The morning call., 1893-03-12
HIGHBiNDER WAR.
Many Peaceable Chinese
Organizing.
CRUSHING OUT LAWLEssNEss
Rewards Offered for the Arrest &
Murderers-A Breach of an
Agreement.

Quietness reigned In Chinatown yester-
day.
This was due in a measure to the whole
sale arrests the previous night. but chiefly
to certain prcelamations issued by the Chi
nese Consul General.
Wherever these proelamations we're posted
up crowds of Chinese were to be seen all
day eagerly perusing their contents.
The prOclamatiOns were, in effect, offerin g
the following rewards: $500 for the arrest
ana conviction OF any Chinese on the charge
of murder in the first degree; $500, murder in
the second degree, and 5000, manslaughter.
Also offering a reward of 500 for the arrest
and conviction of ten noted highbinders,
who are known TO be The instigators of the
present uprising.
Several leading merchants who have been
cOurageou enough to refuse to join any of
the niThblndeF societies held two meetings
yesterday. 1t was decided to notify all
merchants who have become members OF
these societies. either through compulsion
or inclination. that if they do not give up
their membership within thirty days they
will be classed by the respectable Chinese
element as highbnders and be amenab BILE 10
all the pains and penalties to which that
criminal class will in future be subjected.
organization composed of all the reputable
Chinese, with the object of crushing these
highlander societies and aiding the police
In every lawful manner 10 compel obedi-
ence to the law in Chinatown.
1t is universally admitted that the aspect
of affairs was never more serious in China
town than Rt present, and that it is abso-
lutelv necessary to adopt heroic measures
to- successfully cope with the impending
crisis.
The struggle between the reputable and
lawleSs elements has commenced, and il
will be interesting to watch developments
and see which Will come out on top.
Twelve of the twenty highbinders ar
rested on Friday on the charges of vagrancy
ana visiting house of i'll repute swere
released on bonds yesterday morning
1t was agreed at the conference on Friday
that hereafter no bond will be accepted by
any Police Judge or clerk of Police Court
for any Chinese arrested unless 1t is first
acrepted by the Chinese Consul General,
and that in future the highest cash or bond
will be required in all cases.
Within twenty-four hours afterwaid this
agreement was broken in the cases of the
twelve hlRhoinders released yesterday
morning.
The highest ball for vagrancy is $500 and
Tor visiting house Of Ill repute $3.50,
together $50. The bail for each OF the
twelve was fixed at $50 on each Of the
charges or $500 altogether.
This was direct breach OF the agreement,
but another important point was either
wilfully or accidentally overlooked, viz
the acceptance of the bonds by the Consul
General.
This latter condition was sort of guar
anty that the man arrested was not one of
the criminal class. and as a guide to the no.
lice that they would not hold others than
highbinderS.
II the work Of suppressing the high5ind-
ers is to be carried on effectively it is essen.
tial mat all should act in concert aud leave
no loophOle for escape, as has apparently
been done in the twelve cases referred to.