Robbery.—During the month reports were received®of five armed robberies from dwelling houses, one of which was accompanied by murder, and two armed highway robberies. Seven persons have been arrested in connexion with these cases and are at present under remand. Three reports of highway robbery, in which no arms were used, were also received and resulted in the arrest and conviction of six persons.
Of sixteen persons arrested for armed robbery committed prior to April 1, three have been remitted to the Court of the Military Goyernor, two sentenced to imprisonment and eleven are at present awaiting trial. (Two persons arrested on a charge of being members of a band of robbers were expelled from the Settlement.
Of the twelve persons referred to in my report for March as being under remand on charges of robbery, five have been remitted to the Court of the Military Governor, four sentenced to imprisonment and two expelled; while the charge against one was not proceeded with.
Serious me.—Reports of crime of a more than usually serious nature which occurred during the month include a case of stabbing and robbery in Bing Vong Ka on April 14, the attempted murder of a wealthy Chinese who was fired at and wounded on Thibet Road on April 17, the murder of a coolie who occupied a house off Yuchow Road on Alpril 18 and the murder of a Chinese mill fore-woman whose body was found covered with wounds on April 21 in a field off Kiaochow Read. Four arrests have been made in connexion with these reports.
Lhreatening Letters.—Six Cantonese were arrested on April 8 as the result of investigations made regarding. a threatening letter sent to a house in East Yuhang Road. Three were sentenced to three years' imprisonment with expulsion and three to expulsion only.
Smugyling Pirearms.—Five Japanese and eleven Chinese were arrested, who amongst them were responsible for the illegal importation of 34 Mauser pistols arid 3,400 rounds of ammunition. 'Four of the Chinese were sentenced to one year's imprisonment each, six were ordered to sign bonds and the case against one was dismissed. Of the Japanese arrested, one was sentenced to 29 days' imprisonment, one to 20 days and three were fined 10 yen each, Property Stolen.—302 reports made under this heading during the month include 16 cases of burglary, 6 of house breaking, 2 of godown-breaking, 1 of. office-breaking and 2 of shop-breaking. In 181 of the reports received investigation was made with successful results.
The return shows a decrease of 77 compared with the figures for the previous month.
Crime beyond Settlement limits.—Three- cases of murder and
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.