The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1879-02-27

SLAVE DEALERS.

SLAVE DEALERS.
How Human Beings are Bought and Sold
in San Francisco.
In the Police Court on Saturday case
was developed which presents some pic
lures Of the social life of the Chinese. The
case was against Lee Cheun Nay. arrested
on charge of battery alleged to have
been committed upon All Sin. Chinese
maiden about twenty years old. Prosecu-
ting Attorney Flood desires to snow the
manner in which the chinese of this uity
every day commit outrageous felonles,
and questioned the complainant with that
purpose All. Sins testimony, as trans
lated in Court, was translated as follows:
Il have been In TINS country about nine
years. I was brought here by an old
woman known as the 'Gray-beaded old
Lady She bought me In China for
something over so. | stayed with the
'Gary-headed old Lady for about month,
another girl being with me under simIlar
conditions. when We were both sold.
was bought by DR.. Li-po-Tai for some
thing from SO to $40. Women were
cheap then and did not fetch much. |
lived with the doctor short time only,
his wife saying was no account. LILO
Tai owed a man named Loo Fook some
money and was given to Loo Fook IN
PART PAYMENT OF THAT DEBT.
don't know how much | was valued at
then. | was afterwards transferred to
one Lee Choy, who said he intended max
E / fhar, t..A-
tween eleven and twelve years old. One
night went out with Lee Choy and We
met man who saw was young and sand
was goodlooking, and he began to joke
about me and wanted to know If was Tor
sale. The Joke turned TO earnest and
was finally sold TO him for about SlUn.
His name was Lee Fong Mung- | hvei
with HIM about three or four years, and
he sold me to Lee Cheun Nay for $l6o.
lived with him both as wife and servant.
don't know that he had any other wives
then. have lived at two different wash
houses during the last four months, acting
as servant for the men there.
haven't lived with Lee Cheun as
his wife for about year. | have
received no pay for my lapor in the wash
house, and worse than that, have been
whipped a number Of times. My clothing
for the last twelve months has been fur
nished by the proprietors Of the wash
houses, but now that have left them.
they want the clothes back again. When
lived in one of the wash-houses, on
Ninth street, had to sleep in sort of
stable in the rear Of the house. | slept
alone, but Lee Cheun accused me OF receiy-
ing some Of the men. | wanted Lee
Cheun to bring me to live in the main
part of the city, where there might be
a woman with me, and he finally dld so,
taking me to place on Third street. |
asked him under what conditions was to
90 there. He said rs a servant, but he
intended to 90 to Grass Valley soon and
start butcher-shop He went TO the
mountains and returned, ordering me to
get ready to 90 with him to the noun
tains. Twas sick and
ASKED HIM FOR SOME MONEY,
But he wouldn't give me any and accused
me of pretending to be sick. A man from
the Ninth-street wash-house came TO me
and wanted me to go and live with HIM.
saying that if Lee Cheun aidn't sell me
then he would do so soon, and that ar
rangements for my sale were then being
made. afterward overheard converse
ton in an adjoining room, my sale being
arranged by Lee Cheun and another man
who was to pay $3.50 for me. That man
name was Wong. Lee Cheun wanted him
TO d-posite $500 for me- Lee Cheun want
ed me to 90 back to Ninth-street with
him. but refused, and he threatened TO
get policeman and make me go. just
after the Chinese New Year ! was called
upon by Lee Fong Mung, who advised me
10 go. ] was then taken to house on
California street, where | stayed lew
days and nights. Lee Cheun then wanted
me to 90 to the mountains with HIM, but
wouldn't consent, and he struck me with
the handle OF feather duster. | then
told him would 90 back TO Lee tong
Mung, and he said he would not let me
do so | ran out into the street and he
followed me. ahen was arrested.
Prosecuting Attorney Flood offered 10
introduce the following TRANSLATION OF
Chinese letter in evidence TO show IN what
manner these people
CONTRACT MARRIAGES:
D-ar Brother, Ch,in Sui: AgreeAhly with your
last advice. I have already selected match for
your marriage. and paid . sum OF earnest
money. to bind the contract. And now only
the happy bargain. have also received your
subsequent letter.
Stamped and signed by the firm Wing Che
ang Rot. FRO MAN KAl Il POk SHAN.
Several pecuiiarities in the marital Gus
toms of the enlightened Celestial people
were illustrated during the hearing Of All
Sins testimony Being asked If she has
considered herself the vile Of one Of his
numerous purchasers she said IT was hard
TO tell. Her owner might have considered
himself her husband, but he never told
her so. Tho Chinese were not Ike the
white people. A husband never told his
wife anything and never allowed her TO IN
terferc with his business. A woman was
supposed to obey her husband or owner
without asking reasons for anything, and
If she chose to be indiscreet enough 10 hes
itate TO do as he commanded, she must ex-
pect TO be punished Is he might see Mt a
woman can make nothing by protesting
She receives no sympathy from the men.
because they all act in the same way to-
ward their women, and che women recog-
nize their inability to help themselves, and
consider that the attempt Of any Of Their
number 10 override these rules only entails
more trouble upon them at large. and con
sequently they are inclined 10 dIsfavorab'y
regard a Troublesome woman. Judge
I.Ouderback continued the case until We'd
neSiay.