There were three charges against the accused of having obtained money by false pretences: from a Chinese who was to be found employment as a bo'sun, $100 from another who was to be steward, and the same amount from a third man who was to be a second engineer.
In the absence of the Acting Crown Advocate, Mr. 8. H. McKean conducted the prosecution, and Mr. Tycho Wing defended Leicester, who pleaded not guilty.
In opening the case, Mr. McKean said the business carried on. was: ostensibly that of a steamship company, accused being assisted in its conduct by two Chinese, Yung and An, but in fact the company never did any business. It was represented to the Chinese, who were introduced by Yung and An, that steamers were being chartered and that crews were recitired to man them, and on the promise that positions would be obtained for them when the ships arrived in Shanghai, fees were obtained, and receipts given, signed by the accused. The seamen began to press j for information as {o when the ships would arrive, and eventually when the office was found to have been closed information was given }to the police and accused was arrested. Counsel <nbmitted that there could be no question of a mistake having been made, the acloused's course of conduct being systematic. out all their obligations from the In answer to his Lordship, de-date of the repudiation of the fendant said that he had no share contract to enable them to make at all in the business. He was en-the defendants responsible for the gaged at a salary of Tls. 300 a nou-performance of the contract? month and was with the firm six I am of opinion that the goods} weeks, but he was never paid. were not delivered in reasonable Cross-examined by Mr. Been, de-time, that the mutual intention of fendant said he had only a verbal the parties was that the good: isi agreement with the company. He should be shipped during the months! was unable to say where Mr. Hong i of August and September 1920; that' was. i Description oF THE Urrice-Det. Sgt. Yorke gave evidence jas to arresting Leicester on board ithe str. Cathay, and also as to investigations made at the office of \the Far Eastern SRI. Ca, 134 Szechuen Road. The iret foot was arranged in the vie of a business office, with import and export signs displayed. There were
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.