Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-01-27

rival tongs has been constantly spread
ing and becoming more serious and
mIrderous.
Another Recent Murder
Last Week in Sacramento another
Hop Sing president was murdered in
a mysterious manner and a member of
the order was shot to death the same
night in Oakland. Three presidents OF
the tong have been assassinated since
the beginning of the present feud and
members of the tong now look upon
anyone who accepts the presidency as
a prospective martyr to their cause.
The writer made a trip through
Chinatown last night. 1t was nearly
midnight, but the willy Celestials were
everywhere in evidence, creeping, with
folded arms and with characteristic
darts, hurrying-close up to the build
ings and among the shadowS-from
one "den" or store to another
on not few of their faces the
writer saw plainly depicted the rest
less, uneasy, furtive expression of fear
filed, hunted men-ever glancing
suddenly at the least noise behind
them, and otherwise revealing the end
less terror and dread of the assassin's
knife OF bullet, haunting the lives OF
the men who are marked for murder.
There are, according to authorities,
over 100 marked" men in Chinatown
men who have received the notice
always sent previous to the Staying OF
an enemy.
These notices are a plain piece of
paper. with a marking similar to those
on a laundry ticket, so far as an IN
initiated American can discriminate,
and they tell the recipient in plain
words that his life must pay the PEN
atty for whatever act may have been
deemed by his enemies as cause tor
death.
Only One Warning
The marked paper comes to China
man hut once. It means that he must
do one of three things-he must swear
allegiance to the enemy, prepare to die
or flee for his life into another city.
Rut even then, like the memorable
BLACK Hand of italy, the members or
the rival tong clay for him in other
cities and sooner or later he must drop
nerhaps when he least expects 1t, with
the sure, unfailing bullet of hidden
but accurate marksmen in his heart.
So terror-strit ken have the Los An
geIes Hop Sing tong members become
that it is said hundreds OF them nave
Aed into the rural districts and to
smaller towns. not daring to venture
hack into Los Angeles for fear OF
death.
rhe police have so far successfully
.cored with the tong troubles here, but
~ the officers of the various societies
really decide to center their efforts In
Los Angeles or in Southern California
for the purpose of exterminating the
Hop Sing tong it is doubtful II much
bloodshed can be prevented.
I,fl tho (thinaSa of the ClIY
who are members of the unpopular
tong are fearfully awaiting develop
rnents if not preparing to leave the
civ before the expected final outbreak
comes.
As an indication of the growing seri-
BUSINESS of the tong situation and the
FEAR which the Hop Sing members en-
tertain at the prospect OF develop
ments may be cited the attempts made
last week to prosecute Lee Fong.
This Chinese was fined $40 by Police
T,,stice Chambers for carrying con-
cealed weapons, and at the trial. in
order to secure his further conviction,
yoonv members of the Hop Sing tong
appeared, led by their secretary, Wong
Fov. to testify that Lee Fong was
highlander, imported by George Lem,
the well-known Chinese merchant to
Lii Hon Sing men. and cause more
trouble in chinatown.
A great many of the Hop Sing tong
,,,er1bers declare that Lee Fong is one
90 tbe most desperate murderers ever
broueht here and that bloody on
sIauehts are to be committed or
planned by him.
George Lem. who imported the Chi
nese alleged highlander, said on the
stand that Lee Fong was only a cook,
and had "just happened to be carry
Ing a gun" when arrested in peace
disturbing melee in Chinatown. Fong
paid his fine and hurried out OF the
lows reputation among the Hop Sings