In connexion with the recent bandit outrage at Lincheng on May 6, it may not be inappropriate to refer to the apprehension in! Shanghai on December 19, 1918 by' the Municipal Police of a noted brigand of Shantung named Pobl Tsz-ming whose trial in the Mixed! Court, after protracted special hearings, was concluded on May 20, 1919 when he was handed_over to the Military Governor of Sungkiang and Shanghai and executed on June 27, 1919. In connexion! j with this case, two petitions from the Chambers of Commerce and Agricultural Associations of Chow-chun and Chang San Usien, Shantung, were forwarded to the Military Governor of Sungkiang and Shanghai and transmitted by him to the Municipal Police. Details were given therein of 28 cases of holding for ransom, in some instances for sums as much og $150,000, 27 murders and 31. cased of abduction of women, all of which were stated to be the work! of Poh Tsz-ming and his associates. This band was also charged with the destruction by fire' of some 190 shops and of the Temples of the God of War and the God of Water at Chowchun. The temples contained the remains of natives of Shanse and these were thrown on the river side by the bandits and the coffins used for firewood. The petitioners concluded by estimating the foregoing list as being only one-third of the crimes for which this bandit chief and hig subordinateg were responsible. Poh Tsz-ming admitted at the Military Court the truth of all the accusations made against him in these petitions, His capture removed thd leader from a large and formidable band, remnants of which remained in Shantung to join, later! on, the present bandit group at Pau Tse Ku.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.