The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-07-10
FEDERAL LAW FOR All 500
United States Courts Penalty
for the Sale of Chi
neSe Girls.
Similar Case of Lee Kun Wing and
Sentence of the Pretended
Mother.

Assistant United States Attorney Bert
Schlesinger in discussing the case of the
attempted sale of All 500, the seven-year-
old child rescued by and now in the care
of the Methodist Episcopal Chinese Mis-
sion, said:
If complaint should be made in the United
States court the case will be vigorously pros
ecuted. Whether it is shown that the girl was
broughtto this country or is held by any one
for immoral purposes, or for any service, the
culprit is amenable to the law and the penalty
is heavy one.
Mr.. Schlesinger cited the law as follows
Under the act of March 8, 1875, it is provided
that the importation into the United States of
women for the purposes OF prostitution is here
by forbidden, and all contracts and agreements
in relation thereto made in advance or in pur-
Suence Of such illegal importation and pur-
poses are hereby declared void and whoever
shall knowingly and willfully import, or cause
any importation OF women into the United
States for the purposes of prostitution or shall
knowingly or willfully hold or attempt to hold
any women to such purposes in pursuance of
such illegal importation and contract or agree
ment, shall be deemed guilty of felony and
on conviction thereof, shall be imprisoned not
exceeding five years and pay fine not exceed
ing $4,000.
The fact that the child was held by
brothel-keepers would go far to show the
intent of those making the sale. but if that
could not be established, the following law
relating to slavery would apply" said Mr..
Schlesinger:
Section 5377, Revised Statutes of the United
States-Every person who brings within the
jurisdiction of the United States, in any man
ner whatsoever any negro, mulatto, or person
OF color, from any foreign kingdom or country
or from sea, or holds, sells, or otherwise dis
poses OF, any negro, mulatto or person of color
so brought in, as q slave. or TO be held to sery-
ice or labor, shall be fined not more than ten
thousand dollars, nor less than one thousand,
one-half to the of the United States and
the other half to the use of the party who
prosecutes the indictments to effect and,
moreover, shall suffer imprisonment at hard
labor not more than seven years, nor less than
three years.
A similar case to that of little All 500
was the attempted sale of Lee Kun Ying,
a 15-year-old Chinese girl. The Presby-
terrain Mission on Sacramento street res
cued the girl when It was learned that
notices offering her for sale were posted in
the Chinese quarter. Hor Shee, who
claimed to be her mother, caused a writ
of habeas corpus to be issued by the Su-
perior Court. The mission brought the
matter to the attention of the United
States court by bringing suit against Hor
Shee for perjury in swearing that she was
the girls mother. She was convicted and
sent TO San Quentin, where she is serving
term of three years. The girl was de-
ported year ago and is now under the
care of missionaries at Hongkong
The trial to settle the question of the
guardianship of the child has been post
poned I'LL 10 A. NJ. tomorrow. If the
guardianship is awarded to the mission
vigorous measures will be taken probably
in the United States court for the prosecu-
ton of the offenders.
When the habeas corpus case was called