Charge Dropped by the Crown The charge of being concerned together in the murder of Arjan Singh against the two Sikhs Kartara and Warriam Singh has been dropped by the Crown. At H. M. Surpreme Court on Saturday, Mr. A. G. Mossop (acting Crown Advocate) applied to his Honour Judge Sir Skinner Turner for the discontinuance of the proceedings under the China Criminal Procedure Rules.
The prisoners were not in Court, but were represented by their solicitor, Mr. J. G. Priestwood.
Mr. Mossop said.the Crown Advocate was in Weihaiwai. He had informed counsel that he had decided to abandon the prosecution. Notice of such abandonment in which the Crown Advocate set forth his reasons for taking such action had been duly filed. The documents reached the Crown Advocate's office by mail and the earliest opportunity would be sought to bring the documents to the notice of the Court.
The rule, said counsel, provided that at any time before a trial the Crown Advocate could come into the Court in which the trial was to take place and abandon the prosecution, but he should also file in such Court a statement of his reasons for discontinuing the charge.
His Lordship made an order that the prisoners be discharged forthwith and the Governor of the British Gaol immediately notified to that effect. Any jurors summoned, witnesses subpenaed or under recognizances to appear at the trial, need not attend.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.