Seven Cantonese who were charged before Messrs. Tsang and Mead et the Mixed Court last Friday with manufacturing Opium at No. 544 North Shanse Road at 11.40 a.m. on Thursday were discharged, for want of evidence against them.
Sub-Inspector Foley, who appeared for the Police, said that, acting on a warrant, he and several of his associates raided the house. of the accused were found in the kitchen cooking some stuff and four others were in the front room. The remaining man came in. while the Police were there. A search was made and a large amount of booty, including some poppy leaves, was seized. Accused were then taken to the station. Witness took some of the stuff to Mr. Roberts of the Customs who said that it was {doubtful if it contained opium. It might have been used for mixture with good opium. Mr. Roberis thought it might be spurious opium.
Cross-examined by Mr. Musco (appearing for the defence) witness said that the stuff smelt and looked like opium. Mr. Roberts was not in Court nor had he sent in a report of his analysis. Witness had nothing"to prove that the stuff in Court was opium except his sense of sight and smell.
Mr. Musso asked that the evidence regarding Mr. Roberts be struck off the records as it was all hearsay evidence.
The Assessor remarked that the Bench would decide what was hearsay and what was not.
The first accused, who described himself as the proprietor, said that the stuff was glue, made of pigskins which were brought from Soochow Tt was not opium but was used for paints, polish, etc. Most of his product was sent to Canton. Thera wag no opium.in it, nor was there any necessity of using the drug. Witness was prepared to eat some of it to show that it was not opium.
The Assessor: We will not put him to that test.
Continuing, witness said that the! poppy leaves came from India. These he bought for his father who used to swallow them to cure his stomach trouble.
Mr. Musso then summed up and the Court held that there was insufficient evidence to convict and ordered the return of the glue seized to defendants who were accordingly discharged.
Batalha de Freitas,} Portuguese Minister in Peking and, Doyen of the Diplomaiie Body, and: Mme. de Freitas left for the! capital on Thursday.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.