Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-03-19
As EXPECTED.
F HEN, CHARGED WITH MURDER,
ESCAPES TRIAL.
Important Witnesses Disappear" and
the Authorities are Rendered
Powerless to Prosecute.

Coming events cast their shadows be.
FORE"
On Thursday last az article appeared in
the REcoRD-UNIo showing up scheme
on the part of the Chinese companies to
dismiss the charge of murder pending
against a Chinaman named All Gong.
What was predicted then has now come TO
pass, and All Gong is to-day free man.
In July of last year Chinaman named
Suey Kay was murdered at the corner of
Third and l streets. A fellow.countrymap,
All Gong, was arrested for the crime.
The men belonged to rival companies, and
the preliminary examination of Gong de-
veloped bitter feeling between the two
organizations Special attorneys were en-
gagged, one to prosecute Gong and the other
to defend him, and q great quantity of evil
dence was produced in support of each
side. Gong was held to answer before the
Superior Court, and the case has suffered
several continuances and postponements
there since that time.
Early last wesk sleek-looking Celestial,
named All Low, who figured prominently
in the prosecution of Gong, in behalf of the
murdered mans relatives, came up from
San Francisco and visited the Dis
trict Attorney to learn if any steps had
been taken toward dismissing the action
against Gong. Mr.. Bruner informed him
that he had heard of none, and the China
man departed apparently much relieved.
This Chinaman, it was subsequently
learned, represented the relatives of the
murdered Chinaman.
A RECORD UNION reporter suspected that
something unusual was going on and de-
cided to investigate. He learned upon the
best OF authority that there was move
ment on foot to set Gong at liberty, and
that it had arisen from the fact that the
two rival societies had come to an amicable
understanding. The society to which Gong
belonged was to pay the society of which
the murdered man was a member 5000 to
let up in the prosecution. Realizing that
It was hard matter to ''let up" suddenly
and without any reasonable explanation to
the Court and attorneys on both sides, it
was arranged that the two most important
witnesses tor the prosecution should "dis-
appear" mysteriously, and thus cripple the
prosecution to such an extent that a verdict
of guilty could not be reached
The relatives of the dead man were op-
posed to this action, and were endeayoring
is characteristic of the Chinese race that
the wounded feelings of bereayed relatives
may most effectually be healed with none.
tary ointment. So in this CASE The
Chinaman who anxiously sought informa-
ton regarding the case at the District At
torneys ottices was one of the bereaved
relatives who considered it unfair that the
prisoners company should compensate the
organization TO which the deceased be-
longed without consulting them in SINH
lar manner. Hence their opposition to the
proposed halt in the prosecution.
Their opposition had the desired effect,
and as one of the relatives stated yesterday,
the prisoners friends had raised 5000 for
the Notwithstanding $500 in all as the
total price of All Gopg's liberty.
All this was transacted without the
knowledge Of the Court or the attorneys
employed on both sides, and the latter
were absolutely powerless to stop it.
Yesterday morning All Gong's case was
called in Superior Judge Armstrong; Court.
District Attorney Bruner arose and stated
that it was impossible for him 10 proceed
with the prosecution, as his most important
witnesses could not be found. He had
made every effort to find them and had
been assisted by the Sheriff to the best of
that officers ability, but all to no purpose.
He was satisfied, he said, that it was not
the intention of the dead mans friends to
prosecute All Gong further, and without
the witnesses referred to it was impossible
for him to proceed.
Charles 7. Jones, who in the prelimin-
airy examination of Gong appeared as spe-
cial counsel for the prosecution, and who
had also been retained to proceed with the
prosecution before the Superior Court,
stated to Judge Armstrong that bis services
had recently been dispensed with by those
who had employed him. The only ex-
PLANTATION he had received was that the
case had been settled and he would not
be needed any longer.
Mr.. BrHner then moved that the case be
dismissed on the ground that it would be
impossible to obtain a conviction.
Judge Armstrong in granting the mo.
ton of the District Attorney, took coca
sion to make few remarks, not very com.
plimentary 10 the Chinese who had en-
gineered the Job. He said that it was an
outrage that justice should be defeated in
such manner. He looked with alarm
upon the situation. The Judge added,
however, that he realized that the attor-
neys in the case had been rendered power
less in the matter, and he could attach no
blame to any of them.
He then dismissed the case. and All
Gong, guilty or innocent as he may be-
stepped out OF the Courtroom free and
untried man.