The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, February 10, 1901, Page 23

FERORERERETE KON 1R XONOREQ 0es 2310 32 G500 FEXGEORGHOE S X S HOHORORORON ‘munonn SAN FRANCISCO, GRAVE BUT UNCORROBORATED ACCUSATIONS ARE MADE AGAINST CHIEF SULLIV S P HPHIRO HING DAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1901. AND CAPTAIN WITTMAN Witnesses Repeat What Chinese Have Told Legislative Investigators Receive Startling Tes- Them of the Creation and Payment of a Police Blackmail Fund to Insure Immunity <+ HE first week of the Leg- islative inquiry into the al- Jeged corruption of the Police Department is ended and still there is nothing more than hearsay testi- mony and suspicious collateral cir- cumstances to prove that Chinese have bribed officials for tmmunity in gambling and social vice. At the sessions of the investigating committee yesterday witnesses testi- fied that many years ago the Police been given during the investiga- tion, but at best it is the testimony of Chinese presented through the medium of white go-betweens. The names of the Chinese who are said B 4 room was crowded to the erday morning when the investigators resumed ry. The affair has been sreat public interest nd the develop- ply 4dd to police” placed a stand yesterday and of knowing that 4 & most serious ed E. A. Finn, a watch- ese. He has worked The his o r 2 gambling house t sort of testimony the commit- iner reporter, Assemblyman ying fantan. k Crowley was ng witnesses of left no doubt s of the inquiry extremely difficult d always has for the Police De- partment to suppress gambling.in the Chinese district. Further than that Chlet Crowley said that there is no question that in times past there has been corrup- olice-Department in reference inese. Not only was this the fact, ef Crowley declared that an effort made to bribe him. timony consequently was of ex- est. He said that the great the suppression of gambling ty under which the petent evidence. s in their gam- y innocent. As Wittman is concerned, nat he had never £ which conyinced him of ¥ of that officer. When the brought several years ago n Wittman, ex-Chief Crow- ed the charges 1o n convinced him, bow Wright th Ex-Chief of Pol He declare: been Crowley be however, of I rowley re was corr nt an twenty-three men were dis- ed for dishonesty. What the charac- of the present administration may be tte witness did Dot presume to say. .bout six years ago ex-Chief Crowley said that a deliberate effort was made to bribe him He was offered $600 if he would permit abandoned women to live on the first floors of houses. He, of course, declined to do so. witness was the Rev. Dr who translated a motice which and is now posted on the walls It is a notice and announce- sale of slave girls who are in Sullivan alley. This ance, perbaps, in this city iry where the authorita- v a slave market. Not , but Dr. Gardner told of other gns which showed that in Chinatown to- day Chinese girls are for sale. This, in & way, is one of the most startling bits of tesiimony given at the investigation. Gardner also testified that it is as ‘_ £y to get into a Chinese gambling game s it is to enter a4 courtroom in the Hall Justice. He has heard also that &ambling in Chinatown appears to go on without interference through some. ar- rengement with some one. * The houses are being beautified and are being made alluring and remarks have naturally fol- lowed this condition of affairs. As far as any direct allegations were concerned Dr. Gardner could make none. He showed, however, that crime and vice are rampant and are growing very rapidly. Jerome Millard,-an-interpreter. gave the startling testimony that he was told by Chinese that they paid, their’ corruption fund to- Serge: Brophy and' were as- sured that if the.money were paid Chief Sullivan and -Captain = Wittman would guarntee immunity. Robert Ferral related his woes as an- attorney whohad lost employment by Chinése slave owners. He declared that his clients’told him that they were dealing directly with the police. A recess was then taken until $:3) o'clock to-morrow morning. i £ i TELLS OF SLAVERY AND _POLICE BRIBERY Yesterday’'s Session Produces Impor- tant Testimony From Men of Standing in Community. While yesterday’s sessions of the legls- lative committee’s investigation of the Police Department were devold of any sensational features, the testimony was of a most important character. That gambling and vice had joined hands to corrupt the Police Department was testified to by ex-Chlef of Police Crowley, who not only had heard a'few years ago that some of his officers were dishonest, but had been approached him- self with the view of allowing the criminal element. of Chinatown to ve euaranteed immunity. Another important fact was brought out, namely, that Chinese gamblers and lot- tery dealers had openly claimed that they had paid money to Chief Sulllvan and Captain Wittman. The testimony was merely hearsay, but such as it was it behooves the Chief and his captain to dis- prove it. 2 Flaring immorality and the barter for gold of human chattels were told of by Rev. Dr. John E. Gardner who is, with- out doubt, the best qualified man in the United Sta.es to testify as to the doings of the Chinese in this city. For many years Dr. Gardner has waged war agalnst the slave dealers In his capacity as Chi- nese inspector and Interpreter for the Federal Government. His testimony yes- terday might have referred to the city of Peking rather than to San Francisco, so terrible were the facts disclosed. For the slave trade which exists in San Francisco the police cannot be wholly blamed. - Corrupt Federal officials have been exposed many times, all of whom were in league with the slave deal- ers. For many years The Call waged war on the slave dealers and . ~'= v-aite al- lies and to-day the bars are closely guard- ed by the Government to prevent the im- portation of the female wares. At the morning session of the legisla- tive investigation yesterdav, Speaker Pen- dleton of the Assembly and Arthur Fisk, who fathered the “searchlight,” were on hand to witness the proceedings. Although the session was called for 10 o’clock, there were no witnesses present until an hour later. Alden Boyle, a student of the High School, was the first witness called. He testified that he was a brother of J. J. Boyle, the reporter for the Jxaminer who had previously given evidence to the com- mittee. - The witness had accompanied his Department was unquestionably corrupt in its relations with Chi- nese and that bribes were offered even to the Chief of Police. Testimony was given that Chi- nese gamblers have told white men that they paid blackmail to the Po- lice Department, that Sergeant Brophy was the collector for the de- partment and that Chief of Police Sullivan and Captain- Wittman had given assurances that the po- lice would not molest gamblers or disturb illegal houses if the money were paid. This testimony is the most direct in its accusations of any which has brother to Chinatown when the Ilatter bought lottery tickets. He went to Chi- natown six times and visited about twenty lottery rooms. Boyle saw his brother buy tickets and had himself purchased some. Many ite men were In the lottery rooms. Witness had never visited a fan- tan game. At the request of Attorney Dunne, who represents the police, D. A.Finn, a watch- man in Chinatown, was called to the wit- ness stand. It would have been better it Finn had not been put forward, for he made a sorry exhibition of himself. In his efforts to prove that white men were not allowed to play fantan Finn went so far as to describe the Celestlal quarter as be- ing as pure as snow. He furnished con- siderable amusement to the members of the committee and the crowd of specta- tors. —— WATCHMAN FINN IN A FORGETFUL MOOD He Is Placed on the Stand by the Police, but Makes a Very Poor Witness. Finn was examined by Assemblyman Webber, and in reply to questions sald: “I am a watchman in Chinatown. 1 watch stores, lodging-houses, family houses and warehouses. There are no gambling places in my district. There were a few fantan games some time ago. but none now.. I don’t know of any hcuses of ill-fame or lottery places being in my district. 1 have never seen white men play fantan with Chinese. They will never let a white man in. Once I wanted to show some visitors how the game was played, and I asked the gamblers to let us come in. They let us ih the Toom but there was no game in progress. 1 am not a special officer and have no star. I am well known to the Chinese. 1 know where 731 Pacific street is. I have never been in it, but have scen white men go in.” (This' is the place where Witness Boyle purchased lottery tickets.) *“The white men who went in were police officers, I never saw any oth- er white men go in there. I have seen Chinese women in houses, but never saw anything to offend the eye.” “Do you know of any houses in China- town being used for immoral purposes?” I cannot say that I do.” “You watch all that property you have described and know for what use each ho“y" is put to, do you not?” “Yes “Will you not swear that some of these houses were used for Immoral purposes?: “J will not swear that some of them wcre so used.” “You never saw a fantan game?” ‘‘No. I have been in houses where I was told it was played, but never saw the same. The witness then stated that opium was smoked in almost every house in China- town, but that there were no places where men ‘went to In order to smoke. =it the Rciibed the buildings which are an sthcs e re on el side of Baker ailey, " ' 5 “Is not Baker alley ti g R Y the most notorious No; there are no gambling dens there.” “Are there any houses of {ll-fame Lhew’.’" 1 hy b “Women live there, bus they 1ead tmmoral Tivesrr | caunot say “Do you meun to tell us that In your experience in Chinatown you do not know that these houses In Baker_ aliey are houses of {ll-fame and that %be women Who live there lead notoriously immoral ‘Y‘eo'lfly what I have heard.” “Will you swear that white men do! ‘ lay fantan, or cannot get in gaml eoofi where it is phy:df" i In support of this testimony was evidence tending to show that gam~ bling in Chinatowon is now being conducted absolutely without check; that in the last few months the Chi- nese have been more daring and open in their operations and have conducted themselves as if they were assured of protection. A law- yer swore that the Chinese keepers of disreputable houses, which he was employed to protect, informed him that they had no further use for timony Which Proves That San Francisco Is a Slave Market for Sale of Chinese Girls <= 1 ES - e WITNESSES WHO MADE GRAVE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST THE POLICE. - to have made these damaging as- sertions are known, and the coolies will probably be called by the com- mittee. “I won't swear they don't won't swear they can't get in. “That will do.” Reporter J. J. Boyle was recalled, and at the request of Mr. Dunne was asked for the address of the house where he went to on Friday night with Assemblyman Wright, where the latter played fantan with Chinese. The witness stated that the house .was situated at 808 Dupont etreet, and the room they played in was on the second floor. He deseribed the jlace as being a “big Chinese restaurant.” he witness denied that he had made any previous arrangements for the game, but divulged the fact that he had made ar- rangements with a white man to take Mr. Wright and the witness to the game. This admission caused a loud laugh in the courtroom, and Attorney Dunne asked that Boyle furnish the name of the white man with whom arrangements to visit the game had been made. Boyle promised to have the man cn hand when wanted by the committee. EX-CHIEF P. CROWLEY ON WITNESS STAND Tells of His Experience With Chinese and Offers Made to Cor- rupt Him. The afternoon session commenced sharp on time and ex-Chlef of Police Patrick Crowley was the first witness called. Chalrman Knowland put the questions to the ex-Chief, who testified as follows; “I have lived in this city for more than fifty years and was Chief of Police for twenty-five years. That was the only po- sition I ever held In the department. I am now connected with the Hibernia BLank. 1 can say nothing as to the police methods of this city at the present time. 1 was sick when 1 left the department, and have not taken any interest but in my own business.” e “I want your opinion as an ex-Chief of Police of tnis city as to the best metnods to suppress gambling in Chinatown.” ““I'hat is 2 pard job."” “Were you ever able to suppress it?" “I did all I could.” ““Why is it difiicult to suppress fantan games and lottery?” d"u is difficuit to secure the legal evi- ence.” o you think it is the fault of the o convict in these cakes we must have certain testimony. Tne law muignt be amended to aliow the introduction of certan evidence. ‘The Chinese use beans, peas, buttons apd even candy In playing 1antan. The law ought to allow these things to be introduced as evidence in gambling cases. Regarding immorality in Chinatown, { used my efforts to have a law passed which allowed the reputa- tion of ;‘ house to be Inmrm‘:: evl'y. dence. . To suppress imm . onl way to do is to blockade the quarter where the houses are. 1t would take 200 men to do this in Chinatown. I have done it, but it left the rest of the city without rotection. I know of the slave trade ex- Emn: in the city. It exists far differently to what most people think. Some news- per men understand the methods of the 33uen RuUse they have investigated the - The ex-Chief then went into detai]l as to how the slave dealers get hold of young women of their race and - force them to lead lives of shame. He told how women are brought landed under the guise of being native-born Ame: married if necessary a Chinaman to satisfy the courts and then laced in the slave dems. He also told Eow respectable women are torn from thelr husbands om by the slave dealers using the courts of “A trumped up of made, warrants are Jplay and I law. s arresti en e bail for her by one of is gang. the dealers get his services as they were dealing di- rectly with the police. They told him that if he could assure them absolute immunity in gambling and social wvice they would pay him thousands of dollars and would give many other thousands to per- sons who would fix the police. It was also testified that cven now anrouncements are posted on the walls of Chinatown giving in- formation of the sale of slave girls g this city. That San Francisco is a slave market for Chinese girls was therefore for the first time an- nounced in a judicial proceeding. These, in outline, were the develop- ments yesterday in the inquiry. and that is the last seen of her by her friends. She is to be found In the slave dens of Chinatown.” CROWLEY THINKS THAT Personally Questioned People Who Brought Charges Against the Captain. ““What is your opinion of Captain Witt- man'’s record in Chinatown?” “I think he did his duty. Charges were made against him some years ago. I in- vestigated them, personally questioned women .and assured them of the protec- tion of the law if they testified, and was satisfled that there was nothing in the charges against Wittman. He was ac- quitted by the Police Commissioners. No speclal complaint was ever made against Wittman from Chinatown. There is al- trouble up there, however.” you know of police corruption by the Chinese?" “l have no personal heard rumors. knowledge, but Some years ago 1 dis- charged a number of ofiicers who had done duty in Chinatown. No direct proof of corruption was forthcoming, but the conduct “of the officers warranted dis- missal.” “Was any offer ever made to you by the Chinese of a large sum of money ip order that they might be allowed to gamble and run houses of ill fame?" “Twenty years ago such an offer was made to me by the gamblers through an attorney: who is now dead. Seven years agu an offer was made to me by the Chi- nese through a white man who had busi- ness dealings with them.” “What was that offer?" “They wanted to be allowed to run houses of {ll-fame unmolested by the po- lice and offered me $5000. I had previously made the women move from the street floor to the floor upstairs and they want- ¢4 to be allowed 10 occupy their old quar- ers. +~Who was the white man who made this offer to you?’ ““I prefer not to sav. He is alive, but has no further dealings with the Chinese. He did not tell me the hames of the Chi- nese who had asked him to make me that offer. 1 know that me told them that it was ‘useless to see me and tnat all the goid in tbe world would mot make ma inch from my duty. They insisted, how- ever, that he come to me with the offer. I never heard a complunt of police black- mail. 1 never knew of white men visit- ing Chinese houses of ill-fame .except through rumor.” - TELLS OF TRAFFIC IN SLAVE GIRLS- Rev. Dr. Gardner Throws Light on Chinese Bartering Girls in This City. Rev. John E. Gardner was then called to the witness stand and examined by Assemblyman Schillig. The witness testi- fled as follows: “I am an inspector of Chinese and in- terpreter for the Federai Government and out the al ELEL TN DL S prosittons ot nese and studied it in China, Australia, Canada and this country. I am cun- stantly” in town. 1 have never seen white men play fantan, but I h PEAS e el P'have mever been m the lotte places. in ve signs displayed. My work natown and elsewhere is to pre- vent to- bling and lottery € {llegal landing of Chinese and not saw some of the gam- iast night in China- e signs ywed that Iamuh pi- ugd lottery games were carried on . paper bearing Chinese characters and was asked if he had ever seen a sign like it displayed in front of a gambling place. He answered in the negative. “The gambling house signs are mostly written on white paper. I have seen signs like this posted on the street cor- ners. I was in Chinatown when a report- er asked me to transiate this sign. I did 80 and he tore it down. It was posted up on the corner of Sacramento and Dupont streets on the southwest side.” “Will you translate that writing for us? “I will give you a free translation. It reads as follows: ‘The stock in trade and good will of a_house >f prostitution for sale. Madame Law Wong Sut of this city secretly escaped and returned to China on the 14th day of tne present month, leaving behind the business, stock and trade of the house of prostitution on Sul- livan alley. = Madame Law Wong Sut owed a lot of money on goods advanced to her by people of weaith. The creditors have agreed to take the whole business and sell it to pay her debts. Any coun- tryman wishing the busimess let him go to the house of prostitution and talk to the creditors. As to the amounts owed by Madame Law Wong Sut they will be reported by the 20th ¢f the month. Bilis Wwill be presented up-to that time and not after. This notice is given so that thare may be no after talk. Dated Qwong Suey, 26th year, 14th day, lust month.” “That date corresponds with February Do you know where that house f; “I do not. It is an easy matter to reco; nize the Chinese houses of ill-fame. Thev all have lattice work windows, look-out windows and painted women behind the windows soliciting. men who pass along the street. These houses exist in Sullivan and Ross alleys.” ““Have you seen white med go into these places or young white men?" “‘Yes, I have seen these women solicit- ing soldiers, mostly- young soldiers. 1 have never eeen white boys go into these houses.” ” “‘Have you seen white men and boys go {onery places?” . Int; thhe “l have seen men and young men go into them. They went in ayfevn‘u a (lm'e. I cannot say that I saw police officers near when these men went In.” “Are there more lotteries and gambling places in the last few months t{fln pre- viously?” L 2m afraid to say I have neticed at. ‘‘Have you heard the Chinese talking about immunity from arrest?” PERVADES CHINATOWN Gamblers and Slave-Dealers Act in a Free Manner, Indicating No Fear of Arrest. “T have not heard them so talking, but there was a feeling in the air that some- thing of the kind existed. As the Chinese say, there was a tranquil air. The num- ber of lights in front of the gambling and lottery places were increased and the Chinese would g0 in and out of these places In a free manner, not at all alarmed or careful.” 3 “What do you know of the slave trade?" “As a Federal officer I am most famil- far with it. I have prevented the landing of many girls destined for the slave dens. 1 have rescued many girls from the dens while aidi the ladies of' the missions.” “Do you kunow of girls being sold in Chinatown?” “lL do. I have one in my charge now who was recently rescued from a house ot {li-fame by the mission ‘zeflple. The S 5ir is a minor. She will be deported to China by, order of the Federal courts. Girls res- cued from the slave dens have told me in ices they were story. Ma ave beenlured from their homes and forced to lead lives of Illnbr by their owners. They are brutally treat- ed and Intimidated. "I have often seen slgnl displayed annoncing girls for sale. There is not" the sl(?hles! doubt in my mind that the sign [ have translated is a sign announcing the sale of human be- ings. 1 recently translated similar signs for Captain Wittman."” ‘“Have the lookouts for the places been as active in the past few months as they were previously " ““No, they have not, but the solicitors for the lottery places have been most ac- tive. They accost people passing along and say to them, ‘Tickets, gentlemen; tickets, gentlemen.’ It is as easy to go into one of those lottery places as Jt is to come into this courtroom.” [ 23 “What remarks have you heard the Chinese make as to the air of tranquillity you have spoken of 7 “lI have heard them say the ti ull state was not secured for nothing. flmblen seem to be having a good time. The lookouts have been withdrawn and the places seem to run without interfer- ence.” “Knowing the Chinese as you do, what would you infer from the remarks you heard that the tranquil time was not se- cured for nothing?" “I inferred that gambling was to be al- lowed to go unmolested.” - “Have you ever complained to !B'C po- lce of the conditions of inatown?" “I have. Captain Wittman helped to close up the highbinders. If that work had been kept up they would all have been driven out of the city. To-day they are very much alive.” “How do you know that?” “On account of the frequent murders in Chinatown. I have seen Chinese men ac- cost white men and ask them to go in to the houses of ill fame.” ACLUSING TESTIMONY AGAINST THE POLICE Interpreter i{ilu‘d Says Chinese Spoke of Bribing Chief Sullivan and Wittman. Jerome Millard was then called and tes- tifled that he was a Chinese interpreter to the courts of this city and county. He had acted as interpreter for twenty years. He was in Chinatown every day. He talked freely with Chinese and mingled with them. “I know,” said the witness, “all the gamblers by sight. I haye known Qwong Hing. Chan Chin, SarJose Charlie, Buck- eye and Wong- Fook for many years. They are all. interested In gambling houses. I have talked with Qwong Hing about police protection. . He acknowledged to me that gamblers were to pay for po- lice protection. He asked me how the white people felt about Chinese gambling and running houses of ill fame. I can- not remember a!l the conversation I had with the men mentioned. This occurred three years ago. They told me they be- longed to a committee to secure poiice protection for the gamblers and keepers of the dens. Qwong Hing told me that the future management of the gambling houses would be in the hands of Chief Sullivan and Captain Wittman. This was three weeks ago. I have talked with them about a cofruption fund. -They said they had to pay the police for the of gambiing. They spoke of t Brophy as the man who collected the money once & week.” “For what purpose did they say they gaye the money to the police?” “To secure immunity from arrest.” “Wkho told you this? “Quorr Been and another man w name I eannot remember. They satd ve the money te Brophy once a weess. y sald the rate paid was $10 hu gambling house and lotteries. They Continued on bhg' Twenty-five.