Mr. Conger to Mr.
Hay.
Legation of the United States,
Peking, September 17,
1902.
No. 1091.]
Sir: Referring to my No. 1079, of the 2d
instant, concerning the murder of two British missionaries at
Ch’en-chou, in the province of Hu-nan, I have the honor to inclose copy
of an imperial edict published on the 11th instant, and to be, etc.,
[Page 176]
[Inclosure.]
Imperial edict of September 11,
1902.
With regard to the missionary case at Ch’en-chou in Hu-nan, we have
already repeatedly ordered Yu Lien-san to promptly arrest the guilty
parties and severely punish them, as well as to report the military
officials, district magistrate, and other officers who were
neglectful in giving protection, for cashiering by imperial
decree.
We are now in receipt of a telegraphic memorial from the said
governor, reporting that two of the criminals, Chang Pai-hou and
Chang Yung-t’ai, have already been tried and beheaded; that in
addition he has arrested several other rioters who are now
undergoing examination, and impeaching several military and civil
officials.
The acting district magistrate of Yuan-ling-Hsien, Wan Chao-hsin, was
not energetic in suppressing the false rumors when they first began
to spread about. Gen. Yen Wu-ling, commander of the I camp, did not
take measures to secure protection, but permitted the trouble to
grow to serious proportions. Both are deserving of punishment. Let
them first of all be cashiered and remanded for examination in
connection with the case.
Respect this.
