Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-06-03
An sim. savings Rank.


Quite row recently occurred ameng
the Chinese residents Of our city, arising
from the busting of the Chinese bank
Of deposits, belonging to the See-Yup
company. 1t appears that All Chez, Zee
Wood, and several other prominent
Cinnamon were interested as officers, or
as directors in the saving or. accommo-
Hdation- bank, alluded to, and that Fee
Wood was boss" officer. or at least,
by virtue of his position, was peculiarly
trusted with duties of a responsible ma
ture connected with the care, safe keep
ing and disbursement of the funds of the
institution, and that under him was a
book-keeper, who was intrusted with the
delicate and important duties pertaining
to that position. About a week ago it
was discovered that something was
rotten in China, or at least in the bank,
and upon investigation of the safe, etc,
several thousand dollars of the funds
we're missing. The greatest excite
ment prevailed, and elimination and
recrimination among the Oriental inhab-
itants was the order OF the day. Zee
Wood was pounced upon as the guilty
party, and his life demanded in satisfac-
ton of the abuse Of the trust reposed in
his honor and integrity The book
keeper was closely questioned, and his
accounts underwent a careful scrutiny,
but nothing duplicating Zee Wood could
be discovered. Finally the excited
Cinnamon agreed that if Zee Wood, ac-
cording to the time honored custom pre-
scribed by their religious teaching, would
purge himself of suspicion the matter
should rest. Accordingly, Que day last
week, everything being prepared before
hand, delegation waited on our worthy
sheriff, Dryde McClintock, and informed
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.
Dryde of course looked out" and
before he would allow my Chinaman to
60 to the place indicated, carefully
searched all Of those who were to accom-
pany him, and relieved them of their ar
tillery and pruning knives. Nearly all
the angry celestials remained respect
ful distance, and Zee Wood and two or
three, of his accusers repaired with
Dryde to the cemetery, where all the
graves of defunct Mongolians we're
lighted up with wax tapers and adorned
with slips of paper. The oath of inno-
cence, which was imprinted In Chinese
characters on piece Of paper, was then
spread upon a grave and fastened down |
with sticks, and Zee Wood, prostrating |
himself according to the style of their
peculiar religious belief, went through |
all manner Of genufections, signs and |
tokens, and then seizing white rooster, |
provided for the occasion, he took q |
cleaver and severed its head from the
body. De ceremony through with,
Sheriff McClintock, by request, dug
hole and deposited therein the dead
rooster the instrument used 10 cut of |
It's head and a paper on which was
written the oath of exculpation,
which was then covered with dirt or
buried. Dryde says he had to perform
he duties of sexton, as not one Of the
Cinnamon would touch the dead chicken
DR. assist in the burial of it. This cere-
nony is said TO be one of very solemn
nature with the Chinese, but it appears
hat in this instance it has not satisfied
hem. Some of them openly declare
hat they believe Zee Wood has sworn
,alsely, and one remarked, Me think
ie die belly soon" We are informed
hat some of the most obstreperous of
iis countrymen are making up a pony
purse to pay some scoundrel to assassi-
late Zee Wood, but whether it is true or
lot we can't say. Should it be done,
he hired assassin will be summarily
lealt with, regardless of the formalities
If law, as Zee Wood is one of the lead
ng Cinnamon of this camp, and his own
riends would probably not abide the
avs delay. We don't know whether
he decapitated chicken has been resur-
'ected or not, but as we learn it was a
at one, some of the irreverent boys are
osers by not being aware Of the cere-
monies, ID Ir.e enHr. Hftfta