Evening star., 1898-10-22

is told by him: When 1 was first sent into
Chinatown hardly q day passed without a
murder. One afternoon scventy-five shots
were fired in a fusilade and three men
killed. | went to Chief Crowley and told
him the condition of things was terrible
and that the laws could not be enforced in
the regular way. L can put stop 70 these
societies IL you will give me my own way
l told him. He did not at first give his con-
sent as he feared he would be sued on his
bond for disregardIg the laws The Chi
nese consul at last approved of my plan
ard the chief then consented. I secured
seven or eight strong. healthy officers. and
We visited all the halls of the societies.
taking down the numbers. as not to dis
turb the societies which were really organ
lied for charitable purposes. / tool: plenty
of time, as did not want to interfere with
ary but the genuine highbinders' soc!e-
ties"
Lieut.. Price then relates that when he
had everything III readiness he go. sixteen
men in uniform and a surgeon. They
marched from one to another of the socie-
ties and literally cut the rooms and furni-
ture to pieces They destroyed nearly
$4,000 worth of property. They secured
knives. pistols iron bars and chain and
steel armor. The highbnders still have
coats of steel and chain to protect them
selves.
In addition to the destruction of property
Chinese found in the dens were ruthlessly
kicked down stairs and treated as dogs
Sixteen or eighteen josses We're destroyed
one Of them being valued at $500. Frien5iy
Chinese were sure Lieut.. Price would die
within three days for destroying the josses
and told him so. They We're surprised
when he did not depart.
The raid was hailed with satisfaction by
Cinnamon who were trying to do right
They afterward did all they could to aid
Lieutenant Price. driving to his house at
midnight to inform him about everything.
They would not speak to him in the day
time on the streets.
Handling the Highbinders.
After his raids. Lieutenant Price went
around to all the places in Chinatown and
told the people that If he found they were
aiding the highbinders in any way he
would demolish their places. The plan was
followed up every day, and when Chinese
society sign was put out it was demolished.
The societies went to other cities. Lieu
tenant Price was transferred to another
precinct and the highbinders again began
operations.
Lieutenant Price estimates that 1900 Chi
Eese are used by the highbinder societies
The societies meet in splendidly furnished
club rooms and go over their affairs When
it is decided that man is to be killed the
men are blindfolded and draw lots. Usual
ly two men are selected. When once picked
out these men cannot turn back. They
must Kill their man If twenty policemen are
around. although they try to do 1t without
discovery. Murders have been committed
within the sight of policemen. The socie-
ties hire attorneys to defend them and fur
ed the society pays his relatives $500.
Murder of Little Pete.
The killing of little Pete was an example
of how ruthlessly doomed man is follow
ed. He was one of the wealthiest China
men in town. He belonged to the Sam
Yups, the arstocratic organization. A
price OF 5000 was put on his head. He
lired body guards to protect him, and they
were with him for years. About o'clock
one evening Little Pete walked down the
stairs of his house, accompanied by his
body guard, a white man. He walked into
the barber shop he owned. He sat down in
the shop and told his body guard to go
down to the corner of kearney and Wash
ington streets and get him an evening pa
per. Cinnamon had been watching him,
and no sooner had the guard walked away
than they attacked Little Pete and chopped
him to pieces The murderers were never
brought to justice.
Use Pistols Now.
A Chinaman selected to murder another
Is usually accompanied by what they call a
"juryman." This man belongs to the poorer
classes. He follows the highbinders and
carries the pistol up his big. baggy sleeves
So soon the shooting is done the weapon
Is handed to him and he disappears. A
search of the hlghbinder who committed
the crime fails to show a pistol Formerly
most of the murders were committed with
hatchets. but the highbinders use pistols
to a large extent now.
An auxiliary detective force, composed Of
Cinnamon, cannot be trusted They are
afraid to serve the police, and are soon
bribed or murdered. The highbinders have
their own detective force.