The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-06-25
NAMES PILED UP
THICK AND FAST
BEWILDERED THE ATTORNEYS
RAPID DEVELOPMENT OF NAMES
AT HEARING OF CHINKs.

willie Wing INee and Charlie Wong
We're Slated for Star Performers
by COurt-LOn Chang, However,
cot Center of Stage and Held
Lime-Light to the Finish-FOrEOt
to Answer Same Question Twice
in Same Way.
Truth crushed to earth shall rise
again is an old adage and it will be
proved true beyond the shadow of
doubt if truth ever RECEIVERS from the
lusty blows that have been dealt by
Lon Chang. Judging from his an
swers to questions before the United
States commissioner Lon has forgot
ten the saying, when in doubt, tell
the truth"
The developments in prevarication
came out yesterday at the hearing of
Willie Wing Kee and Charlie Wong.
On the books of the commissioner.
Charlie and Willie were slated to hold
the center of the stage. The play had
not progressed very far, however, I'M
til Lon Chang got the floor and there
after he occupied all of the lme-Iight
until the fall of the curtain.
The question before the court was
propounded centuries ago when Juliet
asked Romeo whats in a name?" If
Lon Chang was Lon Chang he was
doomed to the penitentiary and SO
were Willie Wing Kee and Charlie
Wong. If he was Wong Fang Ho, all
three were free. The government
claimed he was Lon Chang. Willie and
Charlie claimcI nothing. He claimed
to be everybody but Wong Fang IIo.
With each questisn asked by the at
torneys the pile of names grew larger.
When Commissioner Hewlett called
the court to order. Marshal Doyle en-
tered with Lon Chang CD. Lon sat
down promptly, folded his hands. and
then watched the ceiling with a coun-
tenance as expressionless as that of a
clgar-store Indian. He absolutely re-
fused to be disturbed by any remarks
made by either counsel.
Name Juggling Begins.
At the former hearing, both Willie
wing Lee and Charlie Wong had sworn
that Lon Chang was Wong Fang Ho.
AL that time Lon had a certificate
stating he was Wong Fang Ho, and il
was on this he was turned loose. AS
the hrst step in proving its conten-
ton the government attempted to
prove the identity of the Celestial with
the child-like smile That identity is
still in doubt.
He was asked his name and prompt
ly responded Lon Chang. Another
question drew forth the answer Wong.
An attempt to reconcile the two was
then made by the commissioner. The
Chlnk, however, refused to repeat
himself, and this time he answered
the question by calmly asserting that
he was Wong Gong. Coon Kim, the
interpreter, was then called upon to
extricate the court and the attorneys
from the labyrinth of names.
Coon managed to draw out still
another name Attorney John Rourke,
counsel for the Chinaman, then took
a try at it. To the establishment of
all, Lon promptly developed into Wong
Fang Hop. That was the browning
woe and both sides hurried the bland
ly-smiling Chink from the stand. Then
they called him back and went at the
matter on another tack.
Mystery of the Certificate.
Mr.. Leaken asked the man-with-the-
thousanN names who Wong Fang Ho
was. The answer came promptly, ME
brother" That answer made things
look bad for Willie and Charlie, as
both had previously sworn that Lon
was Wong Fang Ho. Mr. Leaken
then got out the certificate and showed
it to the man and asked him where he
got in at his former hearing.
Get heem in pocket" came the calm
answer. This was unsatisfactory and
he was asked how it got into his pock-
ct. Then came an explanation that
upset all calculations. Lon explained
that his brother had the certificate in
his own pocket. He took off his coat
hung up his coat. Later Lon decided
to leave and put on his brothers coat.
Hence the certificate.
When arrested the second time he
produced the certificate of discharge
issued by Commissioner Hewlett. This
referred to the other certificate and
when asked what had become of that
he calmly informed the court he had
loaned it to a friend In course of
time it had again drifted back to his
brother, Wong Fang Ho.
And your name is what?" asked
Mr.. Leaken in closing. To the aston
ishment of all he answered wong
Fang Hop" and the commissioner made
note to the effect that he had an
swered the same question twice in the
same way.
Other CnlnkS Also Held.
Attorneys John Rourke, Jr., and Ed
win H. Abrahams, who represented
Willie and Charlie. declined to make
any defense claiming the government
had not made out its case. Commits
sioner Hewlett then held the two un-
der the same bond for appearance at
the next session of the United States
court.
Mr.. Eager and Mr. Stratton, two in
spectors, corroborated the statement
ABOUT Lon Chang having a brother
named Wong Fang Ho. Both were ac-
quainted with him in Jacksonville.
Coon Kim then gave expert testi-
mony on the Chinese system of naming.
This was the finishing touch. and at
torneys, commissioner, marshAls and
spectators became lost in the shuttle.
1t was highly interesting-that expla-
nation-but the Chinese names change
too rapidly for the American mind to
Follow the thread of the argument.