Ethnic Groups
From birchyHistory
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12 Jul 1884 Sam Can, a Chinaman who was so successful in the laundry business here, is at Livingston but will return here soon. | 12 Jul 1884 Sam Can, a Chinaman who was so successful in the laundry business here, is at Livingston but will return here soon. | ||
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| + | 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. | ||
2 Jan 1885 | 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. | [[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. | ||
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| − | + | 24 Feb 1886 District court, spring term, 5th day: Judge [[Charles R. Pollard]]. | |
| − | US vs. Ah Ki, grand larceny, accused of robbing another Chinese person at knife point at [[Fort Keogh]] of a few dollars. Jury heard the case and | + | US vs. Ah Ki, grand larceny, accused of robbing another Chinese person at knife point at [[Fort Keogh]] of a few dollars. Jury heard the case and were discharged for the day. |
| + | 24 Feb 1886 Two interpreters were sworn in to watch each other. Even so, a big row started when one of the witnesses called one of the interpreters a liar. After several hours, the jury deliberated and took only 5 minutes to return a guilty verdict. | ||
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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. | 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. | ||
| − | + | From my hometown newspaper, 1886: | |
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| + | "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." | ||
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| + | 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." | ||
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| + | 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. | ||
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| + | [[8 Dec 1886]] The six Chinamen who were not caught in the act of smoking opium during the raid last Saturday night were discharged at the intance of the county attorney and the remaining three were tried and Ah Yoht, Ah Song and Ah Tuong were found guilty and fined $5 plus costs (about $20 each total). Judge Strevell hasn't consulted yet with his clients about an appeal. | ||
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| + | [[9 Dec 1886]] "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 at large. | ||
=== 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. | === 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. | ||
