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==Native Americans== ==African Americans== ==Chinese== 2 Jan 1885 [[Judge Brown]] in district court. 4 pm trial begins. [[Sam Lee]] is defendant. Dr. [[W. A. Burleigh]] represents the defense. Prosecuting Attorney is [[William H. Ross]]. County [[physician]] Dr [[J. J. Wood]] testifies that he can't tell whether residue is opium or not. Several Chinese testify that the most of the pipes taken as evidence are not suitable for smoking opium. Burleigh argues that even if they were, presence does not necessarily mean usage. Both attorneys fought vigorously for their cases. The judge postponed action until the next grand jury, where he hoped that the true nature of the compounds could be determined, bond set at $300. The other four will be tried the next day. From my hometown newspaper, 1886: "It has long been known by the officers that a resort of opium smokers was being conducted in this city, but until Sunday night the locality of the opium den was only guessed. At about midnight officers [[Milton M. Russell]] and [[Frank Westervelt]] by chance dropped upon the exact location of one of these dens, and watching their opportunity the officers gained an entrance to an apartment of Ah Sam's laundry on Bridge street near Sixth and the curtain rose upon a crowded house. As the officers appeared upon the scene two of the Chinamen made a run and escaped, the others, utterly dumbfounded remained, apparently too much surprised to attempt escape. Four of the visitors to the den were lying upon the wooden bunks engaged in the pernicious occupation of "hitting the pipe a lick," and six others were bucking a Chinese game, the proprietor, [[Ah Sam]], attending to the frequenters of his house. No trouble was encountered in effecting the arrest of the entire delegation; they were herded by officers Russell and Westervelt and driven like sheep to the county jail, where they were taken care of for the remainder of the night. Yesterday afternoon the prisoners were arraigned, and the probate court room was crowded by the heathen and a few of their swarthy friends. [[Charlie Chung]], the "[[celestial]]" gambler, was secured by the court to act as an interpreter, and the names of the offenders were thus obtained. They are [[Ah Sam]], the keeper of the den, [[Ah Yoht]], [[Ah Song]], [[Ah Guong]], [[Ah Guing]], [[Ah Young]], [[Ah Chong]], [[Gee Bob]], [[Jim Shaw]], [[Jim Twoy]] and [[Hop Gee]]. The first seven named could not furnish the bail of $100 and were after arraignment returned to the care of the turnkey. Gee Bob, a boss laundryman of Bridge street, was released upon personal recognizance; Jim Shaw and Twoy, employed by [[Macqueen]] at the post were bailed by [[Louis King]] and Hop Gee, who is a big chief among the Chinamen and proprietor of an oriental store at Bozemen, was released upon collateral security which was deposited in the Sheriff's safe the night before. The Chinamen were provided with an [[attorney]], Judge [[J. W. Strevell]], and the case will be commenced this morning at ten o'clock, before [[Probate Judge]] [[Stable]]. There is one Chinaman yet at large who was in the den at the time of the raid, the other, Chong, being captured by Russell yesterday and arraigned, and [[Jim Chung]], a cook working at [[Annie Gurner]]'s place, for whom she went good but who will be tried along with the others today. A lot of opium, pipes and et cetera found in all well regulated opium dens was captured and also a small quantity of money for which the gamblers were playing. Hop Gee had upon his person when arrested about $200 in money and jewelry, he was running the bank at the den against which the games were bucking. The officers were somewhat disappointed in the countenances of the prisoners as it was thought when the raid was made that probably there would have been some devotees of the pipe who had claims to a whiter skin. Tomorrow Charlie Chung and [[Tommy Tong]] will act as interpreters and the trial will be quite interesting, especially to those acquainted with the sing song ?inigo? of the orient." The next day, Ah Sam was tried and convicted, but his health and wealth were considered in the choice of punishment, so he was fined $10 and charged $39.65 in court costs, reduced to $32.15 after all Chinese witnesses waived their reimbursements. He paid the $42.15 immediately. This was his first known conviction for any crime. His "opium plant" was returned to him and he was released. The reporter describes Ah Sam as "a most wretched, miserable looking fellow, an abject slave to the drug, and his hollow eyes lighted up for the first time since his capture when he was allowed to take his beloved pipes and drugs and leave the court room." Hop Gee, the [[Bozeman]] merchant, was next and the charges were dropped because there was no evidence that he had used opium, being the bank for the gambling. He was immediately re-arrested and charged however, of selling goods without a license. He claimed that he thought his Gallatin county license covered him throughout Montana. Case was settled by him purchasing a Custer county license for $25 and said he was leaving town. He had originally wanted to go to Billings (prob meant Bozeman) and the judge offered to let him go if he pleaded guilty to the opium smoking for a $16 fine, but Hop Gee thought that was excessive so he stayed for his day in court, ending up paying $9 more than the plea deal offered. (no mention of the next day's court events was found). Two days later: "Judge Strevell on behalf of the Chinese [[opium den]] offenders, has notified the court of an appeal to the District Court and the bonds for the release of Ah Song, Ah Yoht and Ah Tuong (Ah Guong?) have been given and the Chinamen are not at large. === 1885 Great Falls thugs attacked Ah Wah (laundry operator), almost choking him to death, put him in a boat on the river and talk about shooting him. Ah Wah jumps overboard and makes it to the opposite bank. === Large population of Chinese in Helena. A Flathead indian attacks one, who is rescued by white men. The Indians are chased out by a mob of Chinese. === 20 Sep 1885 Butte: Knights of Labor publish fliers that say the "Chinamen must go". 654 Chinese in Butte, about half in laundries, many in domestic service, many have little stores, many are "gamblers, toughs, loafers, and hatchet masons", the remainder work at gardening and odd jobs. They feel that the Chinese will go quietly and make room for about 200 or 300 girls and women as house servants, laundresses, etc and "for a good many more men in various positions". Their reasons include unfair labor competition, as they work for almost nothing, their introduction of opium to the white community, corrupt the youth and are unsanitary. But in May 1887, in NYC two assemblies of the Knights of Labor are created entirely of Chinese, one for cigar makers and the other for laundrymen. === White miners in Rock Creek, WY massacre over 50 Chinese miners. In Seattle, WA local Indians, who lost jobs picking hops to Chinese workers, attack them, killing two and wounding four. === Sep 1886 The Chinese government wants our government to pay indemnities for the deaths of two Chinese and the destruction of $3000 worth of property when a laundry was blown up in Anaconda. (The Chinese government often pays us when our people are mistreated in China.) === Apr 1886 A hotel in Great Falls hires a Chinese man, is threatened, but stands firm. Help is hard to find and he will get it where he can. === 23 Nov 1884 A rice-eating match is to take place on Thanksgiving day between two Chinamen at a laundry on Main stree. Pekin chop-sticks and Canton rice are to prevail. $25 a side are staked. "Melican" (American) man hopes best Chinaman win. === 1886 Portland, OR Article reports that the Chinese will badger anyone with a stack of cordwood, seeking a contract to saw the wood for the owner, and that they have a marking system using the placement of branches to indicate that someone has gotten the contract or that the owner is a bad employer. == Jan 1887 Livingston vigilantes are ordering their Chinese to leave because of the opium dens. In the same issue, three staff of the YJ and [[Johnny Carter]] of Leighton & Jordan's, on the [[Chinese New Year]], are treated to eating, drinking and making merry at the "washee man west of Leighton's store". They enjoyed imported candies, nuts, chewing gum, rice liquor and a "string of unnamable viands and luxuries". The Chinese took pride in explaining what each awful decoction and mixture was and enjoyed the impression made upon us by the taste of their" chewing gum, the taste remaining long after the names were forgotten. ==== 21 Jan 1890 On Sunday night during [[Chinese New Year]], while the fireworks were exploding, the horse owned by [[W. S. D. Smith]] which was standing by the [[Wing Chung]] laundry, bolted and being blind in the right eye, hit the iron railing over [[James M. Sipes]]' barber shop, which gave way, and horse and vehicle tumbled into the basement. Bystanders pulled the horse out and he was found to be only a bit scratched up. === 20 Oct 1891 The Chinaman who conducts the laundry on Bridge street is a nephew of Sam Lee, who was murdered at Fort Custer last week. === Some batchelors were chewing the fat and the subject of troubles with Chinese laundries came up (again). Adding to the usual incidents of socks with holes, sleeveless shirts and button-holeless collars, "A. B." told of when a long time supplier named "John" lost his large weekly load in a fire, he still came around for his weekly pay of $3.75. He refused, but gave him a drink for his "immaculate gall".
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