The French Police were last Friday engaged upon the investigation of an attempted murder which took place in the Concession on the previous night. in view of the fact that the victun of the attack was prominent during the Revolution, it is believed that the crime was inspired by political motives. The victim, who had been a revolutionary general in Anhui, is named Tsang Ming-kia, a man of 39 years of age, and he now lies in hospital in a grave condition.
About 7 o'clock in the evening in question he was returning to his house in Rue Lagrené, and it was when opposite the principal _entrance to the Pahsienjao Cemetery that the attempt on his life was made. Somebody hidden in the shade fired a shot at him from behind, and before the victim had time to observe him, the assailant had vanished.
Although the bullet had traversed his body, General Tsang was able to call a ricsha, and in it he went home, informing his family of the occurrence. He was then sent to a small Chinese hospital in Avenue Joffre, from which he was taken to St. Mary's Hospital by the police who had just been apprised of the facts. The bullet had penetrated his side just above the thigh, and has since been recovered in his clothing where-it lodged after its exit. Judging by its appearance it sceims to have been fired from a Browning pistol of small calibre.
The death occurred in tha Hopital Ste. Marie on Saturday morning of General Tsang Ming-kia who was wounded by an unknown assailant near Pahsienjao Cemetary on January 29, Since the night of the occurrence the French police have been making inquiries, and have been able to find several people who at the time of the attack were near to the scene. Among these is a ricsha coolie who saw the whole tragedy. He 1s understood to say that after the shot was fired the murderer made off in the direction of Rue Vouillemont. While doing so he made a movement as if throwing something away. This happened close to a Chinese cemetery, and accordingly the police have' had this piece of ground searched. This has resulted in the discovery of a Browning pistol, the charger of which still contains three cartridges. As the pistol is in a good condition, it is almost certain that it has been lying there for only a very short time. There appears very little doubt that once the crime was committed, the murderer wished to get rid of any compromising pieces of evidence, hence the throwing away of the pistol.
Further inquiry goes to show more clearly than ever that the crime is to. be attributed to political motives.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.