Serious Allegations of Conspiracy: Was Gen. Heu a Chibli Spy?
Allegations of a most serious and grave nature are contained in reports which are ®eing circulated in Chinese circles in connexion with the assassination, in the Settlement on the night of November 10, of Gen. Hsu Kuo-Hang, Director of Shanghai and Woosung Native Constabulary.
Despite the story given by the murderer, Li Dah-sung, in the Mixed Court before Mr. A. J. Marttin (British Assessor) and Magistrate Kuan, Chun, which resulted in his being handed over to the Arsenal authorities, the matter is still a mystery. Li, in his evidence, stated that he had, as the result of newspaper read-ting, an old grudge against the late Director, whom he considered was. an undesirable—Chinese official. He stated that he was a member of the Kuomingtang and that he had shot Gen. Hsu_because their political opinions differed. And he concluded by saying that he had just returned from Canton where he had been given a pistol by a military officer there, with specific instructions to shoot Gen. Hsu. It ig believed, however, that there are deeper reasons for the murder than Li was inclined to disclose, Hut what these are is still a mystery.
And here is where the most serious allegation comes in, Var jous political parties, including the Kuomingtang and the Anfu clique, were extremely suspicious "of Gen: Hsu and believed that he was a spy for the Chihli party, basing their belief on the ground that he had but a short time ago been promoted, upon the recommendation of Marshal Chi Shiehyuan, Military Governor of Kiangsu, full general and a member of the Court of Marshals. Their suspicions were further strengthened when a report was circulated to the effect that Gen. Chi had recommended Gen. Hsu for, the Order of Merit and for the post of Commissioner-General of Shanghai, _Woosung and Sungkiang Native Police with greatly increased powers, which were to include municipal administration and taxation.
The result, if is alleged, was a plot. to, assassinate Gen. Hsu by a prominent general in Hangchow, in concert with a leading military leader in Shanghai, who were formerly very friendly with the late Director. general, it is said, bought ever the support of four men to do the dirty work, Besides receiving a reward of $40,000 for the murder, the men were promised permission, to enrol a brigade of 5,000 soldiers in Shanghai, Apart from these promises, another was made to the effect that the man who actually did the shooting was to receive a full pardon.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.