A CHINESE TRAGEDY.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2552, 17 November 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

A CHINESE TRAGEDY.

Eighteen Persons Killed.

Tiik following story cornea from Hangehow, 1110 capital city of Cliokl:ii\y province, and situated :i short distance south of Shanghai. The magistrate concerned was the head of one of the leading families in the city, and the closing of their house in mourning for him drew attention to the circumstances. Two merchants, having transacted soa.e business at, a neighbouring fair, wen; returning homo with a considerable sum of money in their no.s-cs.-imi. The district had :i bad reputation for its idle men and robbers, and the merchants wer» 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 a visit 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 per.-ons 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 inquiring for you. Your only chance is to hasten to the house of a military ir.andarin 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 received by the mandarin, who hoard 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 a knock came, 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 bolted again, four dead bodies being inside. Soon there was further knocking, and a man's voice was heard asking what bad come to those inside ; for answer the head of one of them was thrown over the wall. With this in their possession the remaining robbers hastened oiE to the neighbouring magistrate, a prominent citizen of Haugcbow named Lob, and told a plausible story of a night attack made on them by the military mandarin, and of the {daughter 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 happened, and the magistrate suggested that all .should wait until morning, when the facts would bo investigated. But the robbers urged that they should be allowed to return to guard the dead bodies of their friends; otherwiso they would hive disappeared by mornitig, and all evidence would be lost. The magi-trate thought this was reasonable, and let the men go until morning, in spite of the protests of the military mandarin that they would certainly murder ever.- soul in his house, which was now quite unprotected. Loh paid no heed, the robbers wero released, and the military mandarin and his brothers detained. In the morning, when they reached the house, fourteen persons wero found slaughtered, ineludiug the mother, wife, young children, and the servants of the mandarin. The two merchants in the tumult of the robbers' attack escaped to the nearest capital, and laid the whole matter before tbe highest authorities, who at once had the frightful tragedy investigated. The Emperor decreed that Loh, the negligent, or corrupt, magistrate should pay 10,000 taels (.-£2,300) compensation to the military mandarin, and afterwards be beheaded. The sentence was carried into effect resently, and hence the house of the family of Loh of Hangchow is closed.