Los Angeles herald., 1906-03-10

ANoith AidIuSud SlTSeI " Jul OliNSVI
where we examined them as to what
took place in their gallery and they
informed us of the following facts:
Boys Did Not Shoot at Flags
That between and 10 o'clock Mon
day night two Chinese boys about IL
or lS years of age were passing by the
gallery and the Japanese woman asked
them IL they did not want to shoot.
These boys entered and bought sixteen
shots for twenty-five cents and were
firing at the iron birds in the middle of
the range. These were the only Chinese
who did any shooting that night.
The Japanese woman, to show her
skill, fired q number of times at the
disc target, causing the flag to re-
volve.
While the Chinese boys were firing
at the birds man came in, commenced
to banter them and became so rough
that the Japanese proprietor ordered
him out because he was disturbing his
business.
Police Close Galleries
In few minutes the two Chinese
boys went away and in about half an
hour after their departure two police
officers entered the gallery in which no
one was present except the proprietor
and the Japanese woman. The police
officers, going to the end of the gallery,
examined the flags, and finding bullet
holes in them peremptorily closed the
place. They then went to another Jap
anese gallery, conducted by T. Yama-
shita, who had the same kind of disc
targets, and 1nding holes in the flags
at once closed his place.
We next found the two Chinese boys
who were shooting in this gallery and
they made the following statement:
They had been to vaudeville the
ater and were returning home when
on passing the Japanese gallery the
woman asked them to come in.
Woman Fired at Discs
They bought sixteen shots for %
cents and did all of their shooting at
the iron birds. The Japanese woman
fired several times at the disc target
making the flag revolve. She did not
miss the disc with any of her shots
While they were in the gallery a man
came in and bothered them until he
was ordered out by the proprietor.
They did not know that any trouble
had occurred until they were informed
of the closing Of the gallery a day or
two afterwards.
Wednesday evening the two police
officers who closed the galleries came
to our office in company with officer
McGraw. These two officers informed
us, after some conversation, that they
did not see any Chinese in the gallery
when they entered, the proprietor and
the Japanese woman alone being
present.
Police Explain Action
Finally, that all they knew about
this matter was that G. man had come
to them with the statement that some
Chinese were shooting at American
flags, and on examining the flags they
found some holes in them. Considering
that this substantiated the mans story
they closed up the gallery.
The statements made in the public
press were as follows:
1. That some Chinese had per-
suaded the Japanese proprietor to allow
them to shoot at the American flag,
Offering them dollar for three shots.
and that for the purpose flags were
hung over targets, riddled with bullets.
2. That the officers rushed in and
with main force hurled the Chinese
aside and rescued the flags.
The facts, as proved by investigation.
are as follows:
Americans May Have Shot Flags
1. That two Chinese boys about II
and Is years old were the only Chinese
who did any shooting in this gallery
Monday evening; that they entered at
the request of the Japanese woman;
that they confined their firing to the
iron birds; that they spent a quarter
for sixteen shots; that the miniature
flags attached to the revolving disc
target were placed there about two
months ago as signals and ornaments,
and being in the line of fire were liable
to perforation by any shooter, and in
all probability have been pierced dur
ing these two months by the bullets of
many casual shooters; that the only
person who shot at the disc target while
the boys were present was the Japanese
woman, and from the fact that she
made the flag arm revolve showed that
she did not strike the flags.
Shows FaIsity of Story
2. That there is not to be found a
single witness who heard the two Chi
nese boys ask to shoot at the flags or
saw them do SO; that the police officers,
according to their own statements, did
not hurl the Chinese aside and rescue
the flags, because when they entered
there were no Chinese in the gallery,
the proprietor and Japanese woman
alone being present. that the only basis
for charges made against these two
Chinese boys was the statement of the
unknown man who had been ordered
out of the gallery by the Japanese for
his customers, and 1t is I'M
for purpose of revenge, after
seeing the Japanese woman fire at the
disc target, making the flag arm re-
volve, that he hunted UP the police
officer and charged the Chinese boys
with firing at the flag.
Invite Thorough Investigation
Now that we have completed our in
we are Gesirous that the
American people will further look into
this affair that justice may be secured. |
We will bring these boys and other wit
nesses before any magistrate. for it is
our earnest desire that if any Chinese
is to any degree guilty OF desecrating
The American flag that he be punished
in accordance with the law. While we
believe that our investigation has been
most thorough and that we have not
overlooked the slightest detail, never
theless we desire that it be confirmed
ON part of the American people. By