Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1900-01-31
THE CHINESE CASES.
Some Interesting Facts Given by Unit
ed States District Attorney
Rourke.
Chinese Firms That Have as High as
II Partners-Schemes to Violate
the Law.
Important Cases.

Fargo Forum: What is to involve the
life of the exclusion act is the beginning
of prosecution of s~eventy-fve Cinnamon
before Judge Amidon of the United
States district court today. The case is
being bitterly fought by the Cinnamon.
The prisoners were arrested at Portal,
N. D., by Special Treasury Agent Fors-
man last November. Yesterdays train
from Chicago brought the following to
represent the government: Robert Fl.
Forsman, a special employe of the treas
ury department., Frank Tins of New
York City, the Chinese interpreter for
the government. They were Joined here
by F. W. Berkshire, a special treasury
agent from Chicago. -.
Mr.. Forsman brought with him from
Chicago a CARLOAD Of dispositions taken
in Chicago and elsewhere by District
Attorney Rourke for this district, as
sisted by MI. Berkshire. This mass of
typewriter statements will require
translation by Interpreter Tins. The
officials are quartered at the Metropole.
In the party we're the attorneys who
are to defend the Cinnamon, Attorney
Thos. Fl. Milchrist, former United States
district attorney for the northern dis
trict of Illinois, and Attorney Elmer De-
witt Brothers, partner of Luther Latin
Mills of Chicago. l~ 'e ...,-
The case is one of vast Importance and
the attorneys for the defense, say that
it will provide a scandal which will open
the eyes Of the American people. The
defense is moving with great care on ac-
count, they say, of the many government
spies or the case.
Some interesting facts with reference
to these cases are given. In speaking Of
the Chinese exclusion act, United States
District Attorney Rourke said to a rep
resentative of The Fargo Call: Under
this act there are foul classes of China
men, who are admitted to the United
States, students, teachers, persons travel
ing for pleasure, and returning mer
chants. These Cinnamon could hardly
} pass themselves off as belonging to either
of the first mentioned classes, hence the
} common claim to be returning mer
) chants"
"How does the law define a merchanI
in this case?" was asked.
"a merchant" replied Mr.. Rourke
stuithIn tho p,norinr Of thn 1ouy ic
| person who has been engaged in buying
} and selling merchandise, at a fixed place
f of business, in his own name for one
year previous to his leaving the country
and who has not during that time en-
, gagged in manual labor, including buck
: STEERING, laundering, peddling, etc. These
, men claim that they belong to thes,
l great partnerships and have gone tx
, China and are 10Y returning"
"How many partners do some of thes
firms have?"
1.-The firm of Tai Wah & Co., of 80
South Clark street." said MI. Rourke
> Gin 1897 had 43 partners, in 1899, the,
5 had II partners and during that time 8
:, partners have been admitted to th
, United States who have dropped out al
together. They claim to have a stock
valued at s $1,000 and the records of Cool
county show assessments for taxation
in 1896, 500; in 1897, s1OO; in 1898, 800
in 1899, nothing.
! "In six firms who claim to have stock
which aggregate 100000, a government
expert, who has spent Is years assassin!
Chinese property, has not placed tn
value of any stock above $780,"
The United States attorney has plat
of the buildings used by these Chimes
firms in Chicago, and in every instance
the part of the building containing tn
stock is but a small room, while tn
greater part is given over to opium
smoking and gambling. 1t will develol
in the testimony given that ther,
has been admitted to the United State
Z five Cinnamon of the same name be
longing to the same firm. Another firm
has secured the admission of a dozen il
the, sarne way. 1
) A Chinaman will get his return paper
! before starting with his photograph
pasted on the document, and it has nov
come to light these documents hav'
been duplicated and sent to China
where a photograph corresponding t.
: the man who holds the paper is attach
ed. This has been going on for year
and several firms of Chicago lawyers
) make it their business to furnish thes
: fraudulent certificates.
j.. L. Bevry, L~oganston, Pa, writes
Il am willing to take my oath that
was cured Of pneumonia entirely b.
7 the use Of One Minute Cough Cur