Office, Chinese Maritime Customs, testified that the opium exhibited in court was Persian. No Persian opium had "been legally imported into the Republic since 1913. He stated that the opium in question was by no means eight years old, probably not more than two at the most. It had, he thought, been imported into China. It was soft. and onium eight years old was hard. The onium produced by the police had obviously been smuggled into China, For the prosecution, Mr. Faithfull contended that the testimony of this witness, who had handled large quantities of the drug for many years, could be relied upon. Tt was, therefore, beyond doubt that the onium was smuggled into the country. The defendant's master had stated that he owned the onium. If the Bench held that defendant had only acted on the instructions of his employer, counsel would ask for the arrest of his master.
No Furtuer Prockepines, dismissing the case, the Assessor pointed out that as the defendant's master was an Italian subicct, he could certainly not be proceeded against for the offence on which the coolie was brought before the Court.
Mr. Faithfull—There is plenty of evidence to prove that Jovino is the owner.
The Assessor—I must remind you again that the owner in this case is an Italian. This is a Mixed Court, and he is not amenable to any court but his own.
Mr. Faithfull—Then I wish to given notice of appeal against the Court's decision.
The Assessor—Tut! tut! You are a municipal servant and police advocate.
The Bench then ordered that the property be handed over to Mr. Jovino, and defendant left the dock.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.