Frightened Away By Sight Of Japanese Motor Car It was revealed in the First Special District Court yesterday that owing to the alertness of the Bubbling Well Police, a kidnapping attempt in which the criminals wished to obtain a ransom of $1,500,000 was frustrated on March 2 in Avenue Foch near Hardoon Road. Six men, including a former servant employed by a relative of the intended victim, son of a rich dye stuff merchant, Mr. Pei Jensen, were formally charged with attempted kidnapping. Hearing was postponed for two weeks pending further investigations, as the police believe that the men might have also been involved in other crimes.
At least two of the accused admitted taking part in the plot. Chou Ching-wen, the former servant, served as the signal man for the kidnappers and was first arrested in the street while trying to give a signal by raising his hat if he saw the intended victim's car coming. The scheme did not work out smoothly as Chou's accomplices failed to show up at the specified time and place. His accomplices, it was revealed in court, became frightened and dropped their plan when they saw a Japanese car coming their way, as their car was using an imitation Japanese defence force licence plate.
The court was told that they wished to imprison their intended victim, Mr. Pei Yi-kung in a house in Chung Shan Road, Chapei. They had actually prepared a letter demanding a ransom of $1,500,000. Most of the accused were arrested following Chou's arrest in Chekiang Road.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.