Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-28
POLICE AND FAN.TAN.
Investigating the Work of the Finest
in Chinatown.

in Chinatown.
The Lexow committee, Investigating the
charges against the police department in
New York. after recess yesterday took a
trip to Chinatown. 1t was q pleasant change
from Bohemia and the Tenderloin. Wong
Get acted as guide and initiated the sena-
tors into the mysteries Of fan-tan. He is
rather an intelligent-looking celestial and
spoke English fairly well IN jerky sentences.
His testimony dragged in that famous
character Tom Lee. the mayor OF New
York's Chinatown. He said on April Is he
went to Chinatown to drop his money in
the fascinating game of fan-tan. While
playing Ward Detective O'Rourke of the
sixth precinct burst the door down and
gathered in all the money. He did not ar
rest any one. but yelled. Get to HI out OF
here!
All the fan-tan players except Wong Get
stood not on the order of their going. Wong
Get told the detective that he should raid
other places. The detective professed to
agree. Wong Get took him to Is Mott street.
where Tom Lee had an office on the second
floor. The witness swore Tom Lee had a
game running. but Detective O'Rourke. when
he found out who was to be raided waited
until the door had been shut and the fam
tan apparatus removed.
Then he knocked at the door and told
Wong Get that there was no gang there In
O few moments the door opened. Some
Cinnamon rushed out and made a murder
Gus assault on him with a blackjack in the
presence of the detective. who did not raise
finger to interfere. He would have been
killed, he said. IL some Of his own friends
had not arrived on the scene. Lee Toy. one
Of the assailants, was subsequently ar
rested.
Lawyer Moss. who conducted the direct
tna ion 10 hrp n,,ft hat Ton,
Lee and his gambling guarantee society"
had succeeded in having the case postponed
in the Tombs police court. and, finally, Lee
Toy discharged without trial. Then the
witness told him his Chinese enemies had
put up a job on his friends and how the
witness believed the police had favored his
enemies.
He said last January he ran a fan-tan
for protection Tom Lee Is a deputy
sheriff and would fash his gold badge on the
Cinnamon when they would not pay. One
day last winter he was raided by Warden
Harrington, who smashed in the door and
threw the fan-tan game out OF the window.
Then Tom Lee was appealed to by Wong
Get.
Il demanded to know of him why 1 was
raided, said the witness, when l had paid
SIG a week for protection. He gave me s.
for the damaged property and said to open
up again. That day Detective harrington
came and, with screWdriver. put up the
Did you tell me that you were in fear Of
your life?"
Eyes, SIR" answered the witness.
Ex-Judge Ransom did not cross-examine.
John Z. OFT Of Williamsbridge followed.
He paid $500 to Jacob J. Latus. a 14th street
cloak manufacturer, to Secure his appoint
ment on the police force. Latus also paid
Charles Flynn. tailor Of 1888 Hudson street,
who had influence.
That was many moons ago. and when
Flynn's influence went astray and Latus
refused to refund the $3OO the witness de-
cided that he would seek redress at the
hands Of the Lexow committee. The wit
ness had q stupid manner that tried the pa
tience of Mr.. Gof.
Thomas Beatty, who resigned from the
police force in September. 1871. after thirty
two years of service. testified that a captain
had cnce wanted him to be ward man,
but he declined, knowing the duties of one.
He Is now a special officer in the New York
Life Insurance Company. He denied fur
nishing money to buy appointments.
John II. Gunner, whose father was captain
Of the twenty-tifth precinct took the stand
and admitted that II was common rumor
that his fathers successor had paid $lS.UUO
for his appointment. He did not offer to
furnish any corroborative evidence to this
effect The successor was Capt. Schmitt-
berger.
Carlos Carmelita, fruit dealer of West
and Cortlandt streets, said he paid s2UU in
installments to wardmen.
John j. OBrien formerly was janitor Of
fats on 80th street between eth and Sth ave-
nues. The madame of house implored him
to cease his complaints, as each time the
police Of the West 3Ith street station put
up the price for protection"
F. NJ. Dudley of 179 Reade street, a pro-
duce merchant, used to pay Wardman Kelly
$25 year for permission to break the law
In placing goods on the sidewalk.
Mr.. Goff, at s o'clock, asked for an ad-
journment, which was granted.