The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1903-09-05

orders from the Governor of Kuangsi,
who in turn received them from Pc
king
''At the time the charge was made,
that a big sum of money. currently re-
ported as Tls 100000 was paid for the
persecution of these men. On July
22d, in a published interview in The
Times, the Hon John Goodnow, the
American Consul-General, stated that
he had heard of the report, but pro-
nounced it too absurd to be entertained
The supposed conditions upon which
these men were arrested We're that
they were to be tried and to serve their
sentence, if found guilty, in the Set
tlement. But the Chinese authorities,
at the connivance of the Senior Consul
General had different scheme. The
documentary part of this scheme was
signed by the American Consul General
1t was no more nor less than the con-
fiscation of the newspaper plant of
the defendants and the turning over of
the journalists to the native authori-
ties for decapitation.
This plant was confiscated and
aroused the liberty-Ioving community
of Shanghai to righteous Indignation.
The Times was the first to demand
that even if the case was strong one
there was all the more reason for OBJ
serving the recognized procedure in its
prosecution.
'To show the awful money influence
that has been behind this case let us
retrospect for a minute"
A few items of the retrospection, con-
denSed are here given:
proclamation by the Taotai offer
ing a reward for the mems arrest was
stamped by the Senior Consul, Good
now, and handed to the police for post
ing. The Council, however, decided
that the exhibition of such a document
was unnecessary and inexpedient in
the Settlement, and it was withdrawn.
On the 4th of July the Senior Consul
and the British Consul General and
the Taotai met in secret conclave,
where it was decided that if a demand
were made by the native authorities
for the prisoners they should be turned
over for decapitation.
'It was understood the account
says, "at this meeting of Anglo-Saxon
officials. mark you, that these men
should be decapitated."
On the 18th the preliminary proceed
ings in the case were opened in the
Mixed Court and Marshall thus intro
duces a relation of some of the things
there done:
1.-THE lives of seven prisoners were
held in the balance. Greater flagran-
cy bigger injustice, or more cruelty
were never revealed in a constitution
| al form of governn1ent-and this Set
tlement claims to be that, so we un-
derstand."
After some argument, in the course
of which counsel for the prisoners ap-
piled for their instant dismissal, the
case was adjourned sine die
Continuing, the retrospect contains
the following warm shot at the British
and American Consul Generals:
"On the 22d the Times said that from
information received, Tls. 100000 had
been offered by the Shanghai Taotai in
the way of cumsha if the foreign
authorities would hand over to the ma
tive officials, the defendants in Supao
case.
Consul General Goodnow, on being
seen, said the tale was an absurd one,
and a 'blunder.'
"On the 22d of July it was current
gossip that the prisoners would be
handed over to the native authorities.
"On the 23rd, however, The Times had
the pleasure OF announcing that:
1.-The Supao journalists will not be
beheaded. Their fate is in the hands
of the people of this Settlement, where
it rightfully belongs. Whatever may
be the action of the Peking Diplomatic
Body, inspired by the British Consul
General, and the American Consul Gen.
eral, of this Settlement. the Supao
journalists will not be turned over to
the Chinese authorities for decapita-
ton"
The last paragraph quoted is in
Gothic type.
Continued on Page ..