Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1888-02-09

closely watched. Payment of the fine
imposed. SUI de. or death at the hand,
of the hatchet-men are the only alter
natives. A more perfect system OF
terrorizing the timid or the obstinate
was never devised, and the police say
that the Chinese who have escaped the
death sentence by disguise and flight
may be numbered on ones fingers
In conversation with Lee Ali took,
who is the head man of one of the
strongest of the high-bnder societies,
hc smllingly admitted that murder was
one OF the fine arts in which his society
eXcelled. He explained the method Of
| initiation, and the penalties that follow
ed the breaking of ANY of the rules of the
order. The neoph te who is TO be in
itiated is taken before tho great joss of
the society, and &nDals before the burn
ing punk and incense N the sacred
bowls that adOrn the altar. An atten-
dant, with face concealed byu hideous
mask, holds naicd sword TO his neck,
while n second presses the point Of an
other weapon 10 the back of his neck.
In this position he takes an oath
which binds HIM 10 obey without ques-
ton any order of the society's author
ized leaders, even though that order DO
TO murder his best friend. Corporal
punishment is frequently inflicted here
also, and torture is applied to extract
evidence from witnesses precisely Us it
is in China to-day.
No organization of this class could be
kept from tho domination of the worst
men. Such has been the fate of all
these highbnder societies. Tho rerTt-
able members form the paying basis;
they furnish their quota for the eX-
penses because of the freedom from
blackmail which membership grants.
but they take no part in the Grim nal
work of the fraternity. Among the
hatchet-men will be found the desper-
ate criminals who have fled from Can
ton or Hong Kong TO escape impr son
ment or decap tatiOn, aud who 1--we
here by organized robbery and tribute.
Some of these societies thrive upon the
tax levied upon the brothcl keepers i'm
Chinatown. Ii the tax is refused they
organize Il raid and kidnap some of the
most valuable women in these dcns
wher upon tie payment Is speedily
made and IT, OLD order once more
rules. How potent is the system may
he Judged from the fact that several
Chinese interpreters in the federal and
criminal courts i'm this city have resign
ed lucrative positions because they de
clarcd if they remained death would be
the result Their only ollouse had been
the honest translation of evidence that
served 10 convict some hghbinders.
In one case an interpreter waited until
he had been shot ut twice before he
concluded to give up his Office. The
judge offered him police body guard,
but he sadly confessed that no protec
ton could save him from the ballots of
his enemies.
The favorite weapons of the high
binders are The pistol and the knife.
Nearly every Chinese servant who goes
down TO Chinatown at night. after his
day work is over. to gamble at tan
or dom noes. is "hecled'' with D stol,
while most of the highbinder, are YER
table walking arscnals. They select
revolvers OF heavy CALDER. and many of
them are no mean shots, although, ~ II
rule many shots are fired IN their
melecs in proportion TO the execution
done. The two-edgCd knife. worn in u
sheath. i, the weapon best adapted for
n close encounter. and many of these
murdcrous weapons are nnOcently
concealed in ssheath which looks like
closed fan. Others are worn in u
leather sheath with brass mountings.
A police officer and liquor seller in
Chinatown have been killed with this
weapon within three years. One terri
bic blow in each case was sufficient, for
the terrible weapon, with its razOr-liko
edge. penetrated to the heart and evil
IDENTITY caused instant death. In both
cases the murder was done b. unknown
who escaped. The Chm
csc also use a large sword and small
iron bar covered W ia flannel or leather
when the, anticipate Il hand to hand
encounter. The are partial to coats
of mail, usually made Of qu tied cloth
with layers of paper between. which
will turn an orliuar bullet or knife
blow. One h 9hDnler had coat
made of fine steel bands set in leather.
but when he came TO don his armor he
found il so heavy that he could hot run.
Hence he was forced to discard what
cost him several hundred dollars. and
the armor was aflerward captured in a
police raid. The property clerks
room at police headquarters IS full Of
specimens of curious Chinese weapons.
as well as op um layouts and other APP
Of V.cp