Los Angeles herald., 1908-01-04
CHINESE LASS GONE,
OFFICERS ATLOSS
LII GUM MAY BE ON HIGH SEAS
OR IN SAN FRANCISCO
Fearing Disappearance of Hong Toe,
Her Playmate, Mother Is Hailed
to Court on Cruelty
Charge

Where is Lu Gumf Is Sne nluuen III
some dark corner of San F'rancisco's
Chinatown, or is she aboard the good ship
Siberia, on the journey back to her old
China home?
Lu Gum, a Chinese child. of tender
years, has disappeared, and the proba-
ton officers feel as IL they had been
tricked, for had not Lu been given into
their care. while Jung Sui. the little ones
alleged father, was made the actual GUS
todian of the baby?
The probation officers are determined,
however, not to be imposed upon a sec
ond time, and as a result of this determ
nation a Chinese woman, dressed In the
male-like attire of her country, sat in
Judge Wilbur's juvenile court yesterday,
her dark lashes half closed over almond
shaped eyes, as she looked fondly down
into the face of a little four-year-old
girl. And little Hong Toe clapped her
tiny hands and looked lovingly upward
into the mother face in manner so af-
fectionate that persons who were familiar
with the circumstances surrounding their
presence found it hard to realize that the
woman was accused of cruelty toward
the child.
On either side of the woman and child
were seated boys representing a number
of different nationalities. Two colored
lads occupied the end seats, the mind of
one apparently absorbed in his troubles,
while the large black eyes of the other
restlessly observed every movement of
his companions. His trousers were drawn
up until they almost did duty as a waist,
and the shoulders of an ill-fitting shirt
protruded like two wings.
Neighbor Italian
His neighbor was an italian boy while
another chair was occupied by young
American with a penchant for running
away from home
But the attention of almost everyone
present was centered on the Chinese wo-
man and her little daughter The two ap~
peared in answer to a petition of Mrs.
Kate Atkinson, special probation
officer, who. under the direction Of the
court, has been watching the fortunes of
Hong Toe and Lu Gum.
But Lu Gum has shaken the dust of
Los Angeles from the felt soles of her
little shoes. Mrs. Atkinson says the
child was taken to San Francisco by
Jung Sui, her alleged father, and the
two are believed to have sailed for the
Flowery kingdom on the Siberia day or
two later.
But little Lp Gums experiences have
not been nearly so strenuous as those of
her one-time playmate, Hong Toe, If the
allegations of the probation officers are
correct. First, it is claimed, the little
girl was taken outside the county, and
therefore OUTSIDE the JurlSulcllOH Oh lne
court. Where or why she was removed
is not known, and Quong Din, her al
legged father, with true Chinese slyness.
is not vouchsafing any information.
Little One Hidden
The child was brought back and con-
cealed according to the officers, in some
out of the way place, a long and tedious
search being necessary to locate her.
Again she disappeared, and it was only
after every nook and corner of the
Chinese settlement was ransacked that
she was discovered.
The finding of Hong Toe and the dis
appearance of Lu Gum took place about
the same time, and the probation officers.
fearing that Hong Toe. too, might be
spirited away, appealed to the court yes
terday to investigate the matter and is
sue a new order in the case.
The officers claim the surrounding in
which Hong Toe has been living are ut
terly demoralizing and that the child is
cruelty treated. Mother and child were
sent to the detention home for a week.
pending an investigation.