The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1935-01-18
TRUE
by Vance "s q public Ledger
Tale of the Poisoned Dagger

THIRTY years ago number of mer
i and women were murdered in the
suburbs near Shanghai.
It was discovered that most Of the
victims had been killed by means OF
poisoned dagger.
At the same time chapels and
churches belonging to the foreign mis-
sionary societies were destroyed.
Demands for satisfaction came from
state departments In all parts Of the
world. and as a consequence the Chi.
nese government endeavored to as
certain the culprits and to punish
them.
The official placed in charge Of the
investigation was Foo Wang, who at
the time enjoyed the reputation OF
being the Sherlock Holmes Of China.
He was patient, he was resourceful,
and he never went after 'his man"
without getting him.
One of the things he found near
the scene of the crimes was bit of
calico stamped with number of Chi
nese characters.
He knew that it was a certificate of
membership in a famous secret So
ciety known as the Ko Lao Hui.
This society was originally formed
to battle with Chinese officials who
practiced extortion upon the natives
and they were as numerous as the
autumn leaves in NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
later its objects became anti-foreign
and anti-missionary.
Foo Wang went to his home and
got out his great pipe and sat down
and thought.
And he finally came to the con-
clusion that the particular bit Of calico
that he had picked up belonged to
Chen-kin-Lung, who was one Of the
most conspicuous of the Ko Lao Hui
leaders.
China is a pretty big place, but Foo
Wang had plenty Of assistants to rely
upon, and he sent them to the four
corners of the Celestial empire with
instructions to locate the supposed
leader.
Eventually he discovered that the
man he wanted was at an inn near
Pekin, and that with him were about
twenty of his followers.
Foo Wang decided that it was about
time for a roundup and he gathered
his men together for that purpose.
He found the leader In one of the
rooms of the place giving an enter
tainment to his supporters.
The Chinese detective was nothing
II not original.
He posted himself upon the veranda
Of the inn and then sent one Of his
men in to tell Chen-kin-Lung that he
was wanted outside on important bust
ness.
The unsuspecting leader excused
himself to his friends with true ce-
lestial gravity and stepped out on the
veranda.
AS he did so a great bag was thrown
over his head, two men seized him and
he was carried, kicking and gestieu-
lating, to nearby wharf and placed
on a vessel.
There, bound and gagged, he was
taken In the direction of Shanghai
Just before the boat reached its des-
tination the detectives brought the
suspect into the cabin and put him
through the third degree-which
means something in China.
But while -kin-Lung might have
been down he was far from being out.
He smiled his inscrutable smile
and said nothing.
They literally put the screws upon
him but failed to elicit the slightest
information.
His clothing and effects were now
brought to the detective and given a
careful examination.
In the flowing sleeves of one Of his
kimonos was found a dagger with a
poisoned blade.
1t had the appearance of being the
weapon with which the Shanghai muir.
ders had been committed.
Also the Investigators found a num-
Der of letters and communications ad.
dressed to the prisoner.
In each of them he was addressed
as the Eighth Great Prince"
This was proof positive that he was
at the head of the secret society and
that he undoubtedly aimed at securing
the control of the country.
Among the other things found were
number Of the calico certificates In
dicating membership in the Ko Lao
Hui.
Koo Wang now had more than
enough evidence to send his distin-
guished prisoner to the block.
But he wanted to get the names OF
others and be besought the prisoner
to make a clean breast Of the whole
conspiracy.
But Chen-kin-Lung was a wise
Chinaman and he knew that he was
sure to be beheaded.
So he remained silent. He was re
turned to the hold of the vessel and
told that he would be given until the
next morning to make complete rev
citation of his mysterious society.
But the next morning he was gone
-mysteriously-and nothing was ever
Il