The Topeka state journal., 1899-04-20
MURDEROUS
CHINAMEN.
Highbinders Inaugurate a
Reign of Terror
In Fresno, California, Early
This Morning.
SHOOT COUNTRYMEN
AS They Run Through the
Streets Trying to Escape.
Three MOngolians Dead, Two
Wounded and Nine In Jail.

Fresno, Cal. April 20.-A bloody High
binder war that has been expected for
some days broke out in Chinatown early
this morning and a result three Mon
goHans occupy slabs in the morgue, two
more are at the county hospital mortal
ly wounded and nine are behind bars
in the county jail
The officers have anticipated the out
break for some time, as it was known
that large number of hatchet men had
arrived here from San Francisco, but
so cunning were their plans that not
an officer was close enough to witness
the opening of the battle.
The Chinese had decoyed the police
men on duty in that district to various
quarters remote from the scene of their
intended onslaught
Upon hearing the first shot, Police
man Rapelji, who was a block away, ran
to the alley north of TuIare street be-
tween F and 6, where he saw two
Chinese pumping lead into the body Of
a third Chinaman, who lay at their feet.
Further up the alley there were at least
a dozen Cinnamon running about and
blazing away at each other.
As Rapelji ran up the alley China
man ran past him, pursued by High
binder. The fugitive made for a door
way, but was dropped on the steps by a
bullet from the Highbinder's gun, which
struck him in the head. killing him in
stantly. Rapelji captured the murderer,
who gave his name as Wong Duck
Policeman MOrss, who was running
to the scene of the shooting, saw a
Highbinder run up to a Chinaman
named Chin Chi, who was standing in
a doorway, and deliberately fire two
shots at him, killing him instantly. The
murderer then started to run, where
upon Morss ordered him to stop, but in
stead the Highbinder threw his gun at
MOrss' head. AS he continued to run,
Morss fired. the ball penetrating the
Chinaman's back. and he is now at the
hospital not expected to live.
The fight is a factional one between
the Bing Kung Tongs and the Suey On
Tongs.
more victims, as over fifty shots were
fired. At one time four Chinese High
binders were standing at a street cor
ner discharging their revoIvers as fast
as possible at the entrance of a stair
way leading to a room over the store
of the King Yick company. Only the
prompt action of the officers prevented
more serious riOting. After quiet had
been restored a raid on the suspected
haunts of the Highbinders was made
and in one place were found three coats
of mail and a small arsenal of re-
Volvers. hatchets and knives. Nine men
were arrested on suspicion. Three were
charged with vagrancy and three with
murder. One of them had a 45-caliber
pistol, five boxes of cartridges and a
pair of brass knuckIes on him at the
time of his arrest Three of the victims
have been identified. One is An Tai, 4
vegetable peddler. He probably
shot by accident. One of the dead is
Chin ChO, a well known Highbinder, and
another is Lee On Tong, peddler.
Their bodies present a CHASTITY specta-
Gle most of the fatal wounds having
been inflicted at close range.
The trouble which led to the murders
commenced with the conviction of Tai
Choy, who was yesterday removed to
San Quentin to serve a ten years SEN
tence for murder in the first degree
The local Tongs were sharply divided
on the issue. The matter was rendered
more acute when Gee Wing, who had
evidently sold some property on China
avenue for $4,000, fled from the state to
escape his creditors. A number of Ia
borers and others to whom he owed
sums ranging from $50 to $3.50 instituted
criminal proceedings. Meanwhile the
Highbinders had taken the matter up
and it is believed that one of their OBJ
jects was to blackmail Gee Wing or to
bring about forcible settlement OF the
laborers' claims.