The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-09-18
REPORTER HOLDS COURT IN CHINA.
His Burlesque Trial of Thirteen Cinnamon
Accused of Murder-Lets Them All Go.

His Burlesque Trial of Thirteen Cinnamon
Accused of Murder-Lets Them All Go.
During the negotiations between Germany and
China for q cession of territory on the part of
the latter and the appointment Of q commis-
sion to take testimony in the case'of the MUIR
dered German missionaries. Mr.. Eugene Wolf.
correspondent OF the Bertiner Td0ebldt. was
travelling through the Celestial Empire. He
managed to get some facts in regard to the
massacre. and proceeded south to the province
Of Chan-Toung. When he reached Tschu
ia he called upon the German Provicar. or
chief Of the missionaries. Pastor Freydanemetz,
who gave him all the details. The correspond
ent. assumin an air Of authority. told him
that he was charged by the German Govern
ment to clear up the affair. The Provicar said
that the local authorities had arrested thirteen
Cinnamon. and that he was not sure that
among them there was a single one really i'm
plicated in the massacre.
Thereupon Mr.. Wolf took it into his head
30 improvise a court and to try the pris-
oners himself. He was aided by the Pro-
vicar. a man Of little experience. who acted
as interpreter. Through him he compelled
the Mandarin to send for the accused in
their prison. Then Mr.. Wolf. accompanied by
his dog. which he calls Herr Won Schuster. and
the Provicar. made his solemn entrGe into the
courtroom. where the Mandarin awaited
him. The Journalist Immediately took the
highest chair and made his dog take the chair
on his right. To the Provicar he assigned the
chair on the left. and to the Mandarin the
fourth chair.
According to a letter sent to the Ger mania by
Pastor Stenz Of the Congregation of the Divine
Word. in the Province Of Chan -Toung, the Man
DARN asked Mr.. Wolf Tor his credentials. But
the journalist. knowing perfectly well the sort
of man he had TO deal with. simply exhibit
led a folded paper. and in a tone which toll
Grated no reply, ordered the court to be opened
and the ac used to be to the bar.
The proceedings commenced, and the follow
Ing is a specimen Of what took place. accord
ing to Pastor Stem:
MIR. Wolf to the Mandarin-Say old fellow,
/ have come here to find out how you are get
ting along with this ease. The Ambassador Ia
very angry with you. He heard that you
were a very learned man, and consequently had
great hopes OF YOU. He gave me the names OF
the real assassins., and now he wants you to
pave then, arrested as, quickly as possible. /
have found out that the accused parties are
,Mandarig-,That is not possible. They have
admitted their guilt, Guilty or not. they will
Mr.. WoldnNot by a iugful; old fellow, II
th S,Sa are Innocent they must be discharged;
presented, a ritiabIe anpearance. With their
dirty clothes, me chains, that we're gnawinG
'icH, hHl'N, hNl w eNllenre OF the tOrtureH
which had boon inflicted upon them to force q
confession, Mr.. Wolf, during their m
ton. learned through the interpreter that
debtors or creditors had denounced some of
them rom motives Of vengeance. while tho
others had been arrested merely to please the
German Government. II did not require a
very long examination hy Mr.. Wolf to con-
vince hun That there was no case whatever
against the prisoners. Not only wero the I'M
~iortunate men innocent, but they had not even
heard 81 the assnssinations for which they
were about to he heheaded.
The journalist listened with paternal solicit
tude 10 their prOtestations Of Innocence and at
the end OF egch ones story said:
You are discharged. You may now 60"
Atter, haying held court like n Judge on cir
cur, Nj Wolf saluted the Mandarin and tho
chlet OF the missionaries. mounted his horse
anu trnttcd away, followed by his faithful
imnr-tGoted companion, Herr Won Schuster.
Then ne continued his "trip through China as
a silRnle reporter. Without his Intervention
mad the proceedings o; his court the u~nfortu-
heads.
Hr, Vol. is one or the best military GORE
snN'n'IfS in EurOH0 n the present time. lie
le Won ,SHnwn. In inrlE. where lie Is highly re-
sle"t"! ~ MI the French officers for the ac-
e,lf'"E, n, his reports upon the French opera
unnH IN madagascar. He wants to deny the
sccnrary, OF this story: but the missionaries
and Berlin papers insist that Il u tTue.