Lai Chayn-kun, who was charged with the savage murder of a fellow employes was brought before the magistrate for trial.
The accused admitted the murder and stated he was quite ready to die because he thought his life was ruined by the murdered man. Both the deceased and the accused were employed as office "boys" by the China Commercia) Company Ida, and were until lately on the best of terms. The murdered man intro. duced Lai to a woman through whom, the prisoner believed he contracted. leprosy. He felt pain and pinches in his body. A doctor's advice wi sought, but he could not ascertain whether the patient was infected by the disease or not, The accused fancied he actually had leprosy, and one night, while every one sound asleep, He woke up the deceased and' demanded to know whether the woman in question was really a leper, Failing to get a satisfactory answer, he chopped his colleague with a knife. The other man defended himself with a erowbar. Lai apparently got the upper hand and succeeded in killing one time good friend, A curious aspect of the case is that the defendant is quite a sound and normal person (according to the amination of the Medical Officer) and has not been infected by leprosy. Counsel retained on his behalf will suggest temporary sanity as a defence to the charge, Kore,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.