The record-union., 1891-09-05
THEY WANT GUM HO.
A Determined Fight Being Made by
Chinese SIaye-0wners.
The Girl is Discharged on q Writ of
Habeas Corpus, But Is Immedi-
ately Arrested Again.

The scramble for the possession Of Gum
Ho, the pretty Chinese girl who recently
escaped to this city from Colusa, where
she had been compelled to live life of
shame by her owners, was resumed in
the Superior Court yesterday before
Judge Van Fleet.
The girl had been stolen from her own
ers in Visalia (who, by the way, had inn
ported her from China as a slave), and
had been taken to Colusa. There she was
put through the formality of a marriage
with Chinaman whom she never saw
before. She was then turned over to
HON Duck, the Slave-owner, who en-
gineered the job to steal her. The object
of having the girl married was to prevent
her former owners from taking her again.
When the girl ran away from Colusa
steps were taken by the slave-owners to
recover her, as, being comely, she was
considered valuable chattel. a war
rant was sworn out for her arrest by her
alleged husband, charging her with en-
bezzling some OF his jewels.
The girl was endeavOring to make her
way to the Mission in San Francisco,
where she could be protected and cared
for blythe philanthropic ladies who have
here. The ladies came to her assistance
and writ of habeas corpus was petit
toned for. There was partial hearing
OF the matter several days ago, and on
yesterday 1t was concluded. An immense
crowd of Chinese filled the courtroom,
and were greatly interested in the case.
The slave-owners were there too.
Charles t. James, who appeared as at.
torney for the girl, proved by Justice Of
the Peace Llenlng OF ColuSa that the girl
was married, and the girl testified to the
same thing. The girl also testified that
she did not give her consent to the issu-
ing OF the warrant for her arrest.
Mr.. Jones then asked for the discharge
of the girl on the ground that under the
law husband nor wife can proceed or ap-
pear III court against each other except
where either has committed an act of
violence upon the other
Attorney Blanchard, who appeared for
the other side, disputed this, and read
some law on the subject.
After quite lengthy argument by both
| sides, Judge Van Fleet granted the writ
and discharged the girl.
The girl was scarcely outside the court
room door when the Colusa officers, who
were here to take her back, served an
other warrant on her. She was charged
again with embeZZlement, but this time
the names Of two other Chinese appeared
as the complaining witnesses, and not the
| husband.
Attorney Jones had suspected Just such
a move, and had his papers ready. He
rushed back into Judge Van Fleet S
court, and had another petition for writ
Of habeas corpus signed, and made re-
turnable to-day.
The haste on Mir. Jones' part was to
prevent the shareholders from baiiing the
| girl out. In this case they could take
| possession OF her and hide her. Then,
when the date of trial came up. they
would have the case dismissed, because
of the ''absence of witnesses whose
| whereabouts are unknown" and thus
Tree themselves from the liability of for
! teiting the bail.
1t is an old trick of the shareholders,
and one that has been worked success
| fully very often.
The fight will be taken up again to-day