The San Francisco call., 1904-02-03
HATCHETMEN
SLAY VICTIM
Som Jung, a Cook, Is Literally
Hacked to Death in Sullivan
Alley by Five Highbinders
WRONG MAN Is KILLED
Enter a Restaurant
and While One Stands Guard
Others Weld Their Cleavers

Murder Is rampant in Chinatown, and
despite the vigilance Of the police and
special watchmen the muderous high
binder pursIes his course. leaving in
his trail a record Of bloody tragedies.
Som Jung. a cook. is the latest vic
tim of the hatchetmen. He was liter
ally hacked to death last evening in a
restaurant at 20 Sullivan alley by five
desperadOes.
The crime. which occurred shortly
after s eicleck, was particularly bold
cone and has thrown Chinatown into
a state Of CONSERVATION. The assas-
sins made nc attempt 10 conceal their
identity End escaped Though Cook
alley d5efOre the arrival OF the police.
While Som Jung was engaged at his
duties in the kitchen, 91ye Chinese en-
tered the place upon murder bent. One
of their number drew a revolver and
stood guard at the door His four COM
panioas. without a word. walked over
tO their victim and while two held him
the others. drawing knives and cleav-
ers. from under their blousess began tbs
work of slaughter.
CHOP MAN TO PIECES.
Swiftly and silently the fends went
about their cowardly work and blow
after blow was rained upon the de-
fenseIess head of Som Jung. The un-
conscious man, the blood squirting from
a dozen wounds, was thrown TO the
floor, after his cue had been severed
from his head.
The quintet theu, backed out Of the
door, after admonishing those in the
room to make no Outcry.o and fed down
Cum Cook alley. Low Yee. the pro-
prietcr of the establishment, who had
been a witness Of the affair from the
confines Of the cash counter at last
mustered up sufficient courage to blow
a police whistle Sergeant Christian
sen. Special Watchman Henry Duffield
and others ran TO the scene. Som Jung
was found lying in pool of gore on
the kitchen floor. gasping his last. The
ambulance was Immediately summoned,
but Som Jung died before reaching the
HarbOr Hospital The Coroner's office
was notified and the body removed to
the MOrgue.
MISTAKEN IDENTITY.
That che cfime was the 9OutcOme Of
the feud that has waged for some time
between the Wah Ting and Hop Sing
tcngso is evident. upon upon investiga-
tion it trarsoires that the latest vic
tim was a member of the KOw kung
Tong and his death is the result of
mistaken identity. A member of the
Hop Sings was killed in the same man
rYer as Som Jung, Friday night in "A
building at the corner OF Washington
and Dupont streets. To even up mat
ters the hatchetmen Of the Hop Sings
marked Som Jung for assassination, be-
lieEing he was a member Of the rival
tong.
More trouble is expected at any mo-
ment and the police are endeavoTing
to prevent further bloodshed. A meet
ing was scheduled to be held at o'clock
last night 70 settle the feud. but the
murder caused a postpOnement. 1t is
understood that the Consul General will
take a hand in the matter to-day and
force a settlement of existing griev-
ances.
All Sin, 9Ah Sing and All Chung, three
employees Of the place. were arrested
shortly before midnight. They saw the
muEdeEers enter. but refused TO give
/ description Of them or make any state
ment regarding the murder. The three
men win be held by the police pending
an investigation.