In June, 1922, the amount of stone in stock was 223 fang, and after returns on various dates up to April 5, 1924, the amount in. stock was given as'6,280 fang. "The accused measured the stone throughout this period," said Mr. Kent, "and at the end of 1924, the books showed that over 4,000 fang was in stock. During the year there was in the office of the Engineer, when Holley, the acting Engineer succeeded by Mr. Barnes. In November Mr. Barnes measured the stone stock, and found it to be approximately 2,000 fang. When the statement came in from the accused that there was 4,000 fang, Mr. Barnes knew that it was not so, as he had measured the quantity.
In February, 1925, another measurement was ordered in which the accused took part, and it showed that there was 2,000 fang to be accounted for.
So great a discrepancy naturally aroused grave suspicion, and the retary of the B. M. C. arranged ith the Superintendent of Police that a raid should be made on the contractor's premises for the pur-pore of securing his books. The Premises' were in Chinese territory, and the raid took place with the tance of the Chinese police. The contractor's books were taken possession of, and will be produced due course.
They revealed a very serious state of things, and it was decided that the contractor and his accountant should be arrested. However it was too late, for when the police went, the men had already left, The question of hribex which the accused was alleged to have taken, would come out' in the: course" of evidence, added counsel.
Mr. Kent then called witnesses testify to certain extracts from the Public Works' Department books.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.