The morning call., 1893-12-22
The Lawyers Try to Trap the
Man but Fail.
4 JURY THAT DISAGREED.
The Identity of the Tenpter Is
Known-EffortS to Be Made
to Arrest Him.

Federal courts of this city was discovered
yesterday during the trial of the case of
the United States against GOoeY On oil
31h Waverly place. So bold was the at
tempt that the jury agent mingled with the
United States attorneys, Deputy United
States marshals, newspaper reporters and
others interested in the case, and ap-
preached his would-be victim in the open
hallway, and within earshOt of the court
room where his case was being tried.
But for the timidity of the Chinese ap-
preached the briber would now be behind
the bars. He is known, however. and the
identity of the juror whose vote he pre-
sumed to sell is believed to be established.
and it is hoped that within o day or two
one if not both of them will be in custody.
To fully understand the crime at
TEN pied. review of the case that made
the offer to bribe possible is necessary.
In August last 3. NJ. Thomas. one of the
special agents of the Internal Revenue De-
partment, received information that crude
opium was being manufactured into smok-
ing opium in the basement OF 512 Waverly
place. A search of the premises revealed
the opium furnaces yet warm when
found; dippers, labels, boxes and even
labels for prepared opium.
lundt6ly uuQtE Ol 12
Waverly place was divided, and 1t was
and is question whether or not Gooey
On, who occupied the storeroOm at the
number given, was engaged In cooking
opium, or whether it was other persons
who had access to the basement from an
adjoining stoTeroOm. Sufficient evidence
was secured by Mr.. Thomas in Gooey On's
store, however, to lead him TO believe
that the firm named were guilty of cook
ing the drug, and consequently, under the
law. be seized their whole stock of goods,
consisting of Chinese merchandise, etc. A
bond was given at once by the Chinese in
500 for the release of their stock, and the
suit before Judge Morrow was really to
cause the forfeiture OF this bond or the
goods which it represented, in punish
ment, and to reimburse the Government
for the Illicit traffic in opium as conducted
by the firm, providing they should be
proved guilty of converting the crude
drug into the smoking drug.
A jury to try the case was easily secured
and the majority OF the twelve mem bers
were business men so well known and of
such high standing that 10 associate with
them even in thought anything except
strict performance Of their duty under
their oath was not TO be for moment
considered. But there was one man on
the jury. whose reputation was not above
reproach, and botn Assistant United
States District Attorney Witter, who
prosecuted the case, and Lyman +. Mowry,
the attorney who defended, were so suspi-
cious OF him that they concluded to adopt
the OLD adage that ''it does not hurt an
honest man to watch him." and conse-
quently placed him under espionage. He
was too sharp, however, to be caught aud
W hen the case went to the jury yesterday
morning both sides were satisfied that 30
Juror had been fixed"
They were right. No juror had been
fixed, but there was one that wanted to be.
Just after the jury retired Wong Fook. a
member of the Gooey On firm. and a
Chinese who speaks excellent English,
was approached by white man, who said
to him:
well. the case is going against you
sure"
''Ob, guess not" said Fook. We've
got a good lawyer and he knows"
but, said the man, lit isn't always
safe to trust tolawyers. l can fix the Jury
for you. You give me $50 and l will fix
the jury so it won't gree"
"Huh," said Fook. you must think
Chinaman heap fool. How you going to
fix jury now? They're out. They NAV
come in any minute and say l am not
guilty."
Don't you worry. The jury will be
back in minute oil two to ask for in
structions. You pay me $3.50 and when
they come out I'll make a sign and they'll
never agree"
Fook refused to have anything to do
with the man and started to find Mr..
Mowry. just theE sure enough the Jury
men came into the courtroom and asked
that Mr.. Thomas testimony should be
read to them. The request was granted.
but 1t bothered Fook. He began to be-
lleve that the white man knew what he
was talking about. He hunted up Mr..
Mowry and told him and the two went to
Mr. Wittpr ntotriar 10
sistant. Mr.. Mowry wanted TO discharge
the jury at once, but Witter said, LET US
see If we can't catch the fellow" Fook
was told TO loaf around the Railways and
as soon as he saw the man who wanted
money to fix the jury to get him into con-
versation and have him repeat his offer.
In the meantime the jury had again re-
tired. a Chinese was engaged to watch
Fook. but the white man who had offered to
TX the jury failed TO appear. Atlunch time
Fook went down the stairs and on the way
down the white man waylaid him. Un-
fortunately no one else was near aud Fook
aid not know what TO do. The man told
him that now was his last chance. lie
called bis attention to the fact that the
Jury had come for instructions, as he said
1t would do, and added that it would not
agree before lunch, and that il Fook
wanted to save conviction he had better
pay the $50, ana that when the jury went
WV W luuCu uOs tbO VhitO bdup WUulU
make the sign.
This time, acting under instructions.
Fook did not refuse outright, but said he
would see the man again. Mowry and
Wltter were notified, but the fellow was
evidently on the alert and did not come
near FOok again.
Toward evening the jurors came into
court and announced they could not
agree. 1t was impossible to obtain state
ment as to how the vote stood on ver-
dict. several jurors being asked and refus-
ing to give the information.
When the result OF the trial was made
known 1t was hoped that the man who
wanted the money would go up to Fook's
place and demand payment and a close
watch was kept until midnight On the
store. but without result. Fortunately a
portion Of the first conversation with Fook
and the fellow regarding the money was
overheard by Official Interpreter Harry
Huf, who, however. failing to compre-
hend its significance, went about his busi-
ness without paying any attention 10 the
white man. So sure are both Mr.. Mowry
and Mr.. Witter that they know the man
that they will take means to have him
identified.