The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-03-18

CHOICE WEAPONS SELECTED By
PROFESSIONAL ASsAsSINS.

Fashionable Styles in Murder-Art
Shown in Carrying Concealed Re-
volvers-Where Chinese Purchase
the Firearms Used IN Their Fights.
From the San Francisco Examiner.
The highlander is as much a product Of San
! Francisco as is the hoodlum. The difference be-
/ tween them is less in kind than IN degree. Both
are wantonly cruel and given to excuses Of
many sorts. but the white congener does not so
/ generally resort to extremes in his assaults
upon respectable citizens, who are almost fn-
| VsriAbly his victims. The Chinese hvOdlum
rarely NEEDLES with any reputable mau of his
race Tie gambling establishments and the
houses IN which women are gathered are his
chosen places for blackmailing and in enforcing
his demands the pistol is used or the Ratchet or
fighting bar, " as may be most handy.
His fighting, when plying his trade among
those whom he blackmails endaugers no lives
| but such as are already beyond the pale, but
when the various highlander societies settle dbl
ferences their fighting men meet on the streets
and always use firearms. Very often non-pAr-
Elephants are shot aud at all times there IL dan
ger, because the fierce wretches become utterly
reckless and send their bullets flying promis-
cuously. they have learned the capacity for
harm which lies IN the revolver, and always use
That weapon when disseminating or fighting
other binders"
THE PISTOLS USED.
When a Chinaman buys pair of boots be
selects the largest to b8 had, because he gets
more leather for his money. In buying pistol
only those OF the largest caliber suit him, and
OF those he purchases the most superior. No
cheap affair can be sold to a highlander, A Colt
6-5hooter of a or IS cAliber divides with tbs
smith & Wesson, the Remington and the MeP-
win & Hurlburt his esteem but all must shoot
the cartridges ordinarily prepared for in
TlLleS. A a the AdOlhl9 action n
preferred, for the reason that highlander shoot
lugs are always hurriedly done so that police
interference may be avoided and the fighters
get under cover in the labyrinths of Chinatown.
The weapons are never bought directly by the
men who will use them Several gun stores are
located almost within the bounds Of Chinatown.
one on Clay street, near Brennan place, is
much affected by highlander buyers, aud an
other firm on Washington street, near Kearny,
sell many heavy pistols for the slauZhters in the
alleys. Several OF the Chinese merchants deal
In pistols of the approved pattern. and in Baker
alley there Is a curious department. store"
which is partly given up to hardware and fire.
arms and the rest to pawnbroking. 1t is a tum.
bic down shop presided over by a weakened old
Cinnamon who remains strictly neutral as to
the warning highlander societies They can all
buy pistols from him aud pawn them at his
place when the immediate occasion for use has
passed.
BOUGHT TO USE
The arms are rarely purchased until a man
has been doomed TO death or a flight between
respectable looking Chinaman perhaps a mer-
chant. visits gun shop, and with the utmost
care selects one or more revOlvers Of the largest
size. The pistols are critically examined as to
the pull certainty of action in the cylinders,
and the length of the point on the hammer
which strikes the primer and discharges the
she'll
Nearly all of those purchased have long
barrels, IN inches, and are arms intended
for navy army use, and to be
carried in holsters. But the Highlander hss no
use for holster. When he takes up the pistol
1t Is to XIII some man within a few minutes, and
mayhap on short notice. so he must have his
weapon where it can be gripped and put into
action instantly. The peculiar dress of the
ChlneSe especially favors the murderOus
binder" in cOncealing the pistol and yet have
1t under command. The long, flowing sleeves
OF the outer garment worn on the street by all
Chinese serve double purpose on the high
binder
UP HIS SLEEVE.
Often the assassin detailed to kill some fauci-
ful enemy or opponent of a tong" straps his
revolver TO his forearm by rubber band or
other fastening from which the weapon can be
simultaneously disengaRed. The pistol lies
along the inner portion of the arm, where it can
be carried without attracting attention. II one
OF the Chinatown detectives chances on purpose
| to orusl strongly against the binder in pass
| ing nothing is felt Of the weapon that is ready
Tor use as soon as the man marked for death
appears
At other times, when waiting about for a
street fight TO begin or when walking from a
| tong house to some battle ground, the pistol is
carried IN the Waistband of the trousers, where
Il can be quickly reached by lifting the blouse
In cold weather IL sometimes becomes neces-
sary, under the highlander code, to put a man
TO death, and then the assassin NAV take his
o-shooter in the hand aud conceal it by turning
down his long sleeves. That way OF carving
the pistol is considered equally as desirable with
the manner also affected In cold seasons, when
the binder covers his hands by hiding them
| in his sleeves as ladies use a muff One hand
holds WI ba y7iCt
| stolen upon the weapon is merely pushed against
! the cloth and fired through it . No one sees the
pistol aud 1t is easy for the murderer to escape
| in the excitement which always follows gun fire
! i'll Chinatown.
| Searching a Chnaman is matter quite diff
| ferent TO tnat of going through one in civilized
| dress. Anywhere from five to twelve garments
| covering the trunk must be closely examined.
! to make sure that no deity concealed pocket
| holds weapon Sometimes beneath half.
! dozen blouses a coat of mail or an arnor of
| quilted paper Is found, either being impervious
| to bullets.
If the desperate Mongols were expert marks
men there might be less objection to their pis-
| tol practice on each other, but they are noto.
| riously erratic shots,
THEY STOPPED PRACTICE
A few years ago certain shooting galleries Of
! the city were frequented by Chinese but when
| playful white man one day killed one of the
/ yellow marksmen instead of aiming AT the
| regular target, the Chinese patronage ceased
! have not yet learned to handle firearms prop
| SrlE
! When they hold the pistol at arms length
| they nearly always turn the face away at the
| instant of firing, A highlander who can remain
| complacent among the reports OF a thousand
! big trecrackers shrinks from looking through
| the sights OF his pistol until the lead has been
| sent on its mission OF death.
| Sometimes the murderers grasp the pistol
| with both hands and by using the double action
discharge four or five shots in half that number
| OF seconds rest across the arm is a favorite
| position and one of the most effective, since it
| permits something like steady aim although It
| is said that the highlander never keeps his ewes
| open when the pistol is discharged.
| No remedy at law has been effective in pre-
| venting resort to arms by the highbinders
| Fines of $3.50 have been imposed for carving
! concealed weapons and within twenty-four
| hours dozen binders" were fighting with
! pistols on the street The rule recently made
| by Chief Crowley may operate to lessen the
| danger to pedestrians about Chinatown. be-
| cause every Chinese arrested at the scene of a
| shooting will be compelled to defend himself in
| court as principal and pay attorneys fees
HaFpfnfpra hoa bsaar