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Show SMUGGLER IS HELPED BY A CLERICAL ERROR But for Mistake iu Copying Statute Imprisonment Would Have Accompanied Ac-companied Fine. ' 'SHANGHAI, March 30. A. clerical error er-ror In drafting a United States statute prohibiting Importation by Americans of opium into China recently saved a seir-confessed seir-confessed smiiKKler irom se.yinj; a jail sentence, in addition to paying a JoOO fine imposed by the United States court for China. . ,. The cise grew out of n record d;seov-erv d;seov-erv of more' than lour tone of opium at ShWlmi. Alphonse Malre Tracy ood-wsrd ood-wsrd who claims American citizenship, was 'indicted for the attempted fraud and upon beinpr brought to trial, pleaded mill'tv He is believed to be the asent of biV operators In England and China. In PHssing' Judgment. Judge Iobmger of the United States court here pointed out that the United States statute pro-v pro-v .led oulv for Imposition of a fine for import his opium, al' nousli the wordim; of h indicated that tnc omission oi provision pro-vision for Imprisonment was due. to a C'Voodwa:drwas find and costs, the maximum penally under the law. |