The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-09-02
The Assistant District Attorney
on Wong Sans Char.
acter.
ARGUMENT OF COUNSEL BEGUN
Defendant Accused of Having Depos'
tied $4,000 in Bank Within
Three Months.

The testimony in the Williams case was
concluded yesterday and the argument OF
counsel was begun.
The days proceedings opened with In
spector Ben Harrison on the stand. The
witness swore that the only exception to
the rule requiring written reports CD all
Chinese cases Investigated were in those
instances when Williams had charge.
Harrison further said that defendants
reputation for truth, honesty and veracity
was bad. 1t was also developed that the
landing certificate of Chin Shee Hung had
been made out by TobIn, and that Will
liams had examined the:Chinese on board
the steamer.
The prosecution then called United
States Commissioner Heacock, Rev. Fred
erick Masters, pastor of the Chinese Mis-
sion, Rev. Ira Condit, Chinese mission
airy, and Deputy Collector Tobin, all testi-
Tying that the general reputation OF
Williams was bad. On cross-examination
Mr.. Condit said the character OF Wong
Sam was also bad.
Collector Wise was then recalled for the
defense. He said that in 1898 one hun
bred and twenty-seven females arrived, in
which there were only eight written
reports. He said also that Will
hams, during the period named, had
no connection with the women cases."
Continuing he said that the records
show that in 1894 ITO female Chinese
arrived and FIVE reported in writing. In
1895 seVenty-one women arrived, on which
sixteen reports were written by the in
spectors and twenty-four by various other
officials.
when did you examine the records"
questioned Mr.. Henley.
Last night" was the reply, because
in my Office Major Moore ="
Never mind what Major Moore said, !"
interrupted Mr.. Henley.
"WelI," continued the Collector, 1.-THE
statement was made that Williams had
charge OF those cases and L want to
show"
At this point Judge Morrow interrupted
the Collector anu asked him to answer
only the questions put to him.
At the conclusion OF Mr.. Wise's testimony
the defense and prosecution announced
that no further evidence was at hand and
the case tor and against was announced as
closed.
Assistant United States District Attorney
Schlessinger addressed the jury. RYpaid
particular attention to the ate mpt of the
defense to show the bad character of
Wong Sam. Among other things he said !:
This case is in a meaure dependent upon
Chinese testimony. The crimes charged upon
the defendant consist Of transactions with the
members of that race. The defendants bust
ness associates were Chinese. They had to be
brought here as witnesses, and are entitled to
the same credit as other witnesses; but an
effort has been made to impeach the repu-
tation OF one OF the principal witnesses for the
Government, Wong sam. The Government
asserts that he has not been impeached; that
his testimony is corroborated by the uncontra-
dicted circumstances OF the case, and his evil
dence should therefore be considered; how
ever, if Wong Sam stands before this jury in
an unfavorable light, our answer is, that he
was the business associate of this defendant.
He does not deny his share in the transactions.
The Government does not contend that Wong
Sam stands in this community Tor high moral
integrity, but he is exactly the person you
could expect to find as the partner in crime OF
this defendant Williams selected him, and it
is with bad grace that he now attempts to
Dlacken his reputation.
Williams contends that he had money be-
fore his appointment as Chinese inspector.
Do you believe it If he had had money
MONEY would he in his conversation with Van
Pelt have made the remark, This business
Will be godsend?"
Mr.. SchIessinger then reviewed at length
the testimony offered by the defense, as
compared with that OF the prosecution.
In conclusion he said:
Ireiterate, gentlemen, that the Chinese tes-
timony for the Government in this case is
corroborated by circumstances unexplainable,
the delay in the landings, the absence of the
reports and another circumstance, perhaps the
lHbsb VI Ill, " WHICH Will now al
vert. During the period of time set out in this
indictment, period of three months. the de-
fendant's deposits in banks of this City
amounted TO nearly $4,000. The mathema-
tlcian does not live who can account for the
poss ession of so much money on the basis OF
the salary received by the defendant; and If
he was the honest, active and fearless officer it
is Claimed, he cou ID not have made it in out
side business. Can you reconcile your con-
sciences with the facts concerning this
money? Are you not convinced that during
the period set out in this indictment Williams
was eXtorting and extorting extensively?
The Government, with modesty, has put his
extortions at an amount far below the true
sum. as shown by these deposits.
Attorney Coogan, for the defense, then
began his argument. He contended that
no case had been made out against Will
liams, and that he was a prosecuted in
stead of prosecuted man.
Mowry followed in similar strain, and
when 4 O'clock came he was still speaking.
He will conclude this morning, and then
Mr.. Henley will close for the prosecution.
1t is expected that a verdict will be
reached some time to-day.