The San Francisco call., 1909-06-25
FAIL TOF|ND TIE
MURDERER ON
THE MANCHURIA
Police Search the Big China
Liner, but Obtain No Trace
of Leon Ling
Belief Increases That Slayer of
Elsie SigeI Is Hiding in
This Vicinity

Police Jesse b. Cook san Francisco:
Arrest, on charge Of homicide. Leon
Ling. alias William Leon; height. 8 feet
inches; age, 80 yesrs; weight. 125
pounds; smooth face; good teeth; black
hair. cut American fashion; black eyes;
dresses American style, probably in a
black suit JAMES MeCAFFERTN,
Inspector of Detectives, New York.
with secret assuran noes from the New
York police department that Leon Ling,
the Chinese murderer OF Elsie Sigel
the young girl who was butchered in
New York and hidden away in a trunk
is hiding somewhere in California
probably in san Francisco or Oakland.
the police Of those two cities spent all
yesterday in a feverish endeavor to
locate and apprehend the fugitive be
fore he makes his way out Of their
clutches 10 lur5 in the interior towns
or get safely out Of the country on an
orient liner or a fishing boat for the
north.
Led by a score Of diverse cIews they
guarded many suspected houses in the
Chinatowns Of both sides of the bay.
and on several occasions raiding
parties dashed into the homes of men
tive. TO be members of his tong or
some distant relation. One scouting
party made a sudden descent upon the
liner Manchuria as she lay alongside
the dock waiting TO leave for the far
east.
All their efforts proved in vain
NOT THE SAME MAN
Acting upon information from local
attorney who believed that he had de-
Tended Leon Ling with others of the
Hip Sing tong IN murder case shortly
before the earthquake the police. un-
der the personal directions OF Chief
Cook. made a search of the rogues'
gallery hoping TO secure the murderer's
portrait The search proved without
avail, however. for il was found that
the Chinese who had been defended by
the local attorney was Fong Ling alias
Leon Fong. q former president of the
Hip Sing tong. From reliable sources
the police have learned that this man
IS now in Alaska and has been for
some time.
Leon Ling, the fugitive murderer,
has a distant cousin here. Tai Hee. who
has furnished the authorities with in
formation that may prove Of value.
particularly q detailed description of
the Chinese, something they sorely
lacked So far as known the murderer
has not been in California for many
wears. he went 70 Chicago with his
father when a young boy, and has
spent the time since then in eastern
cities. There are few San Francisco
Chinese who know him
The police fear, however, that, even
though the man is little known here,
his tong. the Hip Sings, will come to
his assistance and hide him away un-
I'll he can be spirited out of the coun=
Try The prominent members of the
Hip Sings are being shadowed, and
chinatown seems TO be aware of the
fact. for the Celestials are much con-
cerned about the murder.
INTERIOR CITIES WATCHED
The police of interior cities have
been notified 10 be on the alert and
have been furnished with a descrip-
tion Of the murderer. for it is thought
that he may have made his way to
some smaller town. where his tong is
represented, and sought seclusion un-
iii the affair blows over. Walnut
Greek. Sacramento and San Jose are
towns where the Hip Sings are strong.
Leon Ling has many distant blood rel
atives in the southern part of the
state also, and Los Angeles and other
towns have been warned.
A Chinese in the imTni grafton serv-
ice. who recently arrived from New
York. told Commissioner Of Immigra-
tion Hart North yesterday that he knew
both Elsie Sigel and Leon Ling well
He said that he would be glad to go
TO the Manchuria and see whether or
not the Chinese murderer had been
smuggled aboard.
SEARCH THE MANCHURIA
North teIephoned Chief Cook. and the
chief sent a squad of men down to the
steamer. 1t was searched from stem
10 stern, but no Chinese answering to
the telegraphed description of Leon
Ling was found. nor any one the local
Chinese said looked like the fugitive
North refuses TO divulge the name of
the Chinese in his employ who aided in
searching the Manchuria fearing that
his countrymen might cause him
trouble.
The Oakland police have raided diff
T. ferent quarters in the Chinese district
across the bay, but have been baf1ed
in their every effort to secure a glimpse
Of the fugitive they believe is hiding
there. All last night picket Of police
guarded the Suey Sing headquarters
at s4l Webster street. and Wednesday
night the building was raided and ell
the Chinese found within were sub
5ected TO a strict search.
OAKLAND POLICE ALERT
Like the San Francisco police. Cap
tain Petersen has positive information
that assures him that Leon Ling is in
or near the bay cities, and from New
York also has come a secret message
giving the names and addresses of
certain Chinese with whom the mur-
derer is supposed to be in hiding. All
these places except one have been
raided.
It was only last night that Captain
Petersen learned from his secret
sources that a Chinese had exchanged
50 900 IN American securities for Hong
kong securities. With that informa-
ton came positive declarations that
Leon Ling hoped to reach the Manchu-
ria today
secret police attempts to arrest the
fugitive began last Monday evening.
with information from New York of a
probable lurking place in Oakland,
CAPTAIN Petersen set a trap which
oriental cunning avoided.
The acting chief sent to the address
Given by the New York captain of de-
fectfves a registered letter. The mes
eenger bearing IT was really a police
,syofssarv. His knock at the door was
.Dswered by a Chinese. who asked him
- wait and closed and locked the
door A few moments later the Chi
nese returned and asked that the letter