The San Francisco call., 1896-07-22
LEE YIP DOCK THE
HEAVY VILLAIN,
He Is the Chief Actor in the
Chinatown Trag-
edy.
CHINESE TRIUMVIRATE.
All the Trouble Arose on Ac.
count of the Two Lee
Factions.
THE STATEMENT OF Jow LOOK
Three Bah On Tong Hatchetmen Now
En1eavoring TO Earn More
Blood Money.

Murder will out" The truth of this
saying has never been more fully exem-
plihed than in the case of the murder of
poor Lee Ii, who met his death at the
hand of an assassin while standing in the
doorway of 35 Waverley place.
The facts in the case have at last come
TO light despite highbinders, influential
merchants and threats of dire end to
those who dared to breath a word of the
true facts. 1t is now seen that Lee I'll
met his death not because of the See Yup-
Sam Yup feud, but for stronger reasons
and personal enmity more deep-seated
than that between two great organizations
could possibly be.
Moreover, the fact is made manifest that
others are in danger of meeting the same
dire end and all on account of the maIevo-
lence and overmastering desire of one man
TO be the local Chinese Gar. In this wish
he was abetted by two others whose names
are intimately commingled with his in the
plan that laid the unsuspecting Lee Tt be-
meath the sod.
In the first place the companies in
volved are the Kung Chow, the wealthiest
and most influential of the Chinese Six
Companies, and the Bah On Tong, one of
the highbinder societies which has been
responsible for much of the trouble the
police has had with the Chinese.
Lee Yip Dock is a member of the Kung
Chow, and the Chinese assert that he is
also a member OF the Bah On Tong. Not
only that, but it is asserted with equal
positiveness that he is the leader, and
really exercises far more authority than
the president, who plays the role of figure
head.
Now the Kung Chow is composed of
four families, known as the Lee, Lum,
Chin and Wong families. Each of these
is allowed to name the president in turn.
Before the present ruler, Lee Lun Yung.
occupied the position it was filled by a
member of the Lum family. The last
time the Lee family had the naming of
the president.
The Lee family, however, is divided into
two separate factions-one under the di-
rection and goyernorship of Lee Nee Toy,
the other under Lee Zip Dock. Lee Mee's
faction numbers about 1000 men, while
Lee Yip's support is limited to only fif-
teen men. Astounding as it may seem, so
great is Lee Yip's generalship and shrewd-
ness that he has managed with the aid of
the Bah On Tong TO control nearly every
election occurring in the Kung Chow.
The Kung Oh ow Company has twelve
directors, who are supposed to direct the
policy of the body. The candidate put up
by Lee Zip, whose name was Lee Lun
Yuen, was elected as president by this
board, partly on account of Lee Yips in
fiuence presumably, partly because he was
regarded as 8 dangerous man to antago-
nize on account of his known affiliation
with the Bah On Tong and partly because
the ex-Chinese Consul, Ii Wing Yu, took
hand and supported him.
Despite the strength of Lee Nee Toys
faction he was entirely unable to with
stand the force of this unwarranted inter-
ference Of the Chinese Consul.
The bitterness caused by the election of
Lee Lun Yuen was still further increased
by another incident, which occurred only
two weeks ago.
Then the policeman OF the Kung Chow,
named Chin Look, died under peculiar
circumstances. Lee Zip Dock came for
ward with list of ten names, from which
he wished new policeman to be chosen.
Every one of the men on the list was a
member of the Bah On Tong.
In accordance with the usual custom
Lee Nee Toy brought forward the name of
one man, Lin Sum, who was formerly
Interpreter for the Chinese Merchants
Exchange, and very desirable on account
of his good knowledge of English and his
general reputation as man of trustworthi
ness and integrity.
Lee Zip Dock at once made great ado
and wanted the matter referred TO his old
friend. the Chinese Consul, Ii Wing Yu.
Lee Nee Toy vigorously objected to any
such proceeding The matter he said.
was OF small importance, and even if il
were not the Chinese Consul had inter-
meddled enough aIreaoy with their affairs.
In this stand Lee Nee Toy was actively
re-enforced by all the members of the Lee
family belonging to the Kung Chow Com
pany, who contended that the Lee family
only had the right to select the succe ssor
of Chin Look.
The disinterestedness of Lee Nee Toy is
evident from the fact that Chin Look is
not a member of the Lee family, and
therefore conld have been selected only on
account of his peculiar qualifications.
An active rupture was precipitated by
some members of the Lee family accusing
Lee Nee Toy of degrading the presidential
chair by favoring the motions of Lee Zip
Dock. The president rose up in his dig
nifty and with wrathful mien asserted
that the matter should be referred to the
Consul, Ii Wing Yu.
Several members of. the Bah On Tong,
who were present in the interest of Lee
Zip Dock, at once began quarrel with
the friends of Lee Nee Toy and ended by
beating several of them, one of whom,
named Lee Yin, was severely injured. 1t
broke the meeting up without permitting
any decisive measures as to successor for
Chin Look.
A few days after the occurrence Lee
Gong, a relative of Lee Nee Toy, met Lee
Zip Dock on Dupont street and asked
him why it was he did not sanction the
election of a successor to Chin Look with
out dragging the meddlesome Ii Wing Yu
into the matter. Lee Yip's answer was
torrent of abuse and heavy blow.
Lee Gong necessarily was obliged to re-
1rain from retaliation by the TACT OF his
abuser's age. gray hairs being an excuse