Evening star., 1933-04-30


tourists, and at one time scene OF tong
wars, slave girl traffic, opium dens and
other nefarious practices recently as
sumed some of the flavor OF its cOlorful
past for a short time.
game Of draw poker, held recently in the
room OF one Of the young bloods OF the town.
resulted in the killing of Wong Moon Lip
member of the powerful Wong family, by Lew
Adong Doom. Of the equally influential -Four
families and, as Is the custom from time i'm
memorial the payment of blood money" was
demanded by the relatives Of the dead man.
Leaders Of the two families, meeting In the
conference to decide upon a suitable sum, were
unable to agree and, consequence, rumors
of tong war were circulated. As the DREADED
news was whispered about members Of the two
groups went into hiding, and for time 1t ap-
peared that the teeming streets OF Chinatown
might serve again as a battle-ground.
But prompt action on the part Of Chief OF
Police William ]. Quinn and Inspector John
Manion. head of San Francisco's famed China
town squad, averted what might have been
throwback to the roaring nineties.
A PPEARING before the Chinese Peace 60
ciety, which serves the Chinese IS sort
q informal court Of justice for the settlement
Of their disputes, Chief Quinn and Inspector
Nanion let 1t be known that no interference
With the course Of Western Justice would be
tolerated.
The Chinese have . way Of settling their
own disputes, without taking the authorities
into consideration" explains Inspector Man
ION.
when there is a killing the group with
whom the dead man was amliated Is satisfied
by the payment of q sum Of money. For the
death of Wong Moon Lip, the Wong family at
first demanded $40, This was reduced later
to $12500 It was at this point that tax OF
. tong war was started"
Chief Quinn issued an ultimatum that he
would barricade Chinatown, In the event OF
hostiMties, and would deport every member
Of the two families who was not born In the
United States.
This sweeping pronouncement had Its enect
on the Chinese merchants, who faced ruin II
customers were barred from the district They
Immediately placed the matter in the hands OF
the Chinese Peace Society, which issued an
edict that no war would be tolerated. A pact
was signed to this effect and handed to Chief
Quinn.
with the air thus quickly cleared Of threats
81 tong war, negotiations between the two
families we're resumed and the search for the
Alleged murderer, who had been tdenthed,
meanwhile as Lew Mong Doom, was pushed with
renewed energy.
4 EW had fed His trail eventually led to New
l. York, where he was caught and brought
hack to San Francisco by Inspector Manion.
Within few weeks Of his return, Lew was
brought to trial and found guilty Of man
slaughter In the meantime the payment OF
IS 100 by the -Four Families to the Wong Family
had been agreed upon. Thus ended the momen-
tary threat to the peace Of Chinatown.
As far as Is known In San Francisco police
annals the conviction of Lew Mong Doom marks
the first time that the authorities have scored
In a case which had been settled already among
the Chinese.
It is a signal triumph In the long battle waged
by the police to preserve law and order In the
Oriental community which had its beginning
I'm the arrival of two Chinese men and a woman
On the brig Eagle in 1848.
Following these three pioneers, s. steady stream
OF Chinese poured into San Francisco The ma
5ority of these scattered about the Nation, but
the population Of the district which was to be-
come known as Chinatown steadily increased.
until In 1890, more than 10000 were living in
, section five blocks long by two blocks wide.
So limited were the housing facilities that
every inch OF available space was utilized. Many
Thousands had their homes in Easements. and
occupied . bed In shifts. It was during this
period that the story Of underground passages
gained credence
~such passages never existed" says Inspector