The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-06-02
CHINESE GIRLS
SPIRITED AWAY.
Peculiar Legal Plot for a
Grand Jury 1nves-
tigation.
THE LAW A CATS PAW.
Two Refugees Arrested, Bailed
Out and Taken Back
to Slavery.
CASE IN CAMPBELLS COURT.
Chinese Had Counsel Hired for Both
Sides to Battle the Presby.
terrain Home.

A questionable legal proceeding that
will be brought to the attention OF the
Grand Jury was exposed yesterday in
Police Judge Campbell's court.
Two Chinese girls who recently escaped
from their dens of slavery and sought the
protection of the Presby terrain Mission
Home have mysteriously disappeared
after being taken from the home TO the
California police station on a charge of
grand larceny preferred by one of the
denizens of Chinatown. The story of their
fleeing voluntarily to the home and asking
protection from their masters is fresh in
the minds of newspaper readers, for it oc-
CURED only last Tuesday.
Thursday afternoon about a o'clock an
officer visited the home with a warrant
charging Gong Ho and Suey King, the
names by which the young girls were
known, with grand larceny, the complaint
alleging that tie bracelets worn by them
were stoleu from a Chinese store. Miss
Cuibertson, matron OF the home, followed
the girls to the police station and left
orders not to permit them TO be bailed out
for fear their bondsmen might prove to be
Chinese, who would put up the small
amount simply to gain possession of them.
Friday morning Henry E. Monroe, for
years the attorney for the Presbyterian
Mission Home, repaired to the City Hall
at the request OF Miss Cllbertson, who had
notified him that mis- services were needed
to defend the two girls. On arriving in
court Miss Culbertson and the attorney
were surprised to learn that lawyer
named Mogau was present, as he de-
clared, as counsel for tine girls. Ex-Judge
Dibble was on hand as special prosecut-
ing attorney. He asked for continuance
for two days and his request was granted.
The girls were not in court, but Miss
Culbertson was given TO understand that
they were III a neighporing room. An in
vestigation proved this assertion TO be
false. Further inquiry revealed the fact
that the girls had been bailed out of the
police station at 2:30 o clock that morn
ing. The clerk of the court was applied
to for a record of the bond, for Judge
Campbell had signed the release, but it
was not available. Wong Dong, the Chi
nese employed to pass upon such bonds,
said he had not seen any for this particu-
lar case.
Yesterday the case was called again in
Judge Campbelfs court. The prosecuting
witness who caused the girls arrest was
not present.
Mr.. Mogan for the defense asked that
the case be dismissed, and ex-Judge Dbl
BILE, the prosecuting attorney, offered no
objection.
Judge Campbell himself took no notice
of The fact that Chinaman had caused
the arrest of two girls on a charge of fell
ony, and had then failed TO appear to sub
stantiate his grave accusation.
Just as the case was about to be tacitly
dismissed Henry Monroe, attorney for the
home, arose and addressing the court re-
lated the peculiar story. He declared that
the whole proceeding had been cut and
dried scheme by which, with apparently
legal methods, the original masters of the
girls had gained possession of their un-
willing slaves. But Judge Campbell said
he had no jurisdiction in the matter and
dismissed the case.
Miss Cubertson OF the Presbyterian
Mission Home was indignant. She said:
Thursday afternoon police officer
came here with two warrants. There were
two Cinnamon with him. / asked what
the charge was against the girls, but they
refused to state until insisted upon know
ing. Then one answered: She steal two
bracelets from my store. l asked him
when, and he said Tuesday they had
called, selected the bracelets, valued at
$40, and with his permission had taken
them home for approval.
THE girls made their escape and came
here Tuesday forenoon. l saw no brace
lets. When | questioned them they said
the only bracelets they had had were given
them by the old woman who kept the place
where they used to live. told the officer
that [ knew it was only ruse on the part
of Chinese to get the girls in the po-
lice station so that they could bail them
out and take possession of them again. [
asked particularly that bail be not accept
ed. In the evening my niece and an IN
terpreter went down to take the girls some
dinner, and orders were left not to release
them on bail. The girls were very much