Sacramento daily record-union., 1889-09-06
CHINESE POLL TAXES,
AND HOW THEY ARE COLLECTED OVER
IN Y0L0 COUNTY.
Constables Appoint the Tax-Gatherers-
The Raid on the LoydaI Hop
Ranch Last Month.

In Justice Newton's Court, in Washing
ton, Yolo county, the examination of the
Cinnamon charged with assaulting a poll
tax collector came up yesterday. Charles
L. Jones of this city represented the de-
tenoants and District Attorney Gaddis of
1olo conducted the prosecution. The de-
PENDANTS, twelve in number, had previously
been arraigned on the charge of assault
with intent to commit murder.
George Anderson, the prosecuting wit
ness, was the first called. His story of the
affair was as follows: He had been depu-
tized to collect road and poll taxes, and on
August 24th he went to Lovdals ranch, q
couple of miles up the river, to collect
taxes from the Chinese hop-pickers. He
took two boys, Oscar Hanson and john
Powers, with him in his cart, and drove to
the ranch, arriving there between II and l
o'clock at noon. The Cinnamon, who
were camped in the field, had Just about
hnlshed their noon meal, ana Anderson
stopped them as they were going off to the
hop fields and demanded that they paw
their poll taxes or show their receipts, if
they had them. The Cinnamon did not
seem to pay much attention to him, and
some passed by him. He caught one of
them, a tall fellow, and kept him from
passing, at the same time showing his
books and ordering the Mongol to pay his
tax. The latter became exasperated, and
drawing large knife, with blade six or
eight inches in length "a knife used in the
hop tields) raised it in threatening man.
ner.
The testimony was somewhat conflicting
as to whether or not Anderson had his pis-
tol in his hand all the while, or whether
he drew 1t from his pocket when the Chi
naman raised the knife; but at all events
the Constable dealt the heather sharp
blow on the head with his pistol, and The
force of the blow knocked the latter down.
At this juncture all of the other Cinnamon
came rushing to the rescue, some with
knives and others with pieces of hop. poles.
They partly surrounded the officer and kept
backing him up, brandishing their clubs.
One of them struck Anderson on the arm
with a stick. He backed up for distance
of about 100 yards, until he reached Mr..
Lovdal's house. Here he stopped, as did
fthe excited Cinnamon. Afterward the boss
of the gang induced them to go away.
After the witness had made his state
ment Mr.. ones subjected him to a rigid
cross examination.
What authority did you have for COL
lecting road or poll taxes?" asked Mr..
Jones.
81 was deputized by Mr.. Todhunter, the
Constable here. He gave me the books
and told me to collect was the answer.
linen you never received any written
appointment from the Assessor of Yolo
county or your Roadmaster, did you?"
No, sir" was the reply.
Don't you know that you had no power
to collect road or poll taxes, unless YOU
were duly appointed by the Assessor and
until your appointment had been filed in
his Officer" continued Mr.. Jones.
No, sir, said the witness; 81 thought
had full power as l was"
MIR. Jones then went oa to ask the wit
ness why he took the two boys and a shot
gun with him, and why he held the pistol
in his hand.
The witness answered as best he could.
He didn't intend to use the gun nor the
pistol, but might have had a right to use
the latter in self.defense.
He was then asked if he could positively
identity every one of the twelve Cinnamon
as being his assailants, but the witness
would insist on answering: II can't swear
positively" When he was compelled to
give positive answer, he could only swear
positively as to five or six of them. The
others were probably there, but he could
not swear to it as positive fact.
Oscar Hanson and John Powers and
others were sworn for the prosecution, after
which the testimony for the defense was
introduced. The statements of the China
men differed somewhat from that of the
complaining witness.
After the testimony was all in, it was de-
cided to postpone the arguments in the
case until Saturday