Refusal to Pay as a Protest against "Imperialism:" Sudden Departure In H.3f. Supreme Court, on Taurs-day, before Judge Grain, the Shanghai Municipal Council brought an action against Mr. L. K, Kentwel for Tls. 200.70, the amount of Municipal rates due. Mr. E. T. Maitland appeared on behalf of the Coun-
When the case was called, Mr. Kentwell was not present and Mr Maitland said:—"I am informed this morning that Mr. Kentwell has gone! away from Shanghai. He left last Friday. Whether that is so, I do not know."
The Judge directed that the case should be called outside the Court, but still there was no answer.
Mr. E, G. Abbey, the Marshal, said that he served Mr. Kentwell personally, on November 5, at his office, 217 Szechuen Road. Mr. Kentwell said that if they' would ive him a few days more he would Square the matter. Witness understood that Mr. Kentwell proposed getting into communication with Mr. Goldring with 'a view to the case being withdrawn.
Mr. Maitland said that be lind letters written by his office to Mr. Kentwell drawing attention to the amount duc. No notice was taken of these, but Mr. Kentwell sent personal note to Mr. Goldring in which he said that he was making ygements to pay off some of his ing accounts and that his rates would be paid on or before Novem-20, " Having reason to think Me Kentwell would not be in Shanghai! on that date, Mr. Maitland said, he issued a summons, to which he' received a reply lodging "a most em-photic protest against the wanton exercise of your legal rights aras me by issuing a writ" and further protesting against "the! ling up of costs, which I refuse pay, as T regard it as wanton and malicious.'
"That, needless to say, I ignored and T did not reply to it," Mr. Malt. and continued. "I next' received a letter station have to inform you that the undersigned will not pay the above} taxes until Shanghai is handed back, the Chinese people, whose sovercignty the imperialistic countries of Europe have continually infringed. The Council collects taxes from the Chinese but allows them no in the deliberations of affairs of the Council, Fair play indeed! (signed) L, K. Kentwel Mr. J. H. Inwood, inspector of revenue, proved the amount of rates due and said that collectors had applied many times, but the money was not paid.
The dudge—He has ever denied inrisdiction, or that the rates are due. His Jetter of November 2 acknowledges that they are due. There will be judgment for the amount claimed and $30 costs. Have you any knowledge at all whether it is a permanent disappearance, or only temporary?
Mr. Maitland—I cannot say. 1 have a note saying that he left by the str. Sunning last Friday.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.