The weekly Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1872-1887, 1884-06-08

the 1lmes-Review n few days ago
published an account of the taking of a
China-woman known as ''China Peten
from TGscaron and the subsequent sale
Of the woman in California. In its issue
OF b Ord, that journal gives the follow
ing details of the Yillainous transaction
In human chattels-and one which has
Its parallels in every Chinese settlement
ON the Coast: About seven years npo
the In was brought to Tuscarora-
by her owner, from San Francisco. A
short time afterwards she was convened
to Hop Lee, a Chinese merchant here.
as collateral security for money loaned
her possessor. Hop Lee after a time
became bankrupt through an unfortun-,
ate ~sage-brush contract, went to San
Francisco where he was killed in q
shooting gallery. A Monaghan known
as "China Jim," O member of the com
pany to which Hop Lee belonged, adj
vanced the amount which Hop Lee had
paid out, and the woman was conveyed
to him by the Chinese Administrator of
the dead mans estate. China Jim held
her for about two years. lie claimed
that the original owner, who did not be-
long to the Hop Lee Company, had for
feitcd his title to her. There were sew
eral attempts made to kidnap her, but
with h assistance of the woman. who
wanted to remain with him, jim ALWAYS
out-genernled his enemies. Finally ono
night n few months ago, they found Jim
out OF the house and n couple of China
men made an attempt to take her away
by force. The woman fought and made
such n noise that Jim, who was in the
neighborhood, heard it and came to the
rescue. The kidnappers opened fire on
jim, seriously %wounding him, but he
succeeded in killing one and the other
He'd. Jim was placed under arrest. but
1t was sometime before ne was able 10
appear before the Justice for examine
lion In the meantime, there was a triai
under the "highcr law" in the Chinese
Court, which tribunal agreed that Jim
was to give up the girl and not be prose-
cuted, and that the escaping party should
also 90 clear. This was easily effected.
as oil Of the witnesses on both sides W .re
Cinnamon. a Monaghan who professed
to be keen for Jim's conviction up TO tho
examination, when the time arrived.
kept out OF the way and could not 10
found. No witnesses appearing, of
course jim was acquitted. Shortly az
forwards the prosecuting witness, who
had disappeared, showed up again, took
the woman to San Francisco or sacra-
mcnto where he sold her for $3.50, and
has returned to Tuscarora and opened a
store in Chinatown. The woman waa
evidently attached to jim, for she stood
firmly with him through all OF his troub-
les, but when the Chinese Court decroed
her to another, she submitted without n
inurmur, as she very well knew that
opposition meant death to herself and
her lover. This may appear TO DO n
strange condition Of things in II country
which expended 30 much blood and
treasure in the abolishment Of African
slavery, but the above Is n correct and un-
exaggerated relation OF the circumstan.
ces MS they occurred right here in Tus-
carorH. Such transactions are by no
means rare on the Pacific Coast, nor
will they become so while Chinese slave
ry and Chinese "higher law are vir-
tually encouraged by men high in tho
Executive, Legislative and Judicial dc.
partments Of our National government.