th March.
Before Mr. Sun (Assistant Magistrate) and Mr. B. Twrscan (British Assessor).
Alleged Seditious Libel, Tai P*u-yao, (Coll: Tai P'u-ngo) described as 8 publisher, Ho Shao-ching (Qol}: Woo Sao-ching) and, Wong Sing. sang, described as sub-editors, were charg- Ist moon he leased the printing plant to ed with wickedly and seditiously contrive ing and intending to stir up and excite discontent and sedition among the subjects of the Emperor of @hina and with writing and publishing a scandalous and seditious libel concerning the Emperor of China azd the Empress Dowager, the newspaper " Ching Tsungpao" in the issue of the 23rd March. Hsii Sze-feng, (Coll: Zee Sze-fung) a foreman printer, and: Tse Cheng-song, proprietor of a printing establishment, were charged with printing the above-mentioned libel.
Detective-Inspector Armstrong gave evidence that on the 25th instant he applied for a warrant for the arrest of the editor, printers, and publishers of the "Ching Tsungpno." He received the warrant on Saturday evening and went to the office of the paper, No. 20 Foochow Road, where he found Tai P*'n-yao alone in the office. He found there a number of bundles of the newspapers addressed and ready for sending to Wuchang and Hankow. They were addressed to two places in Wuchang and one in Hanukow. Tai was taken to the Police Station, and a constable was put in charge of the office. Witness then went to the printing establishment at Vu-cheng-lee, and there he found Wu and Wang, the assistant editors, who were pointed out to him by the printers. Hau, a foreman printer, was brought to the Station at 1am. on Sunday. He said he was not responsible for the printing of the paper, and that the proprietor of the printing works lived in Shantung Road. The Police then went to Shantung Road and arrested Tse Cheng-sung, who admitted that he was the proprietor of the printing works. Witness took the newspapers produced from the publishing office. (Witness handed in copies of the newspapers, with extracts marked and translations of same.) The papers were: dated 23rd of March, and the following days. Witness read the charge over to tue first four prisoners on Sunday, when the printer Hsii said he was not responsible and accused the other three prisoners present of being really responsible. Witness afterwards read the charge to Tse Chéngsong, who admitted that he was the proprietor of the printing establishment. It was a large establishment and printed many other publications, including one other morning paper besides the " Ching Tsungpao." Tse said he received $150 per month for printing the " Ching Tsungpao." He denied being responsible and gave the information that the real proprietor of the paper was at present at Hankow; he also gave the name of the editor, Tai P'u-yao, examined by the Magistrate, said he only joined the paper at the beginning of the present year and had only visited the printing tstablishment once. The selling staff occupied the office in Foochow Road. Wu and Wang were assistants. The editor was a man named Lin. Liu wrote the articles for the paper, but he did not know if Wu and Wang wrote anything. Hash Sze-feng was the foreman printer.
Hsii Sze-feng, examined by the Magistrate, said he was a typesetter and looked after the printing work. There were ten other persons in the typesetting department. Wuand Wang were members of the staff. Liu used to write copy, and send it to Wu and Wang, who handed it to the printers. Wu and Wang did not write anything; they simply rend proofs. Witness was engaged by Tse Tse Cheng-song said he owned the printing plant, Qn the 4th day of the Liu at $150 per month. Witness also printed books. He did no work for the "Ching Tsungpao." The printing establishment was in his own name. Wang and Wu lived on the premises, as' they found it convenient for their work on the paper. Witness handed over charge of the business to Liu and had no longer anything to do with it. He drafted an agreement to that effect, but it had not yet been signed.
Wu Shao-ching, in reply to the Court, said he joined the staff of the "Ching Tsungpao" in the 2nd moon of this year. His wages were $6 per month. He was the proof-reader of the news columns. Liu was editor of the paper. Liu naed to send his copy in envelopes to witness and Wang, and the latter handed it to the printers. Witness did not read. the proofs for the paper of the 23rd of March. There were other proof-readers—four in all. The others went away to Soochow some days ago. Witness went with the police to the bouse of one of them, but he was not there. Liu had gone. away. He received information that he was wanted, but did not tell: witness that he was going away. He simply said he had heard that there was some trouble, but that it did riot affect the staff at the printing office—they were all right. Witness had no good friends, so did not know where Liu usually went. Witness had heard him say before that he wanted to go to Japan.
Examined by the Magistrate, Wang Sing-song said he joined the paper on the Ist day of this year. His duty was to read proofs of the advertisements. He attended school in the day time and read advertisement proofs at night. He did not receive any wages, but lived on the premises.
The Court remanded the case, ordering Tai, Wu, Hsu and Tse to be detained in the custody of the police, and allowing Wang to be released on bail of Tls. 200.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.