Los Angeles herald., 1907-12-08
OUTBREAK OF
TONGS FEARED
BY THE POLICE
BING GONG TREASURER IS
MARKED
is COUSIN OF SAN FRANCISCO
VICTIM
Chinatown Squad Increased and Plain
Clothes Men Aid Private Guards
to Protect Leader In
Hiding

Chinatown In Los Angeles was
swarming with police officers in plain
clothes last night and a uniformed pa
trolman stood on every corner to pre-
vent if possible, another outbreak of
the tong war which is threatening.
The peace which was supposed to
exist in tong circles is an armed In
activity which promises any moment
to become a sanguinary struggle.
The killing in San Francisco Friday
of Wong Fong, the high peace COM
missioner Of the Bing Gong tong, was
the first blow in what the police believe
Is to be a, bloody conflict conducted by
paid assassins of various tongs.
Wong Doc, general treasurer of the
Bing Gong tong and cousin of Wong
Fong, who was president Of the organ
ization, is the next man marked for
the highbinders' bullet, and written
threat has been made to kill him, and
and it was an attempt made to carry
this out that caused the police to take
extra precautions last night.
On December Q there were written
and mailed in Los Angeles two death
warrants. Both came it is believed.
from members of the Hop Sing tong.
One was addressed to Wong Fong in
San Francisco and gave him notice that
he had better prepare his worldly at
In less than the allotted time he was
shot down on the street.
Second Death Warrant
The second death warrant was adj
dressed to Wong Doc and gave him the
same information that was given his
cousin, Fong. Inclosed in the letter
was an advertisement Of ]. d. Button,
an undertaken at 410 North Main street
xr,bo doae hr1cipaae with tha Chinese
Wong Doc was informed that coffin
had been picked out for him at But
tons place of business.
The letter was received by Wong Doc
Tuesday. Wednesday he reported the
matter to the police. Shortly after dark
five men surrounded him and hustled
him toward an alleyway off the Plaza.
Wong managedl to break away from the
men. Just at that moment Patrolman
Curtin, who was in plain clothes, came
up and Wong ran to him for protection.
The officer escorted him home A search
was made for the men whom Wong had
recognized as highbinders from San
Francisco.
They had disappeared. however. but
long cash cut in his blouse by knife
with razorlike edge was the reminder
left Wong of the occasion.
Wong Doc, who Is an educated and
wealthy Chinese, is proprietor of q drug
store at 759 North Alameda street, OF a
general merchandise establishment at 21s
Ferguson alley and is also director and
stockholder in various other commercial
enterprises, as we'll as being general
treasurer of the Bing gongs.
| Last night he was in hiding in one OF
his various places of residence and could
be reached only by going through nu'
merous narrow alleys and Railways and
passing half dozen guards.
In addition to his own bodyguard he
is being protected by two plain clothes
policemen, who were assigned to the duty
Thursday morning.
Friday night telegram was received
from San Francisco announcing the MUIR
der of Wong Fong and at once 1t was
thought that the tong war would break
in the local Chinatown.
Several extra patrolmen were rushed to
the aid of Sergeant Sebastian's squad
and last night number of additional
officers were placed on duty there.
1t Is believed by the police that the
murder of Wong Fong and Wong Doc
was determined upon at a council held
here and that the order to kill both men
was afterward approved by the high au-
thorities of the Hop Sing tong in San
Francisco.