The morning call., 1890-04-11
NICELY TRAPPED.
Arrest of an Attorney and Ce-
lestial for Bribery.
Elimination of Material Testimony From
transcripts in Cases On Appeal of
Chinese Gamblers.

Wong Kane, a Chinese merchant whose
| face is familiar about the Police Courts and
the old City Hall, was locked up in the City
Prison yesterday afternoon on charge of
bribery of ministerial officer
The warrant on which lie was arrested
was on the complaint of Howard Vernon,
the official shorthand reporter of Police
Court 1, and was served by Officer Amos
Williams on the prisoner on Sacramento
street, near Dupont. At a later hour Gas
ton Straus, an attorney, was also arrested
on similar charge, but was Immediately
released upon furnishing bond for $1,000.
Prosecuting Attorney Joseph J. Dunno
related last night the story of the arrests
and the causes leading up to them. He said
since the Police Courts have been heavily
fining Chinese gamblers the disreputable
element in the Celestial colony has been
making strenuous exertons to defeat JUS
tice and had evinced a willingness to do
almost anything to avoid having the pris-
OnerS convicted. Several cases were car
ried to the Superior Court On appeal, and
not a few of the judgments of the lower
tribunals have been reversed.
CROOKED WORK SUSPECTED.
A short while since Judge Shafter sent
for the Police Judges, and, at a conference
held, stated that he was satisfied some
crooked work was going on in the appeal
cases during the time they left the lower
courts until heard by the Superior Judges
Various suggestions were offered, but no
conclusion was reached, but the Police
magistrates resolved to exercise extra vigi-
lance.
Mr.. Dunno stated that on March f1th
Sergeant Hook and posse raided a tan game
on Ross alley and arrested the keeper aud
nine visitors. The attorney for the de-
PENDANTS approached Mr.. Dunno and sug-
gested that one of the visitors be tried and
test case made. Dunno agreed, and the
Chinaman, All Chow, was convicted, but
the decision was reversed by Judge Van
Reynegom on the ground that no venue had
been proven and the case was remanded for
new trial.
The Prosecuting Attorney grew sus-
plclous that some underhanded work had
been done, as he was positive that Sergeant
Hook in his testimony had proven the
venue. Last Monday Mr.. Vernon informed
Mr. Dunno that an attorney i'll the Chinese
cases tried by Judge Van Reynegom had
offered him 500 to SO change his short
hand notes that when the cases We're tried
on appeal they would be thrown out of
court.
VERNON PRETENDED TO AGREE.
Vernon pretended to agree to the propo-
sition, and was given the address of Wong
Kane. The attorney who had approached
him, Vernon said, was CASTOR Straus. Yer
Wong Kane with Walter Wolf, another
stenOgrapher. The Celestial handed YER
non $50, and in the conversation men
toned Straus' name in connection with a
mutiiatiOn of the official transcript, and
said that money was paid for such purpose.
The above information was laid before
Chief Crowley, who was satisfied that
enough evidence had been secured to con-
yict the Chinese merchant. Chief Crowley,
however, was desorous of entrapping
Straus adViza1 Varnnn IN aof
tOrney q note and endeayor to obtain GER
tain admissions that would connect him
with the case. 1t was arranged that Wolf
should be present at the interview as Straus
knew him to be connected with Chinese
cases and would not feel shy of his
presence.
Straus arranged with Vernon to meet
him yesterday afternoon in the formers
office. The interview was not productive
of results and another was arranged. At
the second meeting Vernon said he wanted
more money for the job, as he did not pro-
pose risking his liberty for a small sum.
Straus replied In VOLTS presence. Il
offered you more money, but you would
not take it. You jobbed' me by going to
the Chinaman and getting $3.50"
ALL WAS ARRANGED.
Wolf, who was represented as willing to
assist in the work, asked: linen what's to
be done? Am TO understand that the date
Of the arrest is to be left outY"
Mr.. Dunno says that Straus replied: "Oh,
that's all right Vernon has got that all
arranged with the Chinaman."
Straus then produced copy of the Off
cial stenographer's transcript, which had
been mutiated in such a manner that much
important testimony in the case had been
stricken out. He also gave to Vernon some
written instructions in his own handwrit-
ing These instructions provided for the
elimination of important portions Of Ser
geant Hooks testimony.
Vernon and Wolf, believing they had OBJ
tanned sufficient evidence against Straus,
left him, saying they were not satisfied with
the amount paid for the work.
The matter was laid before Chief Crow
ley, who advised that warrants be sworn
out for the arrest of the men. Straus'
mutilated transcript and his written in
struetions will be used as evidence against
him.