The morning call., 1892-01-23
WONG GEE ON AGAIN.
Seizure of Opium Stamped With
Forged Certificates.
Clever Capture by Revenue Agent Thomas.
The Drug Manufactured in Red Bluff
The Forgery Confessed.

An important seizure of opium was made
yesterday by Internal Revenue Agent B. NJ
Thomas and an assistant whose name is not
divulged, according to Agent Thomas, for
fear he might come TO harm.
The seizure was the result of carefully
laid plans on the part of the Government
officials. The eonfscation of the goods is
not important from the value OF the
opium seized, but from the fact that it
discloSes 70 the Federal officers that the or
gerry Of opium stamps is still going on, and,
perhaps, on larger scale than is imagined.
The spurious certificates are in the hand
writing of the Chinese, Wong Gee On, who
some months ago was arrested for so cleV-
erly initiating the signature OF Agent
Thomas.
CERTAIN VALUABLE INFORMATION.
About the beginning of December the In
ternal Revenue Agent received information
that a large opium factory was running
somewhere in the neighborhood OF Red
Bluff. The city was watched for ship
ments, but none could be found. Thomas
decided to go to Red Bluff and seiza the
factory Ha purchased tickets for the place
and started on December 26.h, but or his
way received information which induced
him to abandon the trip for the time being
Several days ago Agent Thomas was notf-
fed that a Chinese at Red Bluff had
shipped some opium and had checked two
trunks and two blankets. Thomas directed
his assistant to watch the depot. This
assistant saw the Chinese arrive yesterday
morning and hire an express wagon. into
which he put his trunks and blankets.
Tie deputy revenue officer followed the
wagon along Clay street Al kearny it
turned into Sacramento. just As the wagon
was entering Chinatown the revenue officer
placed the eXpress-drlyer and the Chinese
under arrest, and had them drive the wagon
to the Appraisers Building. Here Agent
Thomas was met.
EXAMINING HIS TRAPS.
He found that the name of the Chinese is
Ock Yuen, and promptly turned him over
to the United States Marshal. On examn-
ing the blankets and trunks 391 5-tael boxes
of opium were discovered. OF these 3G4 had
on stamps written by Wong Gee On, and q
had sweated stamps, or certificates which
had heen used before. The seizure is valued
at $500.
The Wong Gee On stamps on the boxes
evidently we're new. and the question is,
How came they to be in Red Bluff? After
the arrest of Wong Gee On it was discOY-
cred that there is no law by which he
could be prosecuted. He was also prom
ised that if he would reveal who wrote the
forged signatures he would be allowed
to go.
lie confessed that it was himself, and sat
down in bis cell and wrote off signature
after signature, which were good limitations
of Agent Thomas hand. Wong promised
to 20 10 China, and it was supposed that he
had gone.
NOT KNOWN TO HAVE REGISTERED.
He is not known to have registered at the
Chinese Bureau for three steamers. Some
If the Federal officials believe that Wong
Gee On is still in the State and engaged at
his old tricks, making the country the base
of his operations.
About midnight or Thursday, in a room
in the third story of 1922 Stockton street,
Agent Thomas seized two jars containing
twenty pounds Of opium and fourteen
5-tael boxes. In the room was large num-
Der of empty boxes.
The place is supposed to have been used
as place where cans were flied with opium
illicitly manufactured elsewhere. The
doors had to be broken down before the
place could be entered No arrests were
made.