The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1892-05-11
For the Central Presbyterian.
A Chinese Coroner's Inques

A Chinese COrOner'S Inquest.
Public affairs move in a peculiar
way in China, and the fear of one
official to act in the absence of an
other is marvellous, the substitute
often preferring to let affairs no
matter how urgent, lie until the re-
turn of the incumbent. An in
teresting example of the above came
to hand short time ago. Inside
the East Gate of Gilman Flu was
man named Yang, who sold a small
assortment of mixed goods. This
man had not an enviable reputa-
ton, his manner being more forcible
than polite. When a customer en-
tered his shop, Yang did not hest
tate to ask an exorbitant price, and
when the customer declined to buy,
Yang would curse him for all he
was worth. Not infrequentIy when
he would drive away some customer
by his high prices and rude be-
havior, his neighbour Mr.. Chi just
opposite, would reap the benefit for
Mr.. Chi kept similar wares and
was able to undersel, as he had no
rent to pay, beil g simply a peddler
who stood under the arch of the
gateway. AS Mr. Chi was a peace
able and well disposed man, his
trade very naturally increased, and
often to the detriment of Mr.. Yang,
whose hatred of him soon showed
itself. From time to time rows oc-
Cured, until one day Mr.. Yang pro-
ceeded to give his rival a good drub-
bling. Several members of the two
families joined in, and a general
melee followed, the Chi family get
ting the worst of it. Chi had
disposition which was quiet, but
when once aroused meant business
to the death. He procured a big
dose of opium, which is so plentiful
in these parts, and swallowing it.
marched right into his enemy's
shop, curled up on the counter and
gave up the ghost, not one of the
Yang family daring to touch him.
Tothe mind of Westerner it seemed
strange that he was not at once put
out, and upon orr broaching this
idea to some native teachers, they
drew back In horror at the thought
of such a thing. Why" said they,
" a Chinaman knows better than to
touch him; if he had, then he
would be accused of causing his
death by striking or throttling; so
he let him alone Mr.. YaDg's shop
quickly became a resort for loafers
and the curious, so that it had to be
closed, all but one panel Of the front,
which was always thronged with a
crowd. That day dragged through,
a weary one indeed for the Yangs {:
and the next brought them no re-
lief, for there stillwe the remains
of Chi ON the counter. The day
following brought still no succour.
The magistrate was away, and his
representative would not do any
thing but wait for his return. At
last the magistrate came and the
remains of poor Chi we're taken out
on the public street, stripped and
washed, to search for bruises or any
signs of violence. This search prov
ing fruitless, a small silver rod was
nextrun down the throat to discover
signs of poisoning If the poison
were opium the rod would turn
black, and if arsenic red. The rod
became black, so the conclusion was
at once reached, and the remains
put Jim q substantial coffin paid for
by Mr. Yang O big stone was laid
on the lid and the whole deposited
outside the city gate to- await
lucky day for burial.
Ut is O. well-kuown fact that all
coroner's inquests, as far as pos
sible, take place where the remains
of the deceased are found, and SO it
was highly proper in this case that
it should take place at the East