Defendant, James Doyle, was then called and gave evidence on oath. He began by saying that he was a married man with a family of five children, the eldest being seven years, and that he had served in the Customs for 13} years. He was lately suspended by order of the Commissioner at Shanghai, after an inquiry, and had since been dismissed in consequence of th allegations now made against his Doyle went on to explain that, while in charge of search parties, information as to smuggling was constantly being brought to his office by informers—he probably had two or three callers a week. The information given was such, for example, as that a ship about to depart might have on board a quantity of rice, or piece goods, for which no duty had been paid. The informer would state the name of the vessel, nature and quantity of contraband, and where stored. If witness had any suspicion that the informer gave the information simply with the object of taking his men and himself elsewhere, he would not take action. Some of the informers were strangers and some were Chinese who lived by this trade. This happened right throughout the service.
"What do they make out of it" asked Mr. Wing.
"In the case of opium they receive a fixed amount," witness replied. "For piece goods and other cargo they are paid according to the Commissioner's decision. If the cargo confiscated is sold, they receive 30 per cent. of the price. No names are ever given by the informers. They write out their information, and the Chief Tide surveyor accepts it or not, as he thinks fit. In an emergency, this Practice is departed from.''
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.