is Defence Contention An eloquent appeal for their lent's acquittal was made by three xzwements were priad Grominent Chinese lawyers "in the Chen, not Marquis Li, who Nantao District Court on Des. essing full "respon the conclusion of—the blame because the agreentents were trial of Marquis Li Kuo-chi, until sanctioned by' Mr. Chen, recently the general manager of the China Merchants 8, N. Ca., charged Counsel asserted that the agree-by the Government with bribery a ments were beneficial to the China malfeasance in, duty for having tered into and signed, on Septen Behan' painting thatthe company's xedown Buildings were in 5 and 6, agreements with the China Sch "poor condition atthe time Realty Ca. an American concern, negotiating the agreements that "causing unlawful, damage to the locat foreign insurance: firms. were China "Merchants." The trial was: refusing to take the risk of insuring opened at 1 p.m, before a full court argo stored in them. The company th Judge Chien presi After was unable to effect the necessary a lengthy hearing, judgment was fepaits for lack of money. The ints of the Amerean frm would not only enable the company to Mr, Chen Fusmo, former Vice-ite overdue debts amounting to ister of Communications and Proximately $17,000,000; but. worl government supervisor of the China erable it to reap huge profits Merchants 8. N. Ca, who was also inthe expansion "of "whart and wanted in this case'and for whose arrest a warrant had been issued Nantao Court, failed to, As to the in an appearance before the and hi whereabouts mained a mystery.
At the outset of the hearing, fee cain "ha ina Procurator Zia outlined th case for the Government, that' the srot"ar as Sneath Merchants Company from other: sources was Under the pretence of [that the agreement for the supply the business BE the com: pany, the accused and: Chen Fusmo then respectively the manager and far "hat kira fuperivsor of the company, entered into nsremonts withthe China sats ths i read trid leasing "buildings, land "and fealty "Coy" separately mortgaging ign firms and to Tegain for tore navigation rights: wharves belonging tothe Ching Mer-Shanes." The Proturator stated thai Dealing with the question, of influ erin an to wheter hose, ngreemente. were prefuvicing the Gum Stereo propeviy wi have tobe Toft 0 experts. for jet, che government sian of (ce ballet that' the agreements were Prejaicial to. the interests of the {China Merchants in that the vote of mage toms to." feranted. by the American' concern Marquis' acquittal and declared tha:
Biger than ordinary, and that his troubles the Government mortgage "of the' company's kad arisen from his desire to assist valuable properties, including Whar: the Government in developing one and building, would undeabtedly of its leading enterprises. cause damage to the company.
British Reminder Furthermore, Procarator Zia continued, the ncebsed and Chen Pismo Nanking, Dee. 20. had exceeded their rights when they signed the agreements without Rose Hzation, on behalf of the Hongkong is Jeaunt that the Bltish Lex presenting them for approval to the Shanghai Banking Corporstion, ompan's Board of Birectars. The has called the attention of the Min: sreements with a leading iamerscen erty of Foreign Affairs to the fact siping frm for the Apply. of 2 that part of the properties of the over 30 new ships to. the ina Merchants Steam Navigation (China Slerchants'""way injuring Ghina's "navigation. "rights the bank for loans advanced and Gompany has, been. mortgaged (0 Staravis was aso accused of having that the bank's interests have to entered a" bribe of $100,000. to be duly protected following the con-Chen "Fo.mo who sanctioned the version of the shipping" company agreements with the China Realty into w State enterprise. Tris Ca, only" efter receiving the bribe, derstood that the matter will be reit was alleged. ferred to the Ministry of Commurtic-'The Marquis having been subjectations—Kuo Min, Jed to a lengthy examination during Jwhich he declared that the agree: ments signed by him were beneficial the China Merchants, counsel for the defence rose and addressed the from Dairen to the effect that a Court for fully an hour, asking for party of new Russian fugitives the Marquis' acquittal and support-si by a Japanese steamer had' arrived in that port from ing the Marquis' contention. Briefly, the contention was that, after the [China Merchants was placed under 32," Among them Hwere five Cossacks "who - worked government supervision, Marquis Li, Jas the company's general manager, with small fishing parties near Fras an ficial whoke duty wes Gay Vladivostok. Taking a small sail-to execute onders given by Mr. Chen jing boat, they crossed the sea and Fumo, then government supervisor, muded "on the southern' (Japanese) and therefore, even. granted the side of the Island of Saghalien, says the report.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.