CHINESE TREATMENT OF A PRODIGAL.

Timaru Herald, Volume L, Issue 4825, 23 April 1890, Page 3

CHINESE TREATMENT OF A PRODIGAL.

Mail advices from China bring somo details of a curiouß and UDpunishod murder m Oanton. One Ho, a wealthy morohant m that city, bad two sons, tho oldest of whom wns a dissipated youth, who consorted with thiores and gamblers, snd was driven away from homo after wasting his ebara of the patrimony. He was reduced to beggary, and wtiß m tho habit of soliciting alms from his father's servants at the back door of his residence. Tho second son howevor, had an excellent ohnractor. At last tho eldest, with a band of companions, broko into his father's houso und atplo the monoy client. A few weokß later, tho son's participation m tho robbery having been discovered by tlio father, tho latter cent a trusty eorvnnt to him to any that if he would promise to load a better lifo m futuro he would bo forgiven, and might return homo, whore, after a time, ho would be married to a young girl of rcspeotablo family. Tho son consented, wont home, and was received well, and a banquet was proparcd to celebrate tho event. Ilia dish, liowovor, was poisonod, and bo died m great agony. 'J'ho father will not, it tcoms, bo called to account for tho murdor, as, according to Chinese law, a fulhorcan do as ho likds nith his sons. "