Preliminary Hearings Held in Camera Nanking reports to the Chinese press contain the information that several preliminary hearings of the
gling ease, in which Mr.
Francaco consular opium sine a0 Ying, former Vice-Consul in San Francise Mrs. Kao Ying and Mr. Suen Toon, former chancellor to the Chinese Consulate in San Francisco, are alleged to have been concerned, have been held in the Nanking District Procurator's Cour in camera, relatives or even defending lawyert being permitted to ter When the preliminary hearings sre completed, the reports so; the Procurators will make a study of the important facts of the ease and determine whether the accused should be prosecuted or released. In the former event, legal counsel be appointed for the defences It is expected that the preliminary, hearings will be completed within a week.
The accused, who were brought tack to China' more thi 'a month! fo, are being detained in separa' cells in the House of Detention a tached to the Nanking District Cour end are treated jus as ordinary detained.
However, as Mrs Kao said to be in poor health, though the other two prisoners are reported, to be well, the Chief Procurator has granted permission for fri nds and relatives to bring -them food.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.