New-York tribune., 1911-12-13
BOSTON PLEADS GUILTY.
Effort Is to Conceal Police Com
plicity in Opium Traffic.
TONG WAR MAY FOLLOW
Rich Chinaman Will Go to Prison
tS Months, His Assistant,
Nine Months.

Charley Boston, now acknowledged king
OF the ring Of Chinese who snuggled opium
into this country, threw up his hands yes
terdav In the face Of overwhelming eN
dence and pleaded guilty TO the charges OF
/ smuggling opium, for which he was on trial
IN the United States Circuit Court The
uneYpected change in the attitude OF the
chinaman was ascrtbed to strong influence
eYerted upon him by men who had aided
him IN his highly profitable business for
many years. and who had good reasons 70
fear that further scrutiny Of Charley Bos-
tens acquaintance with police oficials OF
various large cities might LEAD 70 reVen-
tlons Of a startling nature.
The letters in the possession OF the gov
srnnent, which were found m Charley
Rostons desk at the time Of the raid on
his store, at No 1875 Seventh avenue. did
not indicate that the men who had written
them were aiding the rich Chinaman N the
sale OF opium, but some OF the letters or
tered a good basis for an examination on
the witness stand that might have brought
cut how Charley was able 10 conduct MS
opiun1 trade under the nose Of the local
police for fifteen years and until Uncle sam
got after him and brought about his down
fall in few weeks.
The ulea Of guilty carae as surprise 70
the prosecution. John z. walker, Assistant
United States Attorney, had devoted the
whole morning 10 an examination OF wit
nesses. through whom he sought 10 break
down Charley Bostons defence that the
cptun1 places raided did not belong TO him.
Shortly before / o'clock counsel for the
all a
client wished 20 change his plea, and the
matter was reported TO Henry A. wise
United states Attorney, who agreed TO &C.
cept the plea. Mr.. wise declined. however
TO accept any suggestion as to the penalty
he was to ask for Charley and Lai BAKE
the man who ran the store
Judge Holt imposed the sentence sus'
gested by Mr. Wise, and sent Charley Bos-
ton 10 the penitentiary al Atlanta Tor
eighteen months, while Bake has TO serve
nine months on Blackwells Island. Inis
was the penalty on the count OF indict-
ment charging conspiracy 70 smugsle
opium. while sentence on oil other counts
was suspended for FIVE years, so that BoS-
ten will practically remain on probation FOR
moro than three years after his release
| from prison.
Boston's Chinese name IS Ii Quong jung
and he is power, not only in New YORK
Chinatown but also in the Chlnese Colo-
MES in all the large cities OF the East mo
which his opium trade rad e1tenusd III tHs
| long years OF his activity.
Members Of the On Leons Tong mere
we're dismayed yesterday al the report that
Boston, their most influential man, was 70
20 70 prison For years he has oseh lHe
! financial and political oacker OF the On
Leong Tong, and during it's feud with tne
Four Brothers last year it was known ~
| Chinatown that he had aided his organlzA-
| ton with all his great wealth. HIS con.
nection with Tammany Hall was one OF
| his most highly valued assets, and Tam
many leader frequently furnished bail 10!
the members Of the On Leong Tong VINO
| had been arrested for shooting
Chinatown was agog with runlors that
the On Leong Tong was investigating the
circumstances that led 10 the raids on IT'S
leaders, opium stores, and IT'S members were
Inclined 10 believe that their rivals me
Hin Sings and the Four Brothers, had be
trayed him 10 the government Fear set,
| tied upon Mott street that another 1eud
would be the outcome OF this, and resi-
dents OF Chinatown kept strcty within
TO avoid Unforeseen accidents"
The customs authorities are satsned thar
the great opium exchange conducted ny
Charley Boston has been destroyed, and
that II will be an easy matter now 70 wipe
out the smuggling OF the dope" Boston, :
main supplies came from Canada, and his
acconplices IN the smuggling have also
been apprehended. Winslow 9 stevens has
been indicted IN the northern district for
smuggling opium for Charley Boston He
and another man, whose name IS oelns
kept secret BY the authorities, were ex-
press messengers between Montreal and
New York, and they did the smuggling for
the Chinanan, ottlcials say.