SENSATIONAL OPIUM CASE

Taranaki Daily News, 13 November 1929, Page 11

SENSATIONAL OPIUM CASE

MILLION DOLLARS WORTH

CHINESE CONSUL AND WIFE HEAVY PENALTY INFLICTED

By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Rec. 9.40 p.m. Shanghai, Nov.. 11. The sensational trial of Kaoying, a' former vice-Consul at San Francisco, and his wife, also another wealthy Chinese, charged with illegally transporting and' attempting to sell a million dollars ’worth of opium, ended at Nanking today, when the wife was 'sentenced- to four years’ imprisonment and fined 5000 dollars. The husband was sentenced' to seven years’ imprisonment and fined 0000 dollars. The third party, Suen Foon, was found not guilty. ... The arrest of Kaoying and the alleged accomplice at San Francisco created a most profound sensation in local political circles, causing attempts by the Anti-Opium Association to influence the Nanking Court to i inflict capital punishment. Kaoying’s wife was arrested at San Francisco on arriving from China with six trunks of opium and attempting to pass the Customs under., the diplomatic immunity clause, the authorities ordering her arrest and return to China. Mrs. Kaoying during the trial created a. sensation by appearing daily in the Court dressed in the height of European fashion, which was adversely commented upon by Nanking officials. She nonchalantly. answered the barrage of the prosecutor’s questions repeatedly with “I don’t know.” Nevertheless, under pressure 'she involved persons in leading cities of the Orient, Honolulu and San Francisco. The defence alleged that the Kaoyings carried a friend’s baggage and were riot aware of the contents.