The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-12-10
- IKE 4 SCENE FROM
4 NEW COMIC OPERA
CHIN TONG GAR AND HIS FRIENDS
IN COURT.
Proceedings in U. s. Commissioner How
ard S. Abbott's Office Have Decided
ly Saffron Tinge as Chinaman Tells
Why He Is Entitled to Stay In the
Land of the Free.

Chin Tong Gar and his celestial
friends, Ye Sing and Toy We, gave a
decided saffron tinge to the proceed
ings in United States Commissioner
Howard S. Abbott's office yesterday af
ternoon. Chin was apprehended by the
immigration officers on Dec. 8, 1904,
and held on the charge Of unlawfully
residing in the United States. Yester-
day he appeared to explain why he
should be permitted to remain in this
country.
"Chon quong dong bong,' said Chin
Tong Gar, "Lung lang bang dang"
" He IS telling the story Of his past
life," explained Chin NJ. Jett, the in
-terpreter attached to the local immi-
grafton office. E'He says he was born
in China, in the province of Kon Tun,
near Hong Kong. His father was
merchant, who kept a Chinese grocery
store in San Francisco. His father g
name was Chin Kee Chong.''.
In response to more questions put
thru the Interpreter Chin Tong pro-
~ceeded with his autobiography. He
told how he came over to live with his
father in 1882. How his father went
back to the ancestral graves near Hong
Kong and paid $500 to the home office
of the firm of Quong Gin Lung & Co.,
which runs a Chinese store in st. Paul,
to purchase share in the business for
his son, that he might be merchant.
In a further series of musical gutter
ais he explained how he had returned to
China to take his place at the bedside
of his father, who was ill. He took his
credentials as merchant living in the
United States and on his return depos-
ted them with the collector at Port
Townshend. The credentials were pro-
duced and L. T. Parker of St. Paul
recognized his signature as a witness,
but could not identify Chin. He ex-
planned that he had signed several such
papers for members Of the Quong Gin
Lung company, who were clients Of the
insurance firm for which he worked, and
did not remember any of the facts con
nected with this particular case.
W. D. Morse, inspector in charge OF
The local office, testified that he ha6
obtained the credentials from the Port
rownshend office. Inspector Robert
Davis testified as to certain statements
made by Chin prior to his arrest, which
lid not gihe with his testimony. VI
Sing, local merchant and member 0!
Westminster Presbyterian church, iden
lifted the accused as Chin Tong Gar.
Tow We, gentleman Of venerable as
oect whose white hair, black queue
: cardigan jacket and Ii Hung Chang
yoatee of seven snowy hairs, made {
noteworthy impression upon the court
proved to be a star witness. for the de
tense. He testified that he knew Tons
Gar when he was "velly lille boy
~-eicht veal OIL - in his fathers grocer.
store in "Slan Flanslisco."
The government tried to make on
that Chin Tong was not bona fd
merchant, and was employed in laun
Try at the time of his arrest. It ais
Introduced evidence of contradiction
statements made prior to his arrest
which tended to impeach his testimony
charles T. Thompson conducted tn
Ease for Chin Tong and Assistan
United States Attorney J. M. Dicke
appeared for the government. Commits
sioner Abbott took the case under &C
visement and will announce his decisio
Monday, at 2 pm.