Valuable Chinese Family Property in Action at the Supreme Court His Honour Judge Sir Skinner Turner was occupied at H. M. Supreme Court on Tuesday in hearing details of a family dispute of more than usual interest concerning certain property in Shanghai. The plaintiff was a Chinese lady named Takow (otherwise known as Mrs. Artingdale), and the defendant was Mrs. Lucy Artingdale, of 11' Boundary Lane, and the claim was for possession of 260 shares in the Shanghai Hotels, Ld., and British (Paoshan) Consular Lot No. 849.
According to the statement of claim, plaintiff is a Chinese citizen and the widow of Tong Ping-e, who died at Tong Ka Village near Hongkong in January, 1906. Defendant was a British subject and the widow of George Richard Artingdalg (otherwise known as Tong Ming-him), a son of plaintiff by one Robert \Henry Artingdald and born prior to her marriage with Tong Ping-e. Defendant was administratrix' of the estate of G. R. Artingdale. Subsequenti to the death.of Tong Ping-e, plaintiff acquired by purchase B. C. lot 849, which was registered: at first in the name of the China Land & Building Ca., Ld., end later in the name of W. M. Dowdall, and, by virtue of a judgment of the Supreme Court at Hongkong in June, 1908, she also became entitled to 260 shares in the Central Stores, now the Shanghai Hotels, Ld. In Apri}, Mr. G. R. Artingdale requested plaintiff to permit him to hold in trust for her the said B. OG. lot 849 (P) and the hotel shares, and plaintiff agreed to these being transferred into his name, to the intent that he should hold tha land and shares in trust for plaintiff, together with all rents and dividends accruing. Plaintiff permitted. him to occupy rent free one of five houses erected on this land, but she herself had always collected the rents and _still con+ tinued to collect them. During his life time, Mr. Artingdale paid to her all dividends received by him! in respect of the shares. He died at Shanghai in August, 1922, and on November 13 letters of administration were granted to defendant.
At this time the land and shares were still in deceased's name. Plaintiff had requested that the land and shares "e transferred back to her, but defendant refused to do so and denied that plaintiff had any beneficial interest in the property. Plaintiff therefore claims {1) a declaration that George Richard Artingdale held the aforesaid land and shares in trust for plaintiff; (2) the appointment of a new trustee or trustees of the land im place of the late G. R, Artingdale and: (3) transfer to plaintiff of the 260 Shanghai Hotels shares.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.