The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-09-17
How Willy zee Gee Has
Manufactured Ger
tifiCateS.
Has uggIed in a Thousand
of His Countrymen at
$3.50 a Head.
s artling Revelations Made by the
Treasury OIflciais-Interest
Corresponds

SEATTLE, WASH, Sept. 16-The United
States treasury officials showed their hands
to-day at the preliminary hearing OF Yee
Gee, charged with conspiring to illegally
land Chinese in the United States.
The hearing has not yet ended, but suf
ficient evidence was presented to show
tLat while cx-ColIector of Customs J. C.
Saunders and his corps OF deputies were
apparently at work night and day hunt
ing for contraband Cinnamon and
smuggled opium, zee Gee, the Collectors
interpreter, was bringing his countrymen
into the United States by the wholesale,
and on certificates which he forged.
The treasury officials have seized doz-
ems OF letters which completely EXPOSE
the conspiracy, and over his own sigma
ture the clever interpreter admits that he
has landed almost a thousand Cinnamon
in this country.
Every one was passed by ex-Collector
Saunders and are now scattered about the
United States, each with forged certifi-
cate that would pass for genuine under
the eye of Gov rnment official trained
in the knowledge of Chinese erookedness.
Yee Gee dealt with a San Francisco
house and Victoria house. In one letter
he states that he struggled in $40 China
men for the San Francisco firm, receiving
$3.50 for each.
They came from China. For the Vic
toria (B. c. people he brought in, he
says, $50 Cinnamon, receiving $3.50
apiece. They came from British Colum bia
people.
Ex-Co.lector Saunders name is mixed
Loft Gov .
officials refuse TO say that he was know
ingly party 10 the conspiracy. but it is
very PLAIN, they charge, that ii he is inno-
cent of wrongdoing he was very derelict
In his duty.
This smooth interpreter, Gee, carried
on his wholesale smuggling bu.iness I'M
der the Collectors nose.
Gees part of the business Was appar-
emily to furnish the Collector with salts
factory answers TO the questions pro-
pounded and to prepare the certificates
necessary for the admission of the Chi
nese.
These certificates purported to show
that the Cinnamon had lett the country
from some other port and were duly &C
credited merchants and entitled 10 re-
admission into the country.
Letters written 10 zee Gee by his San
Francisco partners, the Hang Lee Com
pauy, indicate that Gee was furnished
with the names OF the men and their pic.
lures. From these he forged the ceriih-
Gates and handed them to the Chinese
who were TO be brought in.
In the first letter, dated San Francisco.
Dccem Der 3, 1896, TuGg Jung, who writes
Tor the Hang l. Company, says:
have your favor in which, speaking of con-
tracing 10 safely land Chinese in The United
States you mention the sum of $3.50 as the
sum you want Tor each passenger.
You can name any firm you please for me 10
deposit the amounts with. The moment you
notify me it will be cone. You can notify
your PARTNERS in Hongkong to furnish the
massage money
should by any possible means when the
men have come the customs people or special
agents raise any objection and cause any to
he remanded 10 China, then will deduct W hat
ever The amount should be from your ac-
count,
This is to be distinctly understood, and there
Is 10 be no going back on ones word. If this
arrangement be agreeable all round let me
know Immediately ana will forward photo
graphs to you, from which you can make the
certificates, and every hing Will be right.
Another letter written by Tung Jung
from San Francisco, and dated Decem Der
90, 1896, shows that the Cinnamon were
landed and the money deposited in Gees
favor.
One of the most i'm por liant letters intro
duced by the officials was written by zee
Gee from Port Townsend. Septem Der %,
1896 addressed to Ming Hok Hang OF VIC
,oria, AMI in it he sa d:
/ have received your esteemed favor in
which you say you have ten people for whom
you want me to ID AXE merchants certificates
to enable them to come into this country.
You say that the contract would ne consid-
cred ard carried out when get The Cainamen
up to the Custom house at Port Townsen and
the Collector had approved OF their certi-
fcaes.
The moment the papers are approved you
will Immediately remit me $500. Caution
the men not to mention to any one that l am
the man attending to their coming over.
There ire thirty more whom l have not vet
brought over. Tell them it will lake two
more ore weeks before the papers can be ready
When you receive the certificates tell the
men To land I'VE at time TO tie customs in
speetor on the steamer City of Kingston, so
ina some time III the night can go out to
the Collectors house and make the necessary
arrangements with him.
When the arrangements are made he will