The problem of how Shanghai should deal with stranded foreigners was considered by Mr. F. J. Schuhl, Commissioner of the United States Court for China, on Wednesday morning when a seaman named Ernest Josephson was brought before him for beging.
appeared from the evidence that Inspector Vaughan, of the Shanghai Municipal Police, was walking along Nanking Road in civilian clothes on Tuesday evening when the accused accosted him and asked him for some money to get a bed and some food. Inspector Vaughan informed Joseph-son that he was Inspector in t Force, and placed him under arrest.
answer to Commissioner Schuhl, Josephson said that he was a_sailor by profession and was discharged recently by mutual consent, as he wanted to go back to America. When discharged he was paid $45 but he found that this money went very quickly in Shanghai. He had tried but was unable to find work to do. He thought he would be able to find a boat on which he could work his way back to America but there was none. There were several going to Europe but he did not wish to go there. At the time of his arrest he had only $1.20. He told the Commissioner that this was the first time in his life that he had begged and he would not have done so in other circumstances, A Mas yo be HeEtpep.
After hearing the evidence, Commissioner Schuh! said that the Court could readily understand what a serious position a man would be in who was stranded thousands of miles away from Home without money for food or lodging. The defendant appeared to be a good, hard-working, and sober man who tried to find work but found it was impossible to do so. "That is the accused's first offence," said Mr. Schuhl, "If I Whre to dismiss the charge, the defendant would be in the same position as he was when arrested—without funds, no place to sleep, and nothing to eat. Therefore, the Court will continue the matter for two weeks. In the meantime the defendant will remain if the American Gaol where he will have three meals a day and a bed to sleep in."
The Marshal was then instructed to find as soon as possible a berth as a sailor for the accused on one of the Home-going boats. When this was done, the accused was to be put on board and the case dismissed.
Inspector Vaughan, who was prosecuting on behalf f the Police, said that he was sor for such men as these and he could do nothing to aid them. He had to do his duty.
Commissioner Schuh] told the Inspector that he was perfectly
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.