The San Francisco call., 1908-04-26
By Robert Ferral

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TWENTY years ago last month
March 2S, lSSS-Chinatown was
the scene of a typical and charac-
teristic tragedy. The place, Clay
street between stockton and Dupont.
The victim, a harmless and industrious
Chinese named Yen Yuen. The slayer,
a murderous and notorious highbinder,
called Lee Chuck. known and dreaded
throughout that quarter of San Fran
cisco as the bodyguard of Little Pete.
At that time, and within hundred feet
Of the place of the shooting. the latter
kept and ran a shoe factory. The luck
less Yen Yuen was riddled with bullets
and died instantly. Lee Chuck, after a
desperate resistance, in which he came
within an ace Of killing one. if not two,
Of the arresting officers, who had run
up from the hall Of justice on hearing
the fusillade of shots. was handcuffed
and taken to prison. On searching him
the usual big revolver was found un-
der his blouse. il being the custom
among the celestial deSperadoes to car
ry at least two guns, but something
more important and quite unusual was
also brought to light. His body was
covered with, and protected by, a COM
plete shirt of mail. 1t was no common
affair, but of exquisite workmanship
and worth a large sum of money. No
wonder the brave Chuck, who was
credited with a half dozen murders, had
proved bullet proof in many desperate
encounters with his countrymen,
The deceased, so far as could be as
certained, had no quarrel individually
with the dreaded highbinder-in fact
did not know him-and, being a quiet,
peaceable man, had never been mixed
up in the numerous troubles and quar-
rels of the lawless element. But it
turned out that two we'll known tongs
were at war and poor Yuen had the
misfortune TO belong to one OF them.
The Guy Sinsears and the Bo Sinsears.
as they We're called, having had big
row over women and gambling dens,
We're industriously engaged in cutting.
shooting and hatcheting each other in
different parts Of the state. As Gus
tOmary, ii didn't make much difference
who they killed so long as he belonged
TO the other faction. The individual
slaughtered simply counted for one
more in averaging up the work of ven
geance.
From this typical highbinder tragedy
resulted several criminal trials of a
somewhat celebrated and exciting
character. A number Of the leading
lawyers in their line were arrayed on
the side Of the prosecution and defense.
On the side of the accused, the late
Hail McAllister. at the head of the
bar and justly famous for his learning
and matchless eloquence, appeared dur
ing the first trial Later on the Hon.
George 4. Knight, whose skill and ora
tory are recognized beyond the con-
fines of California, took his place on
the same side. The writer, appearing
as special counsel for the prosecution,
assisted the district attorneys Office
from the beginning to the close, run
ming over q year in point of time.
AS it is not the intention to go into
the detail Of the several trials, nor
Of those growing out Of this particular
case. / viii merely mention that the
supreme court twice took the halter
from the neck of Lee Chuck. who was
finally convicted of murder for the
third time and sent to states prison for
life. Fortunately, and to the great
relief of a host of his fellow "chinks,
the terrible highbinder has gone to a