The morning call., 1890-04-15
FLAGRANT FRAUD.
Commissioner Hoffman Duped
by Chinese.
The Cody Swallows Compromising Docu.
ment to Escape Detection-This Petit
tion Withdrawn.

An Instance OF the fragrant frauds which are
sometimes perpetrated on the United States
authorities by Chinese save-dealers and coolies
endeavoring TO evade the Restriction Act was
unearthed yesterday by CALL reporter, who
happened TO be watching 1.-THE manner in which
the dealers engineer their chattels through the
loop-holes of the habeas corpus mill.
AS Is usual before the Chinese steamers sail, q
crowd OF ill-smelling coolies was In the Office OF
The United States District Court. and the dealers
were busy giving bonds for lot of Chinese who
were left until the last moment on board the
steamer Oceanic, which will sail for China to-
day.
Uncles, cousins, brothers and fathers OF the
petitioners were pIentifully distributed about
the room, and Commissioners Southard HOn-
man, Manley aud Tonga were busily engaged in
Justifylng sureties for The imprisoned pagans.
DECREPID OLD MAN.
About twenty-five of the coolies had given
bonds anu very few were left TO be disposed of,
when a decrepid old Chinaman, who gave his
name as zee Ack Wah, made his appearance
and said that he wished TO swear out writ for
his nephew, zee An Bong, who was on board the
steamer.
He presented his petition to Southland and
Hoffman, and Chinese, who is presumably one
OF the shareholders, and who can be seen about
Inc Appraisers Building six days in the week,
was called upon TO interpret.
The petition. as usual, set forth that Yee An
Bong WAS illegally restrained by the captain OF
lie vessel; that he was born in his city, and
WAS entitled TO "A landing As is customary, Mr..
Holman began 10 question tile Celestial to ascer-
tain whether he was familiar with The allegations
OF the petition. aud II was then That the fraud
was discOVv red.
The instant that the Commissioner began to
ask about dates tie cody was "stumped." He
hemmed aud hawed and asked for repetition OF
tile question.
SLIP OF PAPER DRAWN.
The interpreter murmuTed to him in Chinese,
ana While The Commissioners looking
The petition the "unce" slvly drew q slip Of
paper, covered with Chinese characters. from his
1t,
The Commissioner repeated the question, but
The cody bad not yet found the answer he
wanted, and HE Interpreter cIowdlng up against
him To prevent the Commissioner from seeing
the paper pretended not 10 understand ana
asked for another repetition of the question.
The cody, who was thoroughly rat led"
was wildly turning the paper over and over try
lug to mud his answer. when the reporter in-
formed the Commissioner what was going on
under his very eyes and the proceedings came TO
sudden halt.
TRIED TO ESCAPE.
The cody saw that he had been detected, and
examining The paper into his pocket tried TO edge
his way out of the crowd. Commissioner HOtf-
man hestated moment and then asked him for
the PAPER
He denied that II had any reference to the petit
tlOn, and after searching his pockets for au in
slant SAID lie had thrown IL away. He attempted
to pass IL TO the Interpreter few moments later,
hat and went outside.
Being followed an instant later he was found
In quiet corner earnestly reading the paper
aud repeating something aloud. On his return
TO the Clerks office Commissioner Hoffman
fused 10 examine him further, and the petit
toner's attorney, Lyman l. MOwry on being in-
formed OF tue matter at once withdrew the
petition by his clerk.
The cody was evidently fearful that he had IN
Yolved himself in trouble, for as soon as the petl
ton was Withdrawn he left the building.
FOLLOWED BY THE REPORTER.
He was followed by the reporter, who was de-
sifous OF gaining possession OF the paper, but,
realizing Tie fact, the Monaghan made every et-
fort TO escape. lie darted through alleys and
buildings, made two trips through The POst0fiice,
aud finally ran for Chinatown.
" The villain Sill put sued him." however and
as he neared The old City Hail. In running up
Merchant street, he hastily tore the paper into
shreds and crammed the bits into his mouth
When oyertaken. there was nothing In his mouth
and 1t was evident that he had swallowed the
document
The chase was then given up and the reporter
returned To the Appraisers Building where lie
was cursed in choice Chinese by the assembled
dealers. Unless Yee All Bong Is taken oil the
steamer to-day under another name, lie will uu-
doubtedly return TO he land of his birth.