[Attempt to Force Signature to Documents Stopped Tientsin, Feb. 20.
Mr, Honan Chi, former manager jof the Union Trading Corporation }now in liquidation, underwent a very. unpleasant experience last Friday Tt appears that while the Uni 'Trading Corporation was in operation it borrowed extensively from different Chinese banks, the Tehung. 'Yuen Bank, in which' the Chihli-Shantang militarists are interested being among its creditors. At the time the Corporation went into liquidation its liabilities were estimated to be in the vicinity of $6.- 000,000, whereas Mz. Chi himself was heard to say that the assets Idid not exceed $1,000,000. After] {the Union Trading Corporation went into bankruptsy Mr, Chi was arrested and confined in the gaol at the Chinese Military Headquarters, Tientsin, where he was forced to surrender various shares and money. {to the Tchung Yuen Bank, aggregate Jand went to Peking, but some time fage returned to Tientsin and took room at the National Grand Hotel jin the Prench Concession. He was visited there last Friday by oticers of the Tehung Yuen Bank, who attempted to coerce him into signing the surrendered documents in order tovrender them negotiable.
1 the attempt on the part of the [creditors of the Union Trading Corporation would have lost heavily.
in time of the irregular proceedings ortanately, however, they learned taking place in the National Grand Hotel and informed the French Municipal Police, who proceeded to the scene and tock Mr, Honan Chi Jeustody. Mr. mediately it was ascertained that Ihe was the victim, Two officers of the Banke were also released after Jexamination, but the docurhents in fqueation were seized, and these, together with @ police report on the attempt at coercion, have been forwarded to the French Con who is now dealing with the ma
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.