Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1883-12-26
4 CHINESE TRIBUNAL IN NEW YORK

A Court that Undertakes to Set Aside De-
cisiOns of the Court of Law-DOinEs of the
Hip We Tong Society in San francisco.
[From the New York Sum-.
For some months it has been believed
In certain quarters that the Chinese have
in this city secret tribunal or court,
which has both original and final Jurls-
diction, and whose DEGREES are absolute.
Several civil cases that have been begun
in the various regular courts have been
mysteriously withdrawn, without settle
ment, and q number of other cases have
been settled in curious fashion by the
litigants, to the great mystifcation of
their attorneys. It has come to be I'M
derstood among policemen stationed
near Mott Street that there is Chinese
court somewhere, and Sun reporter set
out to find this court. At No. Is Mott
Street is three-story brick building,
with high wooden stoOp in front. Over
the third-story windows hangs red and
gold sign, bright with bits of scarlet
bunting. Its cabalistic characters con-
vey no intelligence to Americans. Ask
the few white residents in the neighbor-
hood what the place is, and they willsay
that it is a Chinese club roam. The po-
liceman on the beat will say he thinks it
is a Chinese Masonic Lodge room. The
fat and stolid storekeeper down stairs
will look innocently through his round,
horn trimmed spectacles, gurgle "No
sabe," and shut the door IN the inquir-
er'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 Is Mott Street
without encountering any one. The
first two stories are dirty and ill-smell-
ing, but at the third story sudden
transition takes place. The hall floor is
covered with soft mating, and the walls
with bright paper splashed with gold,
while huge Chinese lantern lights up
the passage. A broad doorway, fanked
on either side by red scrolls with mot
toes written upon them IN black, ter
inmates the hall. The reporter opened
the door and stepped in. It was large
double room divided by an srched par
tition. The floor was carpeted 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 an ebony table about two
feet square between each two chairs.
Carved lanterns hung from the ceiling,
and waxed candles and perfumed punk
burned In front of an deliberately carved
altar, before which sat 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, on the floor level, sat two other fat
Cinnamon writing in big parchment
books with brushes, and sitting in two
better class. The entrance Of the in
truder threw the company into great
confusion, and a Chinaman who looked
as big as Chang, the giant, grabbed the
reporter and demanded to know what
he wanted
want to see a man." said the re-
porter.
"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 retreat.
From All Foon, Chinaman who
dresses like a Christian and was educated
at New England college, the reporter
learned that about year ago an agent
of the San Francisco Hip Ye Tong So
ciety arrived in New York. Several vex-
atious questions arising among China
men here had stirred up trouble between
the representative Chinese companies.
and the society therefore established an
agency or subordinate court in this city.
The peculiarly Of the Hip Ye Tong is
that it does not ask the Chinese resi-
dents of a city whether they wish its
services or not, but settles down, opens
its courts, and stands ready for business.
If the defendant In case before it does
not see fit to recognize its authority, it
matters not whit; the case goes on all
Judgment. Cinnamon respect and fear
the Hip Ye Tong. Since the Judge
opened his court in this city Cinnamon
have come here from all parts of the east
to submit their grievances for arbitra-
ton. Not long ago two Philadelphia
Chinese merchants had a money diff
Guilty. An appeal to the civil courts re-
suited unsatisfactory to one of the par
ties, and he appealed TO the Hip Ye
Tong The judge reversed the decision
of the Philadelphia civil court, and that
settled the case.
"As the strength of the Chinese
grows in New York, the Hip Ye Tong
will grow in arrogance" said All Foon,
until it becomes as cruel and vindic-
tive here as in San Francisco"
About twelve years ago the Hip Ye
Tong first established itself in San Fran
CISCO. It's members are sworn to secrecy
and have an elaborate Free Masonry.
The Hip Ye Tong is composed of Chi
nese revolutioniets, enemies of the pres
ent Chinese dynasty. The emperor is
elected by the mandarins, and thelast en-
peror overthrow the Hip Ye Tong party,
| beheaded their chieftains, and scattered