Los Angeles herald., 1908-04-07
POLICE DENY CHARGE
MADE BY CHINESE
OFFICERS DECLARE AFFlDA-
WITS ARE FALSE
Reported Allegations of orlentais
May Be Turned In to the Dis
triet Attorneys Office
Today

According to general report at po-
lice headquarters yesterday, affidavits
have been sworn to before Notary
Walter F. Hogan in which certain po-
lice officers, among whom are George
Willetts and John Curtin, plain clothes
men, are charged that they, together
with a superior officer, attended a
meeting Of Chinese at the telephone
exchange office of Ho Lee, 81
Apablasss street, at which, it Is al
legged, the officers demanded certain
sums of money; otherwise. all gam
bling houses would be closed in China
town.
The report was fatty denied by Of
flcer Curtin. who said lie was not pres
ent at the meeting, which it Is ad-
mitted was held at IL o'clock on the
night of March 81. Officer Willetts,
who says he was present, stated last
night that the purpose of the meeting
was 10 warn the Chinese that there
must be no further tong troubles.
Affairs in Chinatown, said Willetts,
have looked somewhat dangerous for
the past few weeks, and it was simply
a precautionary measure on the part
of Sergeant Sebastian and myself that
the meeting was called, and the
Chinese were told there must be no
outbreak or even indication of trouble.
If these affidavits have been sworn to
I believe it simply means that the
Chinese have come to realize that my
self and the other men who work there
are too familiar with their methods
and they wish to get rid of us. No
money was mentioned at the meeting.
On the other hand, Ho Lee, who says
he acted as interpreter at the meeting,
declares money was mentioned, and
that the officers demanded that the
Chinese at once decide whether they
would continue the old program of col
lecting money throughout the gam
bling section and place it in the hands
of one man to be used in paying fines.
Sergeant Sebastian asked US If we
wished to continue the old program" "
said Ho Lee last night. "This meant
that the gambling association would
allow salary to man who would
take the collections made by the gam
blers to the police court and pay fines
of those arrested for playing fantan.
"The Chinese said they were not
ready to agree on the matter, and
asked for further time. until the next
day but the sergeant said it must be
decided at once. The Chinese told him
they must hold a meeting to choose
a man to act as agent, but were told
that the chief wished them to agree
on Wong Chong and it was for the
"The Chinese finally prevailed upon
the sergeant to let the matter rest url-
til the next day. but no meeting was
held, because members of the different
families became jealous and each
wanted to have the appointment made
from it's ranks. No persons has yet
been appointed to act as agent I
don't know anything about the gam
blers, and acted only as interpreter"
District Attorney Fredericks said
last night that the affidavits. If sworn
to, had not come to his attention. I'VE
receive numerous complaints about
gambling in that locality he said,
"and, of course, make Investigations,
which generally end in smoke"
Captain Broadhead. speaking of the
matter last night said he did not be-
lieve there was any truth in the all
legged statements said to be contained
in the affdavits He said:
'I have known Sergeant Sebastian
many years, and I feel perfectly con-
fident he would not lend himself TO
anything that even resembled the
oountenancing Of gambling in China
town. Officers Curtin ad Willetts also
have a spledid reputation in the de-
partment and have done good work In
Chinatown, and do not believe either
of them would violate their office"
The general opinion about police
headquarters is that the affair grows
out of jealousies among the different
families in Chinatown, and the officers
refuse TO take the matter seriously.