The morning call., 1891-11-10
THREATS TO KILL.
Assistant District Attorney Wit.
ter's Life in Peril.
That Of Attorney F. E. stranahan Is Also
Jeopardized-Chinese Ratchet Men" in
the straw-Bond Prosecution.

Chinatown Is breathing threats and even
the highlander "hatchet men" are said to
have been hired to do murder on a scale
that has never been attempted in the his
tory of the Chinese colonization In America.
The object of their threats is none otner
than the Federal authorities and lawyers
practicng in Chinese cases in the Federal
courts.
The principal persons whose existence
has been threatened by this motley horde
of foreigners are Assistant District Attor-
ney Witter and Attorney +. E. Stranahan.
These gentlemen have been threatened in
various ways, AMI Mr.. Witter has even re-
eeived communication by mail TO the effect
that if he does not let up in his crusade
against certain Chinese he would be shot
down on sight
When approached on the subject yester-
day, Mr.. WiIter said: Il don't want this
matter published. l have received several
of these threats, but those Chinese are cow
ardly dogs. They wont attack me unless l
go into Chinatown, and not then unless they
catch me in a dark place or Mt disadvan-
tage. So all have to do Is to Keep out OF
Chinatown all can, and keep on tile prin-
cipal thoroughfareS when | do 90.
Yes, l have been threatened several
times, once by mail; but II the Chinese
think that is going 10 make me let up IN
cases that should have been broughtto their
ends years ago, they are badly mistaken.
] am in charge of the Chinese prosecution
and I'll prosecute them out OF the country,
II they are here illegally, or out of their
money if they owe the Government any
thing on bonds. | am not afraid OF the
towards. though they would not hesitate TO
asssssinate me or any one else, II 1t would
bring the good old days OF straw bonds
back 10 them"
He ALSO WAS THREATENED.
YES, l have been threatened too" adj
mitted Attorney Stranahan " 1t Is al! be-
cause of this prosecution Or the straw bonds.
In certain cases | acted "a the attorney.
The bonds were properly signed and the
bondSmen sworn. AtterwaTd the pNncl-
pals defaulted and the Government brought
suit on the bonds TO recover the amount OF
the bonds and the costs Of tile suit. Don't
think that all the defaultIng cases were
mine There were fifty cases distributed
among several attorneys. Now the Chinese
don't want me to be a witness against them
in the suits TO recover.
"Ihey have threatened me variOuSly, al
though they have not gone so lar As 10 put
their threats in writing. They have often
asked me to shield them. | have always
refused because l knew that that meant
that ! should resort TO some crooked work.
Then they would threaten me with the loss
of the Chinese business, which, by the way,
do not want if | have to be subOrned or
act scaly IN my practice.
They have also threatened something
after this manner, always through some
friend sent puTposely: If you don't stop
these proceedings somehow, they will do
you up some night. \ GU better look out
i do look cut, aud while do not fear tins
loss of their business, | do not court Special
Officer GIllen's fate. Better not say any
thing about this yet in the paper, as II may
crystalline theiT forces. AS 1t is we don't
know really how serious they are, but we
do know how serious they might become.
ONE RESULT OF THE CRUSADE.
Such is the position the Chinese bonds
men are at last driven TO effect their nefarl-
GUS schemes TO land illegally, on every pre-
text from local nativity TO previous resi-
dence, their notified countrymen. 1t is but
the outward manifestation of the crusade
which the attaches of District Attorney
Carriers Office nave been prosecuting for
months. Since Wltter took charge of the
Chinese eases there have been more re-
mandS executed than during all the years
the Chinese farce has been going on in the
courts. 1t is war TO the knife, and the
last stab at ChinatOwn's vitality IS the issu-
ance of attachments on its stores.
A few days since Chin Sue Doom was pro-
ceeded against on an attachment levied on
his store at 40 Commercial street, and an
order of sale 10 cover the amount of bond
and 500 III costs was made IN tile United
States District Court by Judge Morrow.
The total amount is S1700, which has not
yet been recovered owing to the hesitaucy
OF United States Marshal Long IN making
the sale. However, the Government is
confident OF success in collecting on the
bond.
CASES ON HEARING.
Chin Sue Doom went as security on the
bond of Tong Ling IeonG, who defaulted
when his case was called for trial and he
was ordered remanded, an order that has
not been carried out owing TO his disap-
pearance. His bondsmen were then held
liable. Doom now claims that he sold out
in January, and has been working at S35 a
month as clerk since. However, as late as
August he testified before Commits ioner
Houghton that he was member of the firm
at that number. There are over 100 bonds
IN all to be recovered on, and Chin Sue
DOon's case is the first in which Judgment
has been rendered.
Yesterday the case of lie All Sings bond
came up before Judge Morrow. The bonds
man levied upon is Chin Coon Gee of sos
Washington street The proceedings lasted
all day and will be continued this mornin :
for hearing of further evidence in reDuttal.
Attorney Van Duzer, who has acted as at
tOTney for several defaultng Chinese ap-
peaGed for the defense, while for the prose-
cution appeared the determined, though
threatened, Assistant District Attorney
Witter. Attorney Stranah1u was also in
court.