The morning call., 1893-05-11

street, just off Clay street, where the
printers play" their money. One of the
attendants in the place last night said,
with grin. policeman he win most all
time" when he was asked how it was he
dared TO keep an open lottery office.
Another source Of revenue the police are
accused of having is from the Chinese for
tune-teIlers, umbrella members. shoe
makers and all classes of workmen who
have stands on the sidewalks. One of the
most prominent of the fOrtune-;ellers told
the CALL reporter yesterday that he had
to pay $40 down in cash aud give as much
as s. month in order to be allowed to
have his stand on the street. He said that
until he paid the money he was driven
here and there and everywhere. but when
he paid the "go-between" the $40 the
policeman never bothered him any more
But for the fact that the decision as to the
constituti0nality Of the Geary bill is now
pending there is no question but what the
Chinese would come forward and aid in
exposing the corruption Of the police force.
4 Chinese merchant. who had been
threatened by highbinders, told the re-
porter yesterday that he paid three police
men SOC each 10 guard his place. the Off
STORE
was situated.
1t is also said that the white men who
work with the Chinese in Chinatown are
''go-betweens," not only between the Chi
nese and the police but between the Chi
nese and fire wardens ana even higher
officials. Absolute and incontrovertible
proof exists of the fact that on two occa-
sions white men who are running business
for Chinese notified the officers that GER
tain complaints were to be made, and had
the officers raid the places complained of
before the warrants were sworn out, with
the result of finding nothing and no one.
The Chinese were never subsequently
arrested.
SO FAR as Chinatown Is concerned there
is hardly room to doubt that some Of the
police are paid to wink at garing viola
tons of law When it is possible for a
civilian TO find in one afternoon all the
gambling anc lottery places mentioned
above. it seems strange that officers on the
beat every day could not find one of them.
Not only did THE CALLS reporter visit
the places mentioned by number, but he
had other people visit tbem-thus, In a
way, keeping faith with the Chinese, to
whom he always told that he had friends"
who wanted to play lottery, and would
come If it was safe.
II is unfortunate that in prosecuting any
case in which Chinese are involved the
testimony of Chinaman is given little or
no weight by judge, jury or the public
The fact remains, however, that lottery
agencies and gambling-houses are in full
blast all over the city and that certain
Chinese boast Of the fact that none of their
customers need be afraid of being molested
by the police The answers 1--WE pay"
and I'VE have paid" are significant and
the fact that the Chinese do not hesitate
to refer luquirers to Big Jim and Little
Pete as the parties who arrange things"
shows that the business of securing pre-
lection or at least immunity from police
interference in Chinese gambling-houses
has been brought down to a system.
In former days the Chinese were very
careful about the wording OF their lottery
signs In order to avoid their capture by
tho police. The signs generally read,
Golden rewards await the venturesome,"
Great gains for those who risk little"
ETC., but yesterday a CALL reporter was
shown the signs. which translated by a
Celestial. read, Lottery tickets OF all
companies" and LOTTERY tickets, come
aud buy" This is, to say the least, rather
bold, and yet 1t is in keeping with the
state Of things charged by those who de-
clare that there is regular pool in China
town which provides money to see that the
laW-breaker5 get police protection"