Kansas City daily journal., 1897-01-25
LITTLE PETE" MURDERED.
Ross of Chinatown, San Francisco,
Shot by n HiEhbinder-A Re-
marknhIe Celestial.

s-dH FFdNClSCO, Jan Zi.-Ine murder OF
Little Pete, the boss of Chinatown who
was shot by highbinders last night. has
created a sensation here. Little Pete was
a power in San Francisco among both
whites and Chinese. In many respects he
was A remarkable man. He was born in
China about thirty-tWo years ago. and
came TO this country when years old
Ills first employment was as errand hoy in
shoe store. where he earned SIC a month
He was ambitious. and attended night
school for several years. He then got a
position as interpreter for firms doing busi-
ness with the custom house. He saved a
little money and started small shoe man
ufact"ry- The business grew, and at the
time OF his death the factory was one of
the largest in San Francisco It is known
Little Pete had s1G1.OO0 invested in China,
and his fortune is estimated at from sl50OOG
70 $4,000.
Little Pete, or Ching Fong, which was
his Chinese name. is credited with having
organized the first highbinder society in
San Francisco. He got together some years
ago all the dissolute Chinese characters
and criminals he could find. and under his
direction they levied tribute from China
town, Little Pete getting most of the
money. He was very successful in secur,
ing his adherents' immunity from punish
ment by Law, but finally got into trouble.
Sentenced TO Prison.
lie was charged with attempting to bribe
two policemen, was convicted and SER
fenced to five years in prison. The SUI
preme court however. granted him a new
trial. and he was acquitted. Little Pete il
was who gave Chris Buckley. for many
Years u political boss here his name of
Blind White Devil and il was Informal
tion from him that caused Buckley to be
indicted by the grand jury
The murdered man was credited with be-
ing az the head OF every shady transaction
and hrOthels. and landed many Chinese il
legally. He was a true gambler and the
game was not known that he could not
beat His brief but lucrative campaign at
the race track here surprised everybody.
Two years ago Little Pete commenced 10
play the races. AT first he bet IegitimateIy,
hut found he could not win fast enough
He soon found means to work a sure thing
however. Three Of the best jockeys at the
track were secretly in his employ and the
SHlncse plunger commenced TO win heavily
lie Is credited with having cleaned up yiO6 -
80 before his scheme was discovered and
be. with his jockeys. was ruled off the turf
The murder was undoubtedly fine result
OF bitter quarrel between the Sam Yum
and See NuD companies. Little Pete was
me leading spirit OF the Sam Yups. COM
posed OF the merchants. The See NupS
comprising the iaboring element declared
a boycott against the Sam Yups and n
war OF determination commenced. Murders
have been frequent and generally the viz
tms were See Nup men. These crimes
were credited to Little Pete's influence
5000 being the amount offered and a proc
laTnation TO that effect was posted i'm chin
alown: Little Pete was ON his guard and
ior months never went about unless pro-
tected. Last night. however. he sent his |
body guard out for newspaper while he |
was being shaved, aud the murderers who |
were on the watch seized the opportunitv
and did their work.
Six Chinese Arrested.
Six Chinese have been arrested for tho |
cI me. nut u Is extremely doubtful even il !
the poHcc have got the right men il they !
can secure their conviction. Little Pete has |
many friends and already they are VOW
ing vengeance IN extra force OF police |
has been detailed TO maintain order in /
Chinatown. but even their presence II Is |
feared, viii not Restrain the warning clans. |
tTopablN the most uncertain man I'm town |
ls hing OWyanE. the Cninese vice consul. |
lie knows that ne, too has been r,arl-pi
ior murder. and with Chinese stoICism he \
is calmly awaiting the end. King Owyang /
IS n graduate Of Yale. ard for sevoraI /
years he has been Chinese vice consuI NJ
this port. to has been active in t-vins, 10 /
order in Chinatown. and has sid
"a win lne sam hupS in the fight against
tho See Nups. Although no price has been
puhtclF set on DWgaug's head as thu pasc |
of Little Pete. II Is Wen known that the
Bee 1up msE are after him. and that IL is
only a question OF time when tbey v-jII
get him. Little Pete and King Ovv1nr' n /
Z stated. took a contract to break up the
See fups In this city. Private detectives |
were hired. who dogged the See Ytin nm |
-pnstantly and broke INTO their rueatTne !
|ilfeffS anu 'tslIget0 tnelr furniture Tho ]
See Tups appealed 10 the courts AMI the |
detectives were enjoined from further on
sr#tiuuE.
OwyaHE y Marked Man.
King ouysng, when asked to-day what
- tHsaEht his chances We're said.
They have not got me vet b.lt tbe,, cot |
little Pete. As Little Pete was the most
faareT man IN Chinatown and was s,Ine
posed 10 ~ invulnerable. there Is ey-cT,
arsssTr.cf that the vice consul will soo, foi !
ow him. Wong Sing ana Chin Poy the |
.prn Cninnse arrested last night for The |
murder have boEuu 10 tell contradictory, |
itorics and the police are certain the, |
seve the right men. The men are said 10 |
save been imported 10 avenge the murder
n fifw Sing. who was shot because he
wed money e one ~ Little Pete's gam
litTTr bySFsee The Chinese code demands n |
fYe for life. and Il makes no difference