Prosecution's Story of Alleged Deal in Socks which Were not Paid fo Chinese Complainant's Evidence:
Lenient Punishmé ent: A New Start"
Frank I. Johnston (21) was tried at HM, Supreme Court, before Judge Peter Grain on Tuesday, on the following indictment: "That on the 2nd day of February, 1926, at Shanghai, in incurring 'a debt or Uiability to Hsia. Wai-ching, did obtain credit to the amount of Tls. 3040 from Hsia Wai-ching under Yelse pretences, or by means fraud other than false pretences, contrary to 82 and 33 Victoria, 6: see, 13."
A. G. Mossop, Crown Advocate, and Mr. E. H. Platt, pro scauted for the Grown; Mr, L. Kentwell defended.
'The jury was composed of Messrs Angus, R. Brown, E.R. Engley, A.C. King and' W. 'H. Harvey.
Mr. Mossop, after explaining the charge to the jury, briefly outlined the case for the Crown.
The story defen, he said, on February 1 this year. On that day Johnstor Was installed st an office at 100 Peking Road. He was using note-paper headed: "Johnston Trading €o,, Import Commission Agents.—Export F. H. Johnston, proprietor."
Story of Hosiery Deal On that day a telephone message was received by the Pioneer Knitting Factory to the effect that Johnston's firm wished to buy hosiery, A clerk named Chang was nent to Johnston's office, und negotiated with him for the sale of 1,200 dozen pairs of socks, the price to be Tia. 3,040. The following day Prisoner phoned to ask why the fecks had not been delivered. was told that the factory did Dusiness on a cash basis and the not his compradore's.unele, who bad 2 business in Rangoon, Mr, Hisin went on to deceribe the conversation she had with the prisoner outside the Palace Hotel on February'. He. met Johnston coming from the billiard room ant asked him when be intended pay for the owe, "Pri Vhat are sou worrying about, you will get your cheque? You go beek trid get a nood night's sleep and Fou will Nave it to-morrow morning He asked Mr. Hela {ft he wanted cashier a cheque on the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank. Witners" fold him the wontd he satis ed. with a cheque but he wanted it right there Prisoner said his cheque book. wa in the otice. When he insisted on Irene payment, prisoner sad "Look here, cone downstairs and havea. drink and we can' (alk matters over?" Witness replied don't drink. I prefer'a cheque right how" No cheque was furtheome, twever, and he didn't see Johnston 'Two Chinese witnesses from the Tuck On hong, Chekiang. Road, eave evidence as to 42 cares of rocks being muortgeged with that firm for $1500, 'The negotiations were eandveted frm by 'Ting, Koo anda nese' saying he could not recoxulze the latter, while the other sid he was the prisoner.
redeemed) Uy the Divaeer Krittn The' Rood Aalacqueny were Ca, for $2. paps (One witness in eros you trast ted the socks, rocks would be delivered for cash. On prisoner promising a cheque the following day, however, the rocks were sent, on prisoner's instructions, to G, N. Marshall & Co.'s godowns in-Jinkee Road. No cheat forthcoming and Me, Hsia Wal ching, manager of the Pioneer Knitting Factory, went to Johnston's office. Prisoner was not there, +0 Mr, Hsia went to GRI. Marshall Co.'s Godowns and fond, to his rarprige, that the socks had been taken away.
Later in the day Mr. Hsia met the prisoner outside the Pulace Hotel and was told he would receive his cheque the next day. This was the Jost he saw of Johnston.
Previously prisoner had told Me. Hsia that he had an' uncle in Rangoon and the works were to he delivered to hin.
He algo told My. 1 sia that his father was chief of police, In the meantime (Mr. Mossop continued) Johnston wong to the Tuck On shop, in Chekiang Road, and mortgaged the socks to ther Sor $1,500, which *he received in oath," Phe' socks were taken over by the Taek On shop. They would Uringr evidence to show that between Pebruary 7 ' and, February "9, Johnston left Shanghai for Singapore, where he was In Fested on this charge. ¢onneeted) with Johnston's foreigner named Patterson who was in the office at the time of the deal, had disappeared, leaving no Knitting Factory finally got their rocks back from the Tuck On Ca. on payment of $2,000, 'The' assistant, Chang, wes then called, "He staled that when he raw Johnston on February 1, the foreigner Patterson was present during the whole transaction.
Prisoner's Father "Chief of Police"
Mr, Hsia Wai-ching described an interview he had with Johnston and Pattizon "at Johnston's office. Discussing the "question of credit, prisoner said to him: "If you don' Anew me perhaps you know fother?"
2" witness asked. He replied: "Oh, the Chief - Police." Witness then asked: Ie: he Major Hilton-Johnson Inepcetor Johnston?" arrested prizerier the Haruna Maru when that vessel arrived at tion WWithens new Hens ward by the Sin
had endeavoured to fied hie bat without sueeers. Patterson went wince the gael to see prisoner, but since then witness had been unable trace him. Ting and. Keo he did show by stzhty aad sed to trace them The Crown Advocite then read to the Jury the statement made Prisoner in the lower Cott ant Elrse the care for the presee it, Kentwell aid he was unstie
\inorsen, beaute, ae the ery had all rheae he Wwhthed to have heard the police had been unable find" them Therefores he would have to rely on the Prisoner's ews
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.