More excitement than has been seen for rome long time was caused by. the departure for execution of the band of 16 men and one woman, convicted members of the Dixve!l Read gang of armed who were sentenced to result of their crimes, They were transported from constabulary headters on September 25 ear-through the Settlement in vans heavily guarded to ward any attempt at interruption the programme, later handed over the Chinese authorities at Langhua and executed Lefore sundown, Before wing taken from gaol the entire lot were given individual hearings before the Py: visional Court to make such la: statements as they wished, and the majority used the opportunity to protest their complete innocence the whole affair.
The leader of the gang, who waa convicted largely on the threatening, alleged to have written to the relatives of his victims, made A strident plea of innocence and asked that his brother be called t9 identify his handwriting and prov it was not that contained in the letters. "The Court, however, adamant aid he was sent away' wit's the rest, Giving Constables Their Character Another gave a jong harangue'fol-Jowing the same line as his predece:- ing additional pleasure in giving his opinion on Chinese constables in general, He averred, they were worse than any kidnappers, and asserted that at the tine of arrest he was robbed by certain thole number of $132, which had never been returned and which he would like {0 see accounted for Before he was executed, 'One of the more calm of the gang made a request, He said that ut the tue of arrest he was wearing long gown, and it was his lair wish that he' should die with this kown on as it had certain family afiintions that were dear to hint Still another seemed more con: cerned with finances than anything else and told the Court that some time after artest he had made application for & certain sum of money which he had long since deposited in a panic and it was his desire that this money should to buy him a coffin,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.