Although the main features of this ease have alread been reported, our own correspondent adds, details of much interest tx an unusually interesting story.
Weihaiwei, May 26.
The story begins 20 odd years ago when Kao, the youngest of four brothers, left his home in the Territory to seck a means of livelihood in Manchuria, Tt ends in the trial on Wednesday and Thursday last of one Eugene Feodor, a Russian subject, for the murder orf April 17 of the said Kao, with whom she had been living as his wife. Judge Wilkinson presided over the local High Court: Messrs. Mossop and Priestwood represented the Crown and the accused, res pectively: and the—following ants formed the jury,—Messrs. Boor, Clark, Roberts, Sun and Whitelaw.
The evidence clearly showed that the deceased was u never-do-weel: that he had returned to his native village over a year ago without any money: that with the Russian woman and her child he had occupied the house of an absent brother, whose land he had been cultivating in a perfunctory man-riner: and that he had lost face bad~ ly with his relatives with whom he was on unfriendly terms.
The Fatal Night The chief witness for the Crown, neighbour named Sung, testified that he had taken some interest in this unusual ménage—particularly in the Russian child; and that on occasions he had intervened quarrels between uceused and deceased. On the night of the tragedy he was having his evening meal when he heard sounds of in an-usually violent quarrel, and he entered the house in the hope of restoring peace. Sung testified that in his presence Kao violently ax-saulted accused with hand and foot: that he demonstrated and urged Kao to treat the woman more kindly for the sake of the child, then lying on the brick bed in the room: and that finding Kao disinclined to take advice, he said he would go, He had barely passed the doorway of the sleeping compartment, when hearing the sound of u fall. He xetraced his steps to find Kao on the floor in a dying condition, The Woman was seated at the table in a state of collapse, In answer to further question this witness deciared that the star ment that he had been met on the road outside the house by uceused who had begged him to come to her help, was untrue, This witness and another of the same name who had entered the house together narrated subsequent events,—the summoning of the neighbours and the two eldest brothers of the deceased: the tying up of accused to a tree: the, formation carried to the police station some miles away: the hiring of two carts to take a party to Port Edward, in the first of which was placed the accused with the alead body: the to the authorities.
Dr. Cooper, Medical Officer of Health, stated' he had examined the body, which was that of a tall man of powerful physique: that' death was due to a stab in the chest which had penetrated the heart: that the injury might ensily have been caused by the knife produced in court: and that it might possibly have been self-inflicted, M, stated he had examined accused after her admission to the prison on the Island: and that he found her covered with bruises, particularly in the lower parts of, the body.
Mr. Priestwood called no witness-os for the defence but put Eugene Feodor in the witness-box, who, through a Russian interpreter, told pitiful story of degradation, and usage. She was mari Chinese eight y marriage was there followed a legal separation. The father of her son was a Russian. She agreed to accompany. Kao to his native village and his treatment of her was for a time reasonably kind and friendly. Quarrels arose when he began to pay improper attentions to hi absent brother's wife, That the Intter had attempted to commit suicide, when she heard that her husband proposed to return to his home for the New Year. On that occasion Kao had said he would kill himself if his sister-in-law died, and had also. threatened to. kill accused. On the night in question, Witness asserted, she was nursing her child and didn't promptly open the door on deceased's return from the theatre. She was subjected to violent abuse and beating. Fearing for her life, she went to the houses of two neighbours, but was refused admission, On the road she met the two witnesses named Sung, and begged for their assistance as she teaved her "Master" would kill her.
They entered the house together. It wax not true to say that while these witnesses were in the house she left the sleeping apartment to fetch the knife, She went to get an onion. On her return Kao said he wanted neither her nor the onion, kicked her and knocked her down, She took a seat at the table, weeping. Deceased carried the knife on his person—ostensibly, for the purpose of self-protection.' Ax the Sungs were leaving, she noticed Kao fumbling with his waist-band where he carried the knife, or dagger. At this point she lost consciousness. She did not know that a dead body was taken with her in the cart. She did not know that Kao was dead till so informed in prison. She recollected asking. for a drink of water on the journey.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.