An inquest was held at the Mixed Court on Wednesday by Messrs. Li and Ivanoff to inquire into the circumstances surrounding the death of a young Russian journalist named V. Stopani. Deceased is said to have shot himself in his rooms at No, 2098 Seward Road on Saturday and died on Monday in the General Hospital.
In the evidence it was stated by Det.-Insp. Prosser that the Police received a report, stating that the man had shot himself, at 1.15 a.m. on March 27. The Inspector saw deceased conscious but in a state of collapse. He was immediately conveyed to the General Hospital in an ambulance. In the room was found a six-chambered.32 calibre revolver containing one empty shell and two mis-fired cartridges, two letters, one addressed to his parents and relatives and the other to his friends, and three empty shells. He died two days after being taken to the Hospital. He had no relatives in Shanghai.
My. Ivanoff read the letter which deceased said: "I, V. Sto-pani, shot myself on the 26th and ask to be buried without ceremony. I want to be buried as cheaply as possible." The signature corresponded with that on deceased's passport.
There being no death certificate presented, the Court adjourned until 2 p.m, next day in order to allow the Police to secure a doctor's certificate from the Hospital.
The body, said Inspector Wheeler, was removed from the Hospital with a certificate countersigned by Mr. Grosse. This was the first case of the kind which had happened in the Mixed Court jurisdiction over Russians, therefore he would ask the Court to make a ruling as to the future removal of Russian bodies.
Mr. Ivanoff replied that he had been appointed by the Consular body to deal with Russian cases, therefore he would order all future cases of this nature to be brought to his notice. The Police would notify him and he would in turn notify the Mixed Court officials.
Tap "China Times" announces that the Shanghai City Magistrate has received a notification from the Ministry of Justice through the High Court of Kiangsu state ing that lawyers belonging to nations who have no Consular representative in China may be permitted to practise in Chinese courts, but that they will only be allowed to appear for clients who "re similarly situated.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.