Daily Republican., 1885-02-24
AShrewdChinaman
HOW HE HEkWINDLED HIS UNsUS.
PEI TING COUNTKYMEN IN
PHlLADEIPHI
SAMEE AS ME- ICAN MAN.


At No. 907 Race street, Philad elphia,
there Is tea store kept by Celestial,
known as Hop Chung Lung, who. until
the past week, has teen considered one
of the shrewdest of that race in the
Quaker city. Hop Chung not only sells
tea, but also keeps Chinese exchange,
where his fellow countrymeu can make
their wants known to each other. If
a laundryman needs an assistant, he
makes the fact known to Hop Chung
pays him twenty-five cents. and
the want is written in
Chinese characters and posted on the
wall of the tea store.
The same with those who wish situa-
lions. or have lost or found anything
in fact the walls of the exchange
answers for a Chinese newspaper, Of
which none are published in Philadel-
phia. 1t is, as may be expected a
prominent resort for Chinese, and on
last Sunday was filled with an excited
crowd, who, had they been able tc lay
their hands on certain Yee Wah, who
of late has been known as Jim Kee,
would have decreased the population Of
the Chinese in this country by QUE. Jim
Kee made his appearance in Philadel
phia last April, dressed in American
clothes, and minus a queue, and as he
had known Hop Chung Lung in San
Francisco called on him, and stated
that he had come direct from that city
He also told him that he had $40
with which he intended TO start bust
ness in Philadelphia. In confirmation
of his story, he exhibited TO Hop Chung
Lung, a large roll of greenbacks, which
he stated he had realized by the sale of
a curiosity shop, which Hop Chung
Lung was aware he had kept in
San Francisco for the past seven
years.
He made arrangements to board with
Hop Chung, and lived in idleness,
spending his money freely. In this
way he became acquainted with arly
all the Cinnamon who visited the ex-
change. Jim Kee also made many
friends among the frequenters of Wang
Lees opium joint, in the cellar of 1856
Race street, and his daily visits to the
Chineseigambling dens indifferent parts
of the city made him many more
friends.
He soon established reputation as
an expert domino player, and won and
lost considerable money. Sometime
last summer Jim Kee told Hop Chung
Lung that he had given up the idea Of
embarking in business. as he had been
appoin intedChiDeseDeputy to the Mayor.
In support of his statement he showed
a paper, which purported to be an
official document issued from the
Mayor office, and to remove any doubt,
he handed Hop Chung a pack of cards,
bearing his name and alleged title,
and at present his cards can be found
in every laundry In Philadelphia. The
news of his appointment soon spread,
and although some of his country men
were jealous of the distinction con ferred
on him, they took pride in circulating
the news OF his advancement, and look
ed up TO him as one greatly honored.
From that that time Jim Kee COM
menced system of swindliug, where
by he obtained sums varying from IS
TO $500 from his coDfidipg countrymen.
The scheme adopted ~ Jim consisted
in e1torting license fees and hush mon
ey, and since his departure it has been
learned that he compelled each laun-
dry to pay him 81 a month for license
to carry on business, while he taxed
the opium Joints and gambling dens in
sums ranging from Sl0 TO 800, under
pain of exposure and prosecution. He
gave receipts tor the alleged licenses,
and sigred his name in plain English,
ihCtb ShihCEC l'tpubJ
Besides these eXtortions he stole hun
dreds of dollars from innocent China
men, who intrusted him with their
savings to send home to their relatives.
The belief that he was city official
gave him great prominence, and
thorough confidence was reposed in him
as an honest Chinaman.
He was given sums varying from $25
to 300, for which be promised to get
drafts and send them to China, to the
persons indicated by the sender, but as
far 40 can he ascertained be never sent
a penny, although he gave receipts for
the amounts. He also borrowed money!
whenever he could, and he owes one
opium den SIS ,or pipes and opium
furnished at various times, while the
keeper of gambling den claims that
he owes him $500 borrowed and lost
money.
The Cinnamon who assembled at Hon
Chung Lungs exchange last SUNDAY
were very indignant at him, and some
OF them charged that Jim Kee was his
tool, and swindled them by plans COM
cocted by him. The latter denied the
charge, and asserted thar j i'm vas nnt
up 10 swindle his countrymen nv a
" Mclean man." ami no Chinaman
would be able to swindle as he did
without an American at his back tn tali
him how to do it.
Hop Chung Lung says that he believes
that Jim Kee was instructed how To
play his game on his unsuspectinu
countrymen by some petty politicianss
with whom he divided the proceeds. Fs
also says that Jim WAS the originator Of
playing policy among the Chinese.
which Is now extensively indulRed in
by them The full extent of bis onera-
tions Is not yet ascertained, hut it in
known that he has swindled his dupee
out OF not less than $4,000 within the
past eight months. The immediate
cause OF kee's flight was due to the dis.
covery made by Chong Wah, a tea mer.
cnanG doing business at No. 2l9 North
N Nln'n eo street, VINO some time ago gave
him $3.50 TO send to his cousin in san
ancisco, and the money had nswA.
reached there. Last Friday nish,
Chong Wah met Jim Kee in gamh'
ling place, and showed hira his ccns;n,.
letter, stating that he had never rs
ceived the money. 40
kee received this announcement ,r
the most seifpossessed manner. and
saio ne would 60 around TO his roo,,,
ana get his post. office receipt, ard brino,
~ 10 Chong Wah, to show him that hss
nad sent the money. kee went onn
Chong Wah waited for three lono.
hours, and then went 10 Hon ChnmS
Lungs to find Kee, but he was mct
there, neither had he been tbera s,.,
early in the afternoon. 'ince
re mas not been seen since, and M
nooy knows where he has gone, A.
examination was made of hie cor,,a.
DAG, anu ~ was found to cont N a