Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-02-03


imposed. su de. or death Mt the hands
of the hatchet-men are the only alter
natives. A more perfect system Of
terrorz ng the mid or the obstinate
was never dew sed. and the police saw
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 binder societies,
he smlingly admitted that murder was
one of the fine arts in which his society
excclIed. lie explained the method of
initiation, and the penalties that follow
eel the breaking OF any OF the rules Oh the
order The neoph, to who is to be m
itiated Is taken before the great joss of
the society, and knees before the burn
ng punk aud incense IN the sacred
bowls that adorn the altar. An ntien-
dant. w tn face concealed by "a hideous
mask, holds naked sword to his neck,
while second presses the point Of am
other weapon To the back OF his neck.
In this post on he takes an oath
which binds him to obey without ques-
I on any order OF the sOciety's author
Zed leaders. even though that order be
to murder his best friend. Corporal
punishment is frequently inflicted here
also, and torture is applied to extract
evidence from W tnesses prec sell ~ II
is in China to-day.
No organ cation Of this class could be
kept from the domination OF the worst
men. Such has been the fate Of all
these highbinder soc cites. The reput-
able members form the paying basis;
they furnish their quota for the cX-
penses because Of the free lOm from
| blackmail which membership grants,
but they take no part in the Grim nj
work of tne fraternity. Among the
hatchet-men will be found the desper.
ate crm mails who have fled from Can
ton or Hong Kong To escape impr son
meut or decap tatiOn, and who ! We
here bv organized robbery and tribute.
Some of these societies thr W. upon the
tax levied upon the brothc keepers in
Chinatown. Ii the tax : refused they
organize raid and kidnap some OF the
most valuable women in these dens
whcr. upon lie payment Is speedily
made aud the oil order once more
rules How potent is the system may
he Judged from the fat that several
| Chinese interpreters in the federal and
criminal courts in this city have resign
ed lucrative positions because they de-
carcd if they remained death would be
/ the result Their only oflense hal been
the honest translation of evidence that
served to couv ct some highbndcrS.
! In one case an interpreter waited until
he hal been shot at twice before he
concluded to give up his Office. The
/ Judge offered him police body guard,
! but he sadly confessed that no pr0tec
| 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 mt tan
or dom noes. is "heeled" with n D stol,
while most of the highbnders are YER
! liable walking arsenals. They select
revolvers of heavy CALDER. and many Of
them ARE no mean shots. although, - II
rule many shots are fired IN their
meleos in proportion to the execution
! done. The two-edged knife. worn in "A
sheath. i, the weapon best adapted for
a close encounter. and MANY OF these
! murderOus weapons are nnOcently
! concealed in sheath which looks like
n 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 W thin three years. One terri
bic blow n each case was sufficient. for
| the terrible weapon, w tn its razor-l kc
edge. penetrated to the heart and evil
IDENTITY caused instant death In both
cases the murder was done b. unknown
! highbnderS. who escaped. The Oh n
csc also use large sword and small
iron bar covered W tn flannel or leather
when the> anticipate n hand to hand
encounter. They are partial TO coats
of mail. usually made of On lied cloth
with layers Of paper between. VIII eli
will turn an ordinary bullet or knife
blow One h ghbindcr had coat
made of fine steel bands set in leather
but when he came to don his armOr he
found il % heavy that he could hot run.
Hence he was forced to discard what
cost him several hundred dollars. aud
the armor was afterward captured in
police raid. The property clerks
room at police headquarters s full of
specimens of curious Chinese weapons.
as well as op um layouts and other APP
paratus Of vice.