Two Detectives Face Charges Shanghai, Oct. 5.
Alleged to have negotiated for a ransom for the release of four members of a wealthy merchant family, two former Chinese detectives of the Shanghai Municipal Police, and a section leader of the pro-Japanese Hwang Tao Society, by whom the kidnappings were conducted, were Jarraigned before Judge Dzien in the First Special District Court yester-
The three prisoners were Koo ts-ching, member of the pro-Japunese Society, Sung Al-tsung, formerly Chinese Detective-Sergeant 35, and Sung Chen-nung, formerly Chinese [Detective-Sergeant 211. Tt was stated that the men had attempted to negotiate with members of the Zee family, four of whom were kidnapped by the society on March 8, in the extra-Settlement area. A further: Jcharge of an offence against public order was preferred against the first named prisoner, who is a former Proprietor of the "Kuo Min Jih Pao" dally newspaper.
Known as the Asia Rehabilitation Society the Hwang Tao hire several men to kidnap Zee Ung-weill, a wealthy Chinese landlord, and Mr. Zee's uncle and two coolies were also abducted, the reason given being that they had aided Chinese guerillas. The victims were spirited away from Great Western Road; it it believed that they were taken to the New Asia Hotel, according to information flven by the prisoners, Members of Mr, Zee's family got in touch with Sung Al-tsung, who was then in the Police Force, end the latter contacted Koo, who manded a ransom of $200,000, The victim's family then approached the other detective, Sung Chen-nung, and he negotiated a deal with Koo, the family agreeing to pay a ransom of $20,000. The money, it was stated, was paid in three Insialments, Koo, it Is believed, netiing over $7,000 and the detective over $1,000.
The victim was released In April 46 after the payment of the ransom, and as a result of the treatment he had received during his illegal detention, he suffered from a nervous breakdown and was forced to leave for Hongkong to recuperate, Settlement police recently arrested the two detectives and Koo was taken into custody at his home at 85 Race Course Road where some $15,000 and some anti-Chiang Kai-shek pamphlets were seized. Sung Chen-nung was attached to West Hongkew Police Station and the other detective was, at _Chengiu Road.
The police had gathered 18 wit nesses for the prosecution, which was conducted by Mr. Thomas S. Wea, Municipal Advocate, while the defence had retained six lawyers, was stated that the other victims of the kidnapping are still held by the Hwang Tao, and their fate present unknown, although one of the prisoners is alleged to have told the family that one of the three had been shot, The case was adjourned,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.