Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1872-06-20
How the Chinese Do It.


Quite row recently occurred among
the Chinese residents of Idaho City,
arising from the "busting" of the Chi
nese bank of deposits, belonging to the
See Yup Company, Tt appears that All
Chez, Zee Wood, and several other prom
inent Cinnamon, were interested as off
GERS or as directors in the savings or ac-
commodation bank alluded to, and that
Zee Wood was "boss" officer, or at
least, by virtue Of his position, was
peculiarly trusted with duties of re-
sponsible-nature connected with the care,
safe keeping and disbursement of the
funds of the institution, and that under
him was book-keeper who was intrusted
with the delicate and important duties
pertaining to that position.
About a fortnight ago it was discovered
that something was rotten in China, or
at least in the bank, and upon investiga-
ton of the safe, etc., several thousand
dollars of the funds were discovered
missing. The greatest excitement pre-
vailed, and elimination and recrimina-
ton among the Oriental inhabitants was
the order of the day. Zee Wood was
pounced upon as the guilty party, and
his life demanded in satisfaction of the
abuse of trust reposed in his honesty
and integrity. The book-keeper was
closely questioned, and his accounts I'M
derwent careful scrutiny, but nothing
duplicating Fee Wood could be discov-
cred. Finally, the excited Cinnamon
agreed that if Fee Wood, according to
the time honored custom prescribed
by their religious teaching, would puI ge
himself Of suspicion the matter should
rest.
Accordingly, one day last week, every,
thing being prepared beforehand, del
egation waited on the sheriff, and inform
ed him that certain exercises were to be
gone through with at the Chinese grave,
yard, and that they desired him to be on
hand and to look out and "see who shoot
first" The sheriff, Of course, "looked
out" and before he would allow any
Cinnamon to 60 to the place indicated,
carefully searched those who were to ac-
company him, and relieved them of their
artillery and pruning knives. Nearly all
the angry celestials remained at re-
spectful distance, and Zee Wood and
two or three of his accusers repaired
with the sheriff to the cemetery, where
all the graves of the defunct Mon
golians were found lit up with wax ia
pers and adorned with slips of paper.
| The oath of innocence, which was i'm.
printed in Chinese characters on piece
of paper, was then spread upon grave
and fastened down with sticks, and Fec
Wood prostrating himself, according tc
their peculiar religious belief, went
through all manner of gesticulations
signs and tokens, and then, Selling {
white II oster, provided for the occasion
he took a clever and severed its heaG
from the body.
The ceremony through with, the sher
if, by request, dug hole and deposited
therein the dead rooster, the instrumen
used to cut off his head, and paper OF
which was written the oath Of exculpa
ton, which was then covered with dir
or buried, The sheriff says he had t.
perform the duties OF sexton, as not on,
of the Cinnamon would touch the deaC
chicken Or assist in the burial of it
This ceremony is said to be one of {
very solemn nature with the Chinese
but it appears that in this instance i
has not satisfied them. Some of then
openly declare that they believe Ee'
Wood has sworn falsely, and one re
marked, "Me think he die belly soon.
1t is said that some of the most obstrep
erous of his countrymen are making W
apony purse to pay some rascal to assas
sinate Zee Wood. Should it be done
the hired assassin would probably be sum
marily dealt with regardless of the for
malities of the law, as Zee Wood is on,
of the leading Cinnamon of the camp
and his own friends would probably no
abide the laws delay.