An Alleged Criminal Slander:
Portuguese-Chinese Suing for Tis 50,000
Another case in which a Chinese registered in a foreign consulate, appeared as a party was heard by Messrs. Botelho (Portuguese Assessor) and Yui (Chinese Magistrate) at the Mixed Comt last Friday, when the complainant, Nien Han-chung (registered as a Portuguese' citizen), sued Wong 'T'ch-sec, an employee of the Asia Life Insurance Ca., for criminal slander and damages in the' sum of Ts. 50,000. Mr. N. A. Allman (American Assessor) sat to watch the case as American interests were claimed.
Mr. S. A. Moss, appearing for the complainant, made application that defendant be required to put up security in the sum of 'I's. 50,000 to ensure his appearance at the hearing of the civil action, Mr. F, Hadley, who, with Mr. W. S. Fleming, represented the defence, said that the old rule of the Mixed Court requiring defendants to give security in every case had been rescinded by joint action of the Chinese Magistrates and the. foreign Assessors some time ago. It would. be very unfair, he said, if security were demanded of deiendant, who was a man of substantial means and of unquestionable good character and standing in the local community. He was not a man likely to #bscond and he was quite as anxious as complainant to fight the case out. Counsel did not think it necessary to give security for defendant's appearance, here were nO exceptional circumstances, continued Mr. Hadley, which could be shown under which the Courv "could make an order for security in this case and he did not think that any could be shown at all.
Mr. Fleming supported Mr. Hadley's contentions and after lengthy discussion with the Magistrate, the Assessor announced that complainant would be required to put up security in the sum of ''I'ls. 1,000, and defendant would be required to furnish security in the sum of Ts. 5,000.
The case was then adjourned.
Both the criminal and civil charges in this case have arisen as the result of the alleged circulation of certain rumours wherein defendant is alleged to have charged complainant with being a swindler anda gambler. crepancies in the books which
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.