The morning call., 1892-09-07
THEY HANGED A CHINAMAN.
How a Big Court Judgment
Was Fixed.
The Mcclellan Boys in the Innocencs Ct Their
Hearts Monkey With the Law and
Set Tangled Up.

There was little suit in the Justices
Court yesterday. which, like comet, had
long back appendage.
Once upon a time, as the fairy-tales
begin-onIy this is true story--there lived
in San Mateo County two brothers, named
Mcclellan.
The McLellans were good enough boys.
but a little hasty sometimes-a trait which
was known TO get them into trouble on Occa-
sion.
One of the subjects upon which they had
taken snap judgment" as it were, was the
right of Cinnamon to live at all.
"a Chinaman." they probably argued, if
they ever argued on the subject, rs no
good anyway. Ergo he has no title 10
existence"
One day a Celestial, named Lee Aut, ran
foul of this somewhat preiudiced pair and
afterward regretted the encounter.
He was caught in rather compromising
position with some property belonging
undisputably TO the McLellans.
Law Is expensive, 80 the McLeilans
rapidly resolved the difficulty by rendering
verdict without the formality OF Judge
and jury to the effect that Lee was "a
thief"
There was no code handy to fix the pen-
atty of such a conviction, so it was perhaps
with pardonable enthusiasm that the sell
constituted court determined to hang Lee.
AS the MeI.ellans had been the arresting
officer, Judge and jury, so they con slstently
became the Sheriff.
a rope was obtained and fastened over a
handy limb Of tree.
Then the moose was run over Lees ne ok
and he was gently swuGg aloft.
His hands had not been tied by some
oversight, Ineligible in the light of the
new Sheriff's inexperience, and the sWaying
figure clutched the Dough above him aud
yelled for mercy.
He was gently lowered. and as he was
beginning to congratulate himself on his
escape up he went once more.
This time he refused to come down,
although the McLellans invited his de.
scent with shotgun emphasis. until the
coast was clear
Ever since then has Lee Aut carried a
stiff neck, and he can never look upon
rope withou. breaking into cold perspira-
tion.
When he recovered to some extent lie
brought suit against the brothers in the
District Court and obtained Judgment! OF
S5000
This simply paralyzed the unsophistieated
McLellans, whose opinion of District
Court which would favor Chinaman re-
mains very lOw to this day.
Something had to be done, however, and
Just then they thought Of their brother
Leonard in the city, VINO would probably
be able Ia fix it with 'the yellow scum"
Leonard was a man of affairs and en-
ployed one +. j. Atwood to "see" the Chi
naman and find out what hs would take TO
call the Judgment off.
Atwood exhibited special tact and indie
fatigabiity, interviewing not only Lee Aut
but also his cousins and his aunts.
A just Heaven alone knows what argu-
ments. cajolings, threats he employed upon
the Celestial apology for a clear understand
lag of law. but finally Lee Aut signed full
satisfaction of the judgment of 5000 on re-
eeiying payment OF S150
Leonard has received $3.50 from his in
genu0us San Mateo brethren for expenses
ana had promised Atwood half of what was
left after he was satisfied.
But he probably shared some of his
brothers amazement at being called upon
to pay out money on account of a China
man. Anyway he refused TO pay.
So Atwood brought suit and yesterday
Justice of tue Peace Cook awarded him the
amount OF his modest commission as prayed
for and costs.
1t would be interesting to learn in what
depths of contempt the Mcclellan boys will
henceforth hold the Justices Court