The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-04-11

PHILADELPHIA, April 11.-Some Of the
choicest spirits OF the Chinese colony eel
ebrated last night the release from Moy-
amensing prison Of Charlie Lee. formerly
Mayor OF Chinatown and one OF it's wealth
lest merchants. Prior to the advent OF
Lee Toy, Charlie Lee was the ruling pow
er among the Race Street CeIestials. He
owned tea shops, merchandise shops, and
laundries. His word went among his
countrymen as second only to the dictum
Of the Chinese Union. the august tribunal
that sits as court Of arbitration to ad-
just the disputes Of the local descendants
Of Confucius. But according to Charles
own story. he ran up against an influential
coterie OF the Rev. Frederick Poole's Chi
nese Mission and the contact resulted in
his undoing.
In March OF last YER all Chinatown was
thrown into CONSERVATION by the arrest Of
their leader at his own headquarters. at
s20 Race Street. He was charged with
conducting a gambling joint. Before Judge
Sulzberger he was convicted and sentenced
TO imprisonment for one yea~. 1t was the
first conviction for gambling n Chinatown
in a period Of ten years.
Charlie Lee was released yesterday
morning having received a communication
OF one month for good behavior He went
Immediately TO the City Hall, where he
called first upon Superintendent OF Police
Quirk and then upon Captain OF Detectives
Miller His object was to assure them Of
his innocence and his future good inten-
lions. and 10 talk with them concerning
the alleged wickedness Of his enemies.
His return to the Race Street colony
vas in the nature Of a triumph His i'm
prisonHent had evidently elevated him In
Inc consideration Of his people. Hereafter
it will be nip and tuck between Charlie
Lee and Lee Toy for there cannot be two
mayors in the same block
The COHEN, or reception, given I'm hon
or Of the prosecuted leader. was started
early in the evening, i'm the merchandise
shop Of QuOng Yuen Hong, at 922 Race
Street There many OF the leading Chi
nese merchants and laundry owners OF the
city gathered about the released prisoner.
smoking and drinking tea and Offering
prOtestatiOns Of renewed fealty. From the
shop the party went to the res taurant Of
Me Hong Low. a cousin Of Lees. at No.
S3. The plebeian dishes OF yoCk-a-min
and ch0p-suee would not do for this coca
elOu Ll-NO-Olp ana VOW -WO-EunC. AT a
dollar a throw, genuine importations from
China. were the features Of the menu.
In talking Of his case Charlie Lee
claimed that the whole trouble arose over
the question OF proprietorship Of q house
on Race Street where he wished to open a
merchandise shop. The Chinese Union de-
cided in his favor. but the other contest
ants were not satisfied. One OF them.
Charlie claimed was a member Of the mis-
sion, and so the influence Of that body
was enlisted against him. Rev. Mr.. Poole
himself appeared for the prosecution at
his trial. and his evidence apparently con-
WINGED the Judge.
But | was innocent" protested Charlie.
who speaks excellent English and Mr.
Poole never met me until he saw me in
eOrTt. / met him on the street this aft
ernoOn and he did not recognize me.
have been in business here in Race Street
for twenty years, and before | have been
here much longer my en- amies will be sor-
~ for what they have done"
Charlie Lee liked his treatment in pris-
on. He even spoke well Of the American
soup and the American coffee upon which
he was regaied. The keepers he said
treated him with marked consideration.
Otherwise he did not think he could have
survived the ignOminious ordeal. He has
now taken up his abode AT g3S Race Street
which bids fair to be the centre Of inter
est Ia the internecine affairs Of Chinatown
for some time to come.