Jewellery, variously assessed ut from' $20,000 "to $40,000, andthe felendship of the plaintiff for one of the defendants figured prominently before Judge Milton J. Hetmick in the U.S. Court for China on Thursday Inthe ease of C. 8. Sih v. Honigsberg" and" Peter Honigsber Mr. Sih seeks 10 recover $3,000 on promissory note which he stated was fiven by the defendants to repay a oan' which "he made purely {rom motives of friendship. The defendants tlalm Gat their note was. given funder duress in order to enable them recover. Jewellery belonging to Mee, H. &. Honlasberg worth at least $20,000" which was given to Mr, Sih {nthe hope thet he might, be' able to false money for their firm and that the $2000 was Joined to cheir firm. Mr. C. 8. Franklin represented the defendants. the witness box, Mr. Sih stated that he had been friendly with Br. Peter" Honigsberg since 1902, and that the sum of $3,000 was given by him in the form of a bearer cheque to'Mr, Peler Honlesberg. He stated that he bad never received an oficial receipt forthe cheque, and hat the subject of interest was not Trentoned. until "some" time later, when the promissory note was drawn Ju the ofice of Int. H. D. Rodger, "you trusted Mr. Peter Honigsberg friend, then?" queried Mr. Rodger Mr. Honigsberg: Yes—of the same kind that was played on us.
Mr. Peter Honigsberg next took the witness box and stated that he spoke of @ loan to Mr. Sih several times, and explained that the firm needed the money to clear cars through the Customs. He stated that the gave Mr. Sib no official receipt, but wrote him a letter signed in his jeapacity as either treasurer or general manager of the firm. He further testified that Mr. Sih had received cars for his friends at reduced rates, and. that Mr. Sih was given Mrs. Honigsberg's jewels in order to raise Jmoney to keep the firm of Honigsberg & Son going. Had Mr. Honigsberg been "able to cash the cheque for $10,000 given by Mr. Sih, this firm would not have had to Into liquidation and bankruptcy he said.
Although Mr. Sth had had the Jewellery for some time without raising money on it, Mr. Honigsberg. stated the question of the $3,000 did not come up until he attempted to get the jewellery back. He testified that Mr. Sth demanded cash for 9 car he had turned into the company fand that that was paid, while a note Was given for the loan in question. "Later requested for the cash, Mr. Honigsberg stated that he would not pay the money if he could.
Upon hearing the.evidence, the Court adjourned, Judge Milton J. Helmick stating that he would deliver tuis judgment later.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.