Dave Lightner, alias D. L. Hibbsman, who is under a Federal in-dietment for an alleged breach of the Harrison Narcotic Law, came before Mr. N. E. Lurton at the U. Commissionar's Court on Monday. Lightner was arrested on Sunday on the str. Luise Nielsen after, it is alleged, escaping from the jurisdiction of the District Court of Oregon, where he had been indicted by a Federal grand jury.
Major C. P. -Holeomb (who appeared for the U. S. Government in the absence of the District Attorney) made an application that the case be disposed of by the U. S. Court for China. At the request of the Federal authorities a warrant had been issued in Shanghai for the man's arrest. A certified copy of the indictment and other documents had been despatched to the Court by the mail leaving Portland on the 5th instant, which is expected to reach Shanghai next Tuesday or Wednes-lay.
Major Holcomb continued that when the warrant was read over to him in the District Attorney's office, Lightner expressed a wish to be provided with counsel, although he could not afford to pay to be defended. He also stated that he was a British subject, and was permitted to write a letter to H. M. Consular authorities to confirm this. But in any case he was supposed to have committed a crime in the United States, and was therefore amenable to American law. The principle involved would be the same as if a British subject were to commit an offence in the States and escape into Canada. He would be handed over to the American authorities to be dealt with.
Asked if he had anything to say, Lightner replied, "If it is the same procedure here as in most places according to the laws I don't see how they were able to take me off the steamer."
The Commissioner then decided that the case should be investigated by the higher Court and fixed bail at G.$5,000.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.