St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-03-17
Frisco Police Using New Meth
DDS to Suppress the High
binders.
All Known to Belong to the
Gang Soundly Kicked and
Clubbed.
These Murderous Fellows Are
Rapidly Losing Their Old
Time Prestige.
They Are Becoming Meek
Under This Method OF
Punishment.

SAN FRANCISCO, March l6.-Never
since the Chinese first came to the Pa
cific coast have the San Francisco po-
lice been so energetic in their efforts to
suppress highbinders and their methods
as now. This action was brought about
by the fact that within the last ten days
during one of the periodical wars be-
tween the bighbinder societies three
Chinese have been shot and killed
on the streets OF Chinatown
and one fatally wounded. The
highlander societies are composed of
the disreputable and criminal Chinese
who band together and levy blackmail
on their more respectable countrymen.
One of the chief sources of their income
is the earnings of the female slaves.
The ability of the highlander to levy
blackmail depends upon his reputation
for bravery. so they do not murder i'll
secret. but do their work openly on the
streets in theatrical manner. IT they
are caught and punished by the law,
they are regarded as martyrs. Ii they
escape, as they generally do,
TEIey Are Heroes.
The present highlander war was
caused by one society encroaching on
another's preserves accordingly one of
the poachers was shot as a warning to
the others. He was not killed, but was
so seriously wounded that his society
had to have life from the other side.
According to highlander ethics, when a
member of society is killed his death
must be avenged by the killing of some
one else; it does not matter who, as
leng as he is connected with the So
ciety that started the fight. The
Society of Tong, whose man had
been wounded, therefore killed one of
their rivals. and thought they had
avenged matters, but the other side
thought differently. They had merely
wounded Il man, while one OF their
members had been killed. so they killed
one of their opponents. and the latter
retaliated in kind. There was fair
prospect that both the societies would
become eXterminated, but the danger to
the innocent people in Chinatown from
flying bullets became so great that the
police took hand and are now
Having Their Innings.
One of the highbinders was caught
red-handed after committing the last
murder. and nine others who have been
arrested on suspicion have been in
dicted by the grand jury for murder.
Usually it is extremely difficult to con-
Wet Chinese of crime unless he is
caught in the act, or the crime is wit
messed by the whites. Chinese witnesses
are afraid to testify. and friends OF the
accused have no scruples about commit
ting perjury in his behalf. This time the
police have adopted new tactics. They
realize that if the highlander is pulled
down from his pedestal as bad
man in the eyes of his c0un-
trymen, his power for eXacting
the police have been constantly raiding
Chinatown for the past few days, and
every known highlander, and those
whose looks. proclaim them such, is
searched for arms; and if none are
found, they are kicked and cuffed and
dubbed until they disappear firm sight.
Their meeting places are invaded, their
idols and decorations destroyed, and
everything known to inventive police is
done to humiliate them. AS
4 Result OF This Policy
the Chinese laborers and merchants,
who at first looked with horror at the
police daring to treat the warriors in
such manner. now boot and ieer the
discounted highlander as he is pro-
PEELED from the vigorous toe of the
policeman.
The consul general has united with
the chief of police in his efforts to crush
the hlghDinders. The Chinese consul
general is much in favor of the Chinese
method in dealing with these wretcheS.
In China the highlander is decapitated
when caught, and if he es-
capeS and refuses to surrender,
few of his nearest relatives
have their heads cut off. The consul
general is so much in earnest about the
recent killing that he is about to recon-
mend TO his government that the rela-
tiveS in China of all known San Fran
cisco highbinderS be treated in the
manner above stated. Ali proclama-
lions in Chinatown, unless they
bear the copsul's stamp, are to be
taken down. and thus one highlander
method of terrorizing will be cut OFT.
Many Chinese thugs have been arrested
as vagrantS, and the police courts will
not accept Chinese bOndSman unless
the bonds are approved by the consul
general. The highbinders are now very
meek, and the police intend to keep
them SO by maintaining a constant
espionage on the Chinese quarter, keep
ing it cleared of the highlander element.