Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1888-09-15 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

TERIUBLE TRAGEDY IN CHINA.  A HOUSEFUL OF PEOPLE MURDERED. An account of a horrible tragedy comes from Hengehow, the capital city of Cheokiaug province, and silmated a short distance south of Shanghai, The magistrate concerned was the head of one of the leading families in the city, and the °toeing of their house in mourning for him drew attention to the circumstances. Two merchants, having transacted some business at a neighbouring fair, were returning home with a considerable Bran of money in their possession. The district had a bad reputation for its idle men and robbers, and the merchants were watched, and the direction in which they went noted. The same evening an innkeeper on the road they travelled, but some miles distant from the town. received • riot from some men, who asked if the two merchants were to spend the night there, as they had some business with them. They were told that no such persons were expected, and they left. Soon afterwards the merchants came up, and demanded a night's lodging, but the innkeeper absolutely refused, saying, " Some men known to be robbers have been here enquiring for you. Your only chance hi to hasten to the house of a military mandarin who lives about two li from here. If he takes you in you will be safe, otherwise neither of you will be alive to-morrow." The travellers hastened on. and were willingly reoai-ved by the mandarin, who heard their story, and at once made preparations to resist the expected attack. Among other things, he had so barricaded his gate with stones that when it was opened only one person at a time could enter. About midnight &knock came, 1 and when the gate was opened the robbers rushed to get in, but could only pass one by one, and as they entered were immediately slain by those within. Then the door was belted again, four dead bodies being inside. Soon there was farther knocking, and a man's voioe was heard asking what had come to those inside. For answer the heed of one of them WIL3 thrown over the wall. 1 With this in their possession the remaining robbers hastened off to the neighbouring magistrate, a prominent citizen of Hangchow named Loh, and told a p'ausi'ole story of a night attack made on them by the military mandarin, and of the slaughter of their comrade, whose head they exhibited. At this point the military mandarin and his brothers arrived and gave a true account of what had hapeened. and the magistrate suggested that all piloted wait until morning, when the facts would be investigated. 13ut the robbers urged that they should he allowed to return to guard the dead holies of their friends: otherwise they would have dissppeered by imorning./and all evidence would be lost. The magistrate thoiteht this was reasonable, and let the men go until morning, in spite of the protests of the ' military mandarin that they would certainly murder evei,, soul in his house, which was now quite unprotected. Loh paid no heed, the robbers were released, and the military mandarin and hi a brothers deteiced. In the morning. when they reached the house, 14 persons 1 were found slaughtered, including the mother, wife, young children, end servants of the I mandarin. The two merchants in the tumult of the robbers' attack escaped to the nearest capital and laid the whole matter before the highest authorities, who at once had this fright. ful tragedy ineesaigated. The Emperor decreed that Leh, the negligent, or corrupt, magistrate should pay ten thousand tech; 2.5001 compensation to the military mender-in, and afterwards be beheaded. The sentence wag carried into effect recently, and hence the house of the family of Loh of Earigebow is closed.