Speaking as to the $5 "bargain money," witness said this was merely' paid as a nominal sum to clinch the agreement. At that time witness was o trifle suspicious of Tsar's power of attorhey, since in business it was always his policy not to believe anything he did not know for cor-tain. Further more, he did not wish to pay the money until he had the lease, and up to that time had never seen it. In fact, hho saw the document for the first time during these proceedings 'The, partner who held it refused to hand it over unless he were paid $1,200, 'Tsar objected to his receiving this sum, saying there would be nothing' left for the other partners when the water and other bills had been paid. On one occasion witness actually gave Tsar $1,200 and received a receipt for it, but even then_the other Chinese would not hand over the lease, and in disgust witness took his money back, tore up the receipt and left the house. There was mistrust on both sides with regard to the lease, which was the basis of the whole agreoment. The Optical business was nothing without it. A fresh leage had been obtained from Mr, Hardoon.
Asked by Mr. Wing if ho thought $2,300 was a fair price for the bu: ess, witness said ho had always understood that the lease was the greater part of the purchase, The business itself was worth nothing; it was so" small that plaintiffs rented out one of the windows at $70.or $80 9 month.
'On the point raised by witness that one of the Chinese, Mr. Hwa, refused to hand over the Tease' unless ho received $1,300 counsel asked how it was witness did not get the document when (en hie own evidence) he handed this sum to Mr, Tsar; and witness answered that he did not know, but there was a certain amount of distrust, Counsel—You realize now that immediately you got the now <Tido not know thas lease, Hwa's only hope had gone?
What, else had he for to bargain with—I do not know what his object was in refusing to deliver the lease.
Did you not get_a now lease from Mr. Barden before the ¢x-piration of plaintiffs form!—No. Mr. Hardoon held that, the rent for march being more than, 15 days in arrear—the lease had gone, answer to Mr. Reader Harris, witness explained that he made arrangements with Mr. Hardoon for the new lease. on March 7, on which day terms were agreed gon, provided that plaintiffs did not' pay their rent before the 15th.
In summing up, Mr, Hazvi suggested that his Lordship should believe' Mr. Rakusen's story, in which event he would deduct from the claim the amount of the water bill and advertising accounts, amounting to $11,000 or $1,300, and deduct also from the purchase price, the value of the lurticles which had been stolen.
Mr. Wing, addressing the court, said it had been suggested that the parties had never trusted.cach other. but actually at the beginning—plaintifis implicitly trusted Rakuse tent that they signed th ment and handed over to him the whale ofthe jim, Marshal Chang Tesolin, the Mukdes leader, has approved of a plan for th AMfakden the establishment of a school
Suture' dip
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.