The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-08-02
CHINESE HIGHBINDERs.
The Oaths They Take and the Methods
They Employ.

San Francisco News Letter.
Few people, even in San Francisco, have
cause of the frequent wars in the Chinese quar-
ter The word highlander is, perhaps, local.
Piled by the I police to the societies Of Chinese
assassins because they did not know the names
or the societies. According TO the statements of
a christianzed Chinese to of the mission
teachers. there are in this city several such
perhaps. 200 each. They have names indicating
that they are bands of brotherhood" but TN
,1,e are professional assassins, and WIN
Kill any one for pay.
They are hound by oaths. like the Carbon
at the hands OF one OF the members, who is SCI
lected by lot The organizations differ in detail.
and murder. The organization OF one of the
l1rgest highbinder societies in the Chinese quar-
parity WHO sy ths b
who said that his cousin told him. They are
chief second n, chief secretary g an ns1
for admission unplaits his queue. indicating his
abject submission to his superior officers
introducer, red robe is thrown over him, and
he is required to kPes Under an arch Of eight sh
blade of sword upon the back of the candi-
dates neck as an indication of his fate If he
red, sits a small platform, which is draped
in the same color; and to his right is the book
order. In a raid few years ago the police
captured one of these books and had it trans
lated. The society then adopted new manual.
There number of oaths, the principal one
binding the members to obey the orders of the
society without question. and the rules prescribe
penalties for refusal.
When the candidate is taking the oath his
finger Il pierced with needle and the blood
drops into glass of wine held by the member
who stands sponsor for him. They both drink
from this glass, signifying that they OF the
same society and of the blood relation
ship" The grips and passwords then COM
municated to him and he Is now full-hedged
highbinder-an assassin for pay.
When the society receives commission to kill
man good Ratchet man Is selected to do the
bloody work. or. IL Ii is war the society de-
tails number of its best shots. The blood
money goes into the common fund and is used
for the defense of criminals care of the wounded
and pensions If sent to the states prison. The
surplus is divided according to the rank and
services rendered. If highlander Is killed
while I'm the discharge of his bloody work the
society gives him large funeral sends his bones
to China and pays his family a small pension.
in trouble, and will fee lawyer as long 1t has
dollar get funds by forced loans or
threats of assassination.
These societies levy tribute upon merchants.
and, If not paid robbery or, perhaps assassina-
ton follows. They terrorize the depraved women
and collect from them sums weekly; also. from
the owners of these women. If the owners re-
fuse to be backmailed they steal forcibly take
sell her to some other bagnio keeper. Some
times the bagno keeper hires a rival society "a
protect his dens. Then there is war between
two Highlander societies.
When one society invadeS the district OF an
other a is the result The rival bands of
outlaws have the Chinese quarter divided, and
il is violation of treaty to plumber murder
in each others territory. The gaming houses
are also steady source of revenue, paying an
agreed sum weekly TO be let alone The high
binder societies terror to the merchants,
who would gladly see them driven out of the city
Then peace would reign In the Chinese quarter