Evening star., 1903-07-22
CHINESE HIGHBINDERS.
The Oaths They Take and the Methods
They Employ.
San Francisco News Letter.


Few people, even In San Francisco, have
a correct idea Of the Chinese highbinder
and the cause OF the frequent wars in the
Chinese quarter The word highbinder is
perhaps. localism. and 1t has no special
meaning. 1t was applied by the police to
the societies of Chinese assassins because
they did not know the names Of the socie-
ties. According to the statements of q
Christianized Chinese to one Of the mission
teachers, there are in this city several such
societies. with q membership Of from fifty
to, perhaps. two hundred each. They have
names indicating that they are bands OF
brotherhood" but the members are profess
sional assassins. and will kill any one for
pay.
They are bound by oaths. like the Carbon
naira Of Italy, and a traitor meets death
at the hands Of one Of the members. who
Is selected by lot. The organizations differ
in detail, but the main object of all is the
same-to rob and murder. The organization
Of one Of the largest highbinder societies in
the Chinese quarter is partly described by
this Chrtstianized Chinaman. who was cor
tainly a member. but who said that his
cousin" told him. They are chief. a sec
ond chief. q secretary. an 'Introducer' and
eight swordsmen The candidate for ad-
mission unplaits his queue. indicating his
abJect submission to his superior officers.
He is then led into the room by the Official
introducer, a red robe Is thrown over him.
and he is required to kneel under an arch
of eight swords. One Of these swordsmen
places the blade Of sword upon the back
OF the candidates neck as an indication Of
his fate If ne betrays his associates The
chief. dressed in red. sits on q small plat
form, which is draped in the same color.
and to his right Is the book containing the
oaths. passwords and signs of the order
In raid a few years ago the police cap
lated. The society then adopted a new
manual There are number of oaths, the
principal one binding the members to obey
the orders OF the society without question
and the rules prescribe penalties for re-
fusal.
When the candidate is taking the oath
his finger is pierced with a needle and the
blood drops Into a glass Of wine held by
the member who stands sponsor for him.
They both drink from this glass. signifying
that they are Of the same society and of
the same blood relationship" The grips
and passwords arc then communicated to
him and he is now a full-nedged highbinder
an assassin for pay.
When the society receives a commission
to kill a man a good hatchet man is select
ed to do the bloody work Or. II 1t is a war
the society details number Of it's best
shots The blood money goes into the COM
mon fund and Is used for the defense Of
criminals, care of the wounded and pen
sions If sent to the states prison. The sur
plus is devided according to the rank and
services rendered. If highbinder fs killed
while in the discharge OF his bloody work
the society gives him a large funeral. sends
his bones to China and pays his family q
small pension. A society will not abandon
any Of It's members in trouble. and will fee
a lawyer as long as 1t has a dollar or can
get funds by forced loans or threats Of as
sassnation.
These societies levy tribute upon mer-
chants. and If not paid robbery. or. per
haps, assassination. follows. They terrorize
the depraved women and collect from them
sums weekly; also from the owners OF these
women. II tho owner refuses to be black
mailed they steal or forcibly take one Of
his women and hold her for a reward or
sell her to some other bagnio keeper Some
times the bagnio keeper hires a rival society
to protect his dens. Then there is a war
between two highbinder societies.
When one society invades the district Of
another a war is the result. The rival
bands of outlaws have the Chinese quarter
divided, and 1t Is a violation OF treaty to
plunder or murder in each others territory
The gaming houses are also a steady source
of revenue, paying an agreed sum weekly
to be let alone. The highbinder societies are
a terror to the merchants, who would glad
ly see them driven out of the city. Then
peace would reign in the Chinese quarter.