A Canton Tragedy.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 461, 9 April 1890, Page 6

A Canton Tragedy.

The last mail from China brings news of a curious and unpunished murder in Canton. One Ho, a wealthy merchant in that city, had two sons, the eldest of whern was a dissipated youth, who consorted with thieves and gamblers, and was driven away from home after wasting his share of the patrimony. He was reduced to beggary, and was in the habit of soliciting alms from his father’s servants at the back door of hia residence. The second son, however, had an excellent character. Afclast the eldest, with a band of companions, broke into his father’s house and stole the money-chest ; a few weeks later, the son’s participation in the robbery having been discovered by the father, the latter sent a trusty servant to him to say that if he would promise to lead a better life in future he would be forgiven, and might return home, where after a time= he would be married to a young girl of respectable family. The servant saw the* young man, who was again reduced topenury after spending his share of therobbery, and advised him that now or never Was the time fo reform and better himself. The son agreed to the terms and! accompanied the servant home, where he was received with every appearance of joy by his parents, and a banquet was held to celebrate the reconciliation. Bnt the dish set before him was poisoned with and during the night he died in great agony 1 . Nothing has been, or will be, done to calll the father guilty of the crime to account, as it seems that in Chinese law the son is regarded as part of the father, and the latter can do as he likes with his sons. Had the latter killed his father, whether by accident or design, he would be sentenced to the ‘ slow process, ’ or slicing to death.