The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-12-19

A SECRET CHINESE TRIBUNAL ESTABLISHED
IN NEW YORK-sETTING ASIDE THE DECI-
sIoSs OF THE COURTS or LAW.
New York SUM-

New York SUM-
For some months IL has been believed in
certain quarters that the Chinese have in
this city a secret tribunal. or court, which
has both original and tnal jurisdiction,
and whose DEGREES are absolute Several
civil cases that have been begun in the va
rious regular courts have been mysteriously
withdrawn without settlement. and num-
Der OF other cases have been settled in ctl-
rious fashion by the litigants, TO the great
mystitication OF the attorneys. II has come
to be understood among policemen sta
toned near Mott street that there Is n
Chinese court somewhere, and a Sun re-
porter set out to find this court. At No.
Is Mott street is three-stOry brick build
| ing, with high wooden stoop i'm front.
over the third-StOry windows hangs red
aDd-god sign, bright with bits Of scarlet
bunting. It's cabalstic characters convey
no intelligence to Americans. Ask the few
white residents in the neghborhood what
the place is, and they will say that it is a
Chinese club-rOOm. The policeman on the
beat will say he thinks IL is Chinese Ma
sonic lodge-room. The fat and stold store
keeper down stairs will look innocenty
through his round, horn-rimmed specta-
=
in the inquirer's face.
Having the idea that this was the place
he was in search Of The reporter ran up
stairs TO the top story Of No. Is Mott
street without enc0untering any one. The
first two stories are dirty and ill-smelling.
but at the third story sudden transition
takes place. The hall floor is covered with
soft mating. and the walls with bright pa
/ c,,l, b.1 tt-fth cold
nesc lantern lights up the passage. 4
broad doorway. f1anked on either side by
scrolls with notices written upon them
in black, terminates the hall. The re-
porter opened the door and stepped
in. II was a large double room divided
by an arched partition. The floor was car
Deted with Turkish carpet, the walls were
hung with scrolls, swords. battle-aXeS. and
spears. The furniture was Of teak wood,
richly carved, and consisted Of Settees and
chairs set against the walls in solemn array,
with IN ebony table about two feet square
between each two chairs. Carved lanterns
hung from the ceiling, and wax candles
and periumed punk burned in front Of an
acknowledgement altar, before which sat Il
hideous image OF joss.
At the end Of the room upon a raised
dais sat fat old Chinaman wearing red
button cap and blue robes. Before him,
but on the floor level, sat two other fat
Cinnamon writing in big parchment books
with brushes, and sitting in two bodies
were 4 score OF Cinnamon Of the better
class. The entrance Of the intruder threw
the company into great confusion, and q
Chinaman who looked as big rs Chang. the
giant, grabbed the reporter and demanded
to know what he wanted.
"Want to see Il man." said the reporter
"NO sabe. No can come in here" said
the Chinaman.
But | want to see man.
The court arose in body and started
for the reporter, who beat hasty retreat
From All FOon, Chinaman who dresso,
like "A Christian and was educated mt a New
England college, the reporter learned thai
about year ago IN agent Of the San Fran
cisco Hip Yc Tong society arrived in NcW
York. several vcXatiouS questions arising
among Cinnamon here had stirred up trou
bic between the representative Chimes,
companies, and the society therefore estab
lishcd an agency or subordinate court il
this city. The popularity Of the Hi
Ye Tons is that it does not ash
the Chinese residents Of city
whether they wish its services or not, bu
settles down, opens its courts, anC
stands ready for business. ii the defend
ant i'm ease before it does not see fit {
recognize its authority, It matters not
whit: the ease goes on all the same. unC
the court executes the Judgment China
men respect and fear the Hip We Tong
Since the judge opened his court in thi
. city Cinnamon have come here from al
parts Of the east TO submit their grievance
for arbitration. Not long ago two Phila
delphia Chinese. merchants lad money
, difficulty. An appeal TO the civil court,
resulted unsatisfactory 10 one OF the par
ties, and he appealed to the Hip We Tong
The Judge reversed the decision OK the
Philadelphia civil court, and that settlcC
the case.
AS the strength of the Chinese grow,
in New York. the Hip Ie Tong will grow
in arrogance" said All Foon, until it be
comes as cruel and vindictiye here as II
san Francisco
About twelve years ago the Hip Ye TOns
( first established itself in san Francisco
Its members are sworn TO secrecy, anC
have an elaborate Free Masonry. The Hi
We Tong is composed OF Chinese reyou
tionistS, enemies OF the present Chimes
dynasty. The emperor is elected by The
nmdarins, and the last emperor overthrow
the Hip We Tong party, beheaded thei
chieitains and scattered their forces. Blu
they got together again under Il SecIc
bond. They found America safe asylum
and soon grew 50 strong i'm san Francisco
as TO become Il terror to all Cinnamon
Their members form a distinct crimina
class. Their headquarters was transform
ed into Joss house, wherein the presiden
. holds his inqlisitions. All the member
OF the Hip Ye Tong, and there are Loo Of
them. are his executive officers. They lis,
by blackmail. II 4 Chinaman has baC
debt he goes before the Hip We Tong, pay
a certain price, and leaves bis claim To-
, collection. The unfortunate debtor pay
that claim. be il Just or unjust, or dies
The san Francisco police Hip lc Ton.
; members " hatchet men," because OF th'
; weapon they all carry. They affect pc
cuiar dress well known to the police anC
! 10 their felOw-cOuntrymcn. They =
: heavily armed, and are the desperadoes o
Chinatown. They commit burglaries
steal women. and murder with lmpunity
for few white men can distinguish on
, Chinaman from alfotheT; and a. thei
! depredations are committed mostly upOl
Cinnamon they seldom have witnesses ap
pcaring against them.
The degrees OF the Hip We Tong ar
: given to men called high-binders, VIII
ruthlessly execute them. As an lnstanc
of the methods, the following may be int
= resting. Some years ago an epldeml
disabled all the horses in san Francisco
An express company went to Chine,
employment office and engaged one bur
dred Cinnamon, agreeing to pay the Chi
nese agent fifty cents commission for eacl
man. When the Hip Ye Tong heard 0
this demand for half was made. Tn
AGENT refused. and the Cinnamon wer
ordered on pain of death not to go to work
The agent held ont one day, while he knew