The San Francisco call., 1896-07-23

he refuses to see any visitors, his en-
ployes going so far as to deny that the
person referred to lives there. At 74O
Commercial street is another man, full
feet 10, who trembles when the front
door suddenly opens and who denies his
identity to all strangers.
The first person referred to is Joe Gan,
keeper of a Chinese Tquor-house, and the
second Lee Nee Toy, proprietor of gen.
eral store. omebody-iust who is not
definitely known-has offered a reward of
$500 for the death of either of these men.
or $1,000 if both die by a murderer's hand.
So frightened are these men that not for
the whole world would they show them
selves on the street at night time. and
even under the glare of the MONDAYS sun
the trust themselves in their own domi-
Giles only as far as the glass doors which
lead to the busy thoroug hfares outside.
1t seems strange tn at such things could
exist in a civilized community, yet one
has only to atte mpt to see either of the
two persons ma med to prove its correct
ness. 1t is generally supposed that police
men patrol Chinatown. and incidentally
keep a watchful eye on such people, but
they are either not doing this or the CHI
nese entertain greater fear of the hatchet-
men than respect for the ability of the
blue-coated gentle men to protect them.
The cause of this unseemIy condition of
affairs is found in an internal warfare
which has been going on in the Kong
Chew asylum for the last three weeks. Al
that time Lee Lun Coon, Chinese only
twelve months from the Flowery King
dom, was elec ted president of the Kong
Chew asylum. His cause was espoused bv
Lee Zip Duck. one of the most power.
full merchants in Chinatown. His infu-
ence was sufficient to cause the election OF
Coon.
The recent importation did not secure
the presidency without a struggle. how
ever. Joe Gen and Lee Nee Toy bitterly
opposed him, claiming that. the asylum
needed man who was fsmi1iar with local
conditions. Coon, according to their idea,
did not I'LL the bill. In any event, the an
tagonism of Gan and Toy aroused the
enmity of Lee Yip Duck. The latter's
anger became unbearable when the two
merchants went on the bond of Chinese
accused of robbery, and who, it may be
stated, had opposed the presidency of Lee
Lun Coon. An attempt was made to oust
the Offenders from the Kong Chew asy-
lum, but the effort failed.
Then IL was that somebody offered a re-
ward of $500 for the head of either Gan or
Toy, or $1,000 for both. Lee Yong and Lee
\ i'm were also placed under the ban, the
price for the death of either being fixed at
$500.
Sunday night Lee Tie was murdered on
Waverly place. Ock Wah being arrested
some hours later and accused of the crime.
| Tie is cousin of Lee Nee Toy and a mem
ber of the Kong Chew asylum The sus-
pected murderer is member or the same
! association. 1t will be seen, th erefore
that the fight is purely one OF the Kong
Chew asylum people, and not of the Sam
Yups and See Yups, as first supposed.
Last night the Chinese Merchants As
sociation held meeting at which it was
determined to make an effort to find the
| man or men who offered the reward for
the death of Gan, Toy, Gong and Vim.
They are satisfied it emanated from the
| supporters OF Lee Lun Coon, the presi-
| dent of the Kong Chew asylum. They
believe that the death of Tie was prompted
by desire to get back at Gan and Toy,
and incidentally kill off the man who had
opposed Coon. 1t is believed that more
than one man was concerned in the muir
der OF Tie. The Chinese Merchants AS
sociation is now bending It's energies In
discovering the second and possibly third
man.
Ock Wah, the Chinese highlander
charged with the murder of Lee Tie, was
arraigned before Judge Joachimsen yes
Ierday morning and his preliminary ex-
animation was set for next Tuesday.
The Chinese merchants have great con-