Accused Before Court: Remand to Prove Nationality Joseph Maria Souza, an unrecognized foreigner, whose tionality is causing' the police con. siderable trouble, was charged before Dr. F, 'Ramondino and Magistrate Zaw' at the Mixed Court on Saturday morning, with "between June 25 and July 1, 1926 at Shang-hal unlawfully entering into negotiations for the sale of mor-Dhia and heroin, contrary Articles 1 ud 7 of the how governing offence: relating attempting to obtain certain sums of money by ins of false pretences: vizi—By ly representing that, he could manufacture synthetic opium, contrary to Articles 383 and 988 of the Chinese Provisional Criminal Cadi Mr, E, 'T. Maitland, Prosecuting Bolicitor, outlined briefly the circumstances which brought accused before the Court, and said that, although the accused originally claimed British citizenship, he made statement in the British court that he was a Portuguese subject. In view of this and a passport produced by accused to substantial his stottment, Mr. G, W. King, (CH. M. Magistrate) observed that accused's nationality would have to bbe established before anything could be done. Continuing, counsel said that Souza was taken before the Portuguese Consul-General, who refused to recognize him.
Mr. Tycho Wing, for the defence, aid that no doubt existed of cused's Portuguese origin, but, as 'a matter of law, the accused ws British subject because he wai in Hongkong, and so he a an opportunity of sending to Hongkong for certain papers to establish hhis nationality. Counsel asked for an adjournment, which was granted, D, Venerennikorr, Rossi no fixed abode, was charged. at Mixed Court yesterday with being Grunk and disorderly in Szechuen Road on Sunday and with striking Chinese pedestrians. Accused, who had been convicted eight times Previously, admitted the offence and was sent to prison for 14 days.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.