Mr. HING. Yes. Commissioner O'CONNELL. And you have it prepared, and that costs $16 for a 16-ounce bottle, a dollar an ounce? Mr. HING. Yes. Commissioner O'CONNELL. Expensive medicine. Mr. HING. Yes; it costs in here some. Commissioner O'CONNELL. How many different kinds of bottles of medicine do you make up? Mr. HING. That is only two size; that is, the G-ounce and 16-ounce. Mr. HING. Yes. Commissioner O'CONNELL. Do you sell that same medicine to cure all the different diseases? Mr. HING. No; got some medicine for everything. Commissioner O'CONNELL. How many different kinds do you have? Mr. HING. Well, that is-I can't tell you how many different kinds exactly, but we have got medicine for colds, we got medicine for toothacheCommissioner O'CONNELL. For toothache? Mr. HING. Yes. Yes. And we got medicine for kidney trouble and all kinds of aches. I got about 15 or 20 different kinds. Commissioner O'CONNELL. And the one bottle of medicine you sell, for instance, for a cough or cold, that is of the same kind of medicine, is it not? Mr. HING. No. Commissioner O'CONNELL. Different medicines? Mr. HING. Yes. Commissioner O'CONNELL. And for consumptives you have a different medicine again? Mr. HING. Yes. Commissioner O'CONNELL. That is all. Mr. BUSIEK. You may be excused. TESTIMONY OF MR. LEW WING. Mr. BUSIEK. Mr. Wing, will you take that stand? Chairman WALSH. Will you be sworn? Do you solemnly swear that the testimony that you are about to give at the hearing now pending before this commission, being an investigation into the alleged smuggling of Asiatics into the United States, will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God? Mr. WING. Yes, sir. Mr. BUSIEK. Please state your name in full. Mr. WING. Lew Wing. Mr. BUSIEK. How do you spell it? Mr. WING. L-e-w W-i-n-g. Mr. BUSIEK. I want to state by way of explanation, Mr. Wing, that this is the United States Commission on Industrial Relations, who have been charged by Congress to inquire into the smuggling or other illegal entry of Asiatics; and for the purpose of getting complete informatioin about conditions, the commission is holding secret hearings, so as not to embarrass the witnesses who appear before it. And we do that for the purpose of getting frank statements; and we would like for you to be perfectly frank with this commission as if you were talking with your attorney. Now, Mr. Wing, you know Frank Tape, do you not? Mr. WING. Why, I know him, not personally know him; but I know him; yes. Mr. BUSIEK. You have had some business dealings with Tape, have you not? Mr. WING. Why, the business, is not exactly business, but because I have been here longer than Tape here, you know I been in business here quite a while, and he's interpreter of this port, and all these men are not much personally acquainted. Mr. BUSIEK. Well, to get right down to what we want, you have paid Frank Tape $200, have you not? Mr. WING. Yes; two-twice. Mr. BUSIEK. Just tell the commission what the circumstances of that were? Mr. WING. On that partner of mine he son is business man of the Wing Co., 1100 Third Avenue, Third and Spring. That time about, in 1911-that time the partner of mine his boy get more educated. For that purpose the boy starts to school now, but in vacation time, not in school, but he is taking the vacation. And at that time the partner of mine, Lew Tun is his name, a case investigated by the immigration official down here this port. And case, took it up, everything all right, you know, before that boy admitted, of course. The witnesses, the amount of business in this city, knowing Lew Tun has been a business man in this city. So finally case, before the boy made it, only day or two before the boy made it Tape come up to me, and he asked me about that I say, 66 case, and he said he want some money on that case. 66 Why?" "Oh," he said, I want money for the case. If not I spoil the case. I sent boy back," something like that. So finally I told what Tape told me, and I tell the boy's father. His boy's father thought he would think it over and over, you see, and I have nothing to do with it, but leave it with him, what Tape told me, what he asked me, I present to his father, the boy's father. So the boy's father think it over. He said he might harm the case, he couldn't do, he couldn't do any good, but he can hurt the case, the boy's father said. He said, "Better give him to save trouble, he send boy back, and the boy little boy, don't want him to suffer from the seasick, long ways off and give it to him, so he be done with him," something like that. So his father give me the money, and then Tape come around again, so I gave it to him. Chairman WALSH. The boy's father gave you $200? Mr. WING. No; $100. Chairman WALSH. One hundred dollars to give to Tape? Mr. WING. Yes. Chairman WALSH. You gave Tape $100? Mr. WING. Yes. Chairman WALSH. Where? Mr. WING. In a store. Chairman WALSH. In your store? Mr. WING. Yes. Chairman WALSH. In the city of Seattle? Mr. WING. Yes. Chairman WALSH. And what date was that? Chairman WALSH. And when was it? Mr. WING. I think about September of 1911. Chairman WALSH. 1911. Now, then, did the boy's case come up after that? Mr. WING. The boy's case came up a day or two, and he made it. Chairman WALSH. He was admitted? Mr. WING. Yes. Chairman WALSH. Did you have anything to do with any other person connected with the immigration department? Mr. WING. Not a bit; not at all. Chairman WALSH. Didn't you see Mr. Monroe? Mr. WING. No; I haven't seen Mr. Monroe. Chairman WALSH. He never spoke to you about that case? Mr. WING. No. Chairman WALSH. You say you never paid him something at some other time? Mr. WING. No; that was in other case. Chairman WALSH. What case was that? Mr. WING. One more case. That is case of the-this case here, $200, two different times, one each time, $100. Chairman WALSH. Each time $100? Mr. BUSIEK. Two boys, two sons. Mr. WING. Two boys. Mr. BUSIEK. Came in at different times. Chairman WALSH. When did you give the next $100? Mr. WING. Next hundred, that is on the other store, the Pacific Coast Dry Goods Co., 1428 Third Avenue, over here. Chairman WALSH.. NOW, what was that $100 for? Mr. WING. The same thing, the same story. Chairman WALSH. The same boy? Mr. WING. No; other man. Chairman WALSH. This man had a son coming over here? Mr. WING. His son is here. Chairman WALSH. How long were you here-what did Tape say to you at that time? 38819 S. Doc. 415, 64-1-vol 7- -15 Mr. WING. Tape said, told the same thing, want to scare us, scare the father, and so his father gave me money, I guess more like grafter. Chairman WALSH. Did he give the money direct to this man Tape? Mr. WING. No; the man simply give to me; he come to my store because I am manager of that place. Chairman WALSH. Did you see the boy's father when you paid the money over? Mr. WING. No. Chairman WALSH. HOW much was it? Mr. WING. One hundred dollars. Chairman WALSH. And when was that? Mr. WING. That is in September, on the last part of September or October; I have forgot which. Chairman WALSH. Of what year? Mr. WING. Of 1911. Chairman WALSH. Of 1911? Mr. WING. Yes. Chairman WALSH. When did you first tell anyone about the payment of this money? Mr. WING. I have never told anyone. Chairman WALSH. Didn't you tell Mr. Bonham? Mr. WING. Yes; I told Mr. Bonham. Chairman WALSH. Is he the first one? Mr. WING. First man, yes. Chairman WALSH. Have you ever at any time talked with Tape about the $100 since? Mr. WING. No; never anything to do with him. So, finally after that I found out myself; I know better than that, so I don't want to bother with him, and I know we have a right, business men have to pay no money to anyone, so I found out myself; I got more experience. So I have nothing to do with him. Commissioner LENNON. Have you ever heard of any other merchants paying him any money? Mr. WING. I heard lots of it; all grafter; I heard of lots of down-town Chinese, but I don't go down town much. Mr. BUSIEK. What was the name of the boy that you paid the first $100 for? Mr. WING. Ben King. Mr. BUSIEK. Ben King? Mr. WING. Yes. Mr. BUSIEK. And what is his father's name? Mr. WING. Lew Tun. Mr: BUSIEK. How do you spell that? Mr. WING. L-e-w T-u-n. Mr. BUSIEK. What was the name of the second boy? Mr. WING. Second boy is Lee Gim Wing. Mr. BUSIEK. The fathers, I believe, of these boys are bona fide merchants? Mr. WING. Yes; all merchants. Mr. BUSIEK. These were their sons? Mr. WING. Their own sons, yes. Mr. BUSIEK. That is all; thank you. TESTIMONY OF MR. GEORGE NELSON. Chairman WALSH. You do solemnly swear that the testimony you are about to give before this commission, being an investigation into the alleged smuggling of Asiatics into the United States, will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you, God? Mr. NELSON. Yes. (Mr. Nelson, the witness, was accompanied by William D. Downey, deputy United States marshal, in whose custody Mr. Nelson was, as a prisoner of the United States, Mr. Downey remaining in the room during the testimony.) Mr. BUSIEK. I wish to tell the commission that Mr. Nelson has made a statement before the grand jury, and that any statement which Mr. Nelson makes before this commission will not be used against him by the district attorney's office, and that therefore, so far as Mr. Allen is concerned, he may make a frank and complete statement. Please state your name in full. Mr. NELSON. George Nelson. Mr. BUSIEK. Please speak up so these gentlemen can hear you. You are now in jail in this city. Mr. NELSON. King County: yes. Mr. BUSIEK. King County Jail? Mr. NELSON. Yes. Mr. BUSIEK. Why are you there? Mr. NELSON. Smuggling Chinamen from British Columbia across the border. Mr. BUSIEK. How did you do that, Mr. Nelson? Mr. NELSON. Why, I went and I got a letter from some certain Chinaman in Seattle here, took the letter to a certain number in Vancouver, and went and got the Chinaman from that party, and smuggled him down in the locomotive. Mr. BUSIEK. How many Chinese did you smuggle that way? Mr. NELSON. Well, I couldn't say exactly, but about 14 or 16 I should imagine. Mr. BUSIEK. What was your business? Mr. NELSON. Fireman on the Great Northern. Mr. BUSIEK. Fireman for the Great Northern? Mr. NELSON. Yes. Mr. BUSIEK. How would you smuggle them across in the locomotive? Mr. NELSON. Put them in the tool box in the tender of the engine. Mr. BUSIEK. And through what border towns does the Northern Pacific run? Mr. NELSON. Great Northern, it is. Mr. BUSIEK. Or the Great Northern. Mr. NELSON. Blaine. Mr. BUSIEK. Who is the inspector up at Blaine? Mr. NELSON. Why, there are several inspectors there. I have forgotten their names. I have even forgotten the man's name that found the Chinaman. Mr. BUSIEK. Forgotten the man's name that did what? Mr. NELSON. That found the Chinaman the day I was caught. Mr. BUSIEK. Was he a Government inspector? Mr. NELSON. Government inspector. Mr. BUSIEK. From the Blaine office? Mr. NELSON, Blaine office? Mr. BUSIER. And you say you put the Chinese in the tool box and then in the tender? Mr. NELSON. On the tender; yes. Mr. BUSIEK. On the tender? Mr. NELSON. Yes. Mr. BUSIEK. All right. Go ahead. Mr. NELSON. There is a big wooden box running the width of the tender. We used it for chains and jacks and such things as that. There is room for two men in it, in the box, at one time. Mr. BUSIEK. How often would these inspectors look into your tool box-into this box on the tender? Mr. NELSON. About once every two months. Mr. BUSIEK. And would they make a thorough examination at those times? Mr. NELSON. No. When they did look, they might look into the sand box, look into the tool box on the tender, merely give it a glance, that would be all. Mr. BUSIEK. Has that practice been generally carried on by the railroaders? Mr. NELSON. I believe so. Mr. BUSIEK. And how much is paid per head for these Chinese that are smuggled across? Mr. NELSON. From $125 to $150 per head. Mr. BUSIEK. Now, you say you got an address from-there is a certain party here in Seattle that gave you the address of some one where? Mr. NELSON. Some one here in Settle always gave me a letter just to take to Vancouver to a certain place, and then I would get the Chinaman and turn him over-he was turned over to me in Vancouver in the evening. Mr. BUSIEK. And you would take them down to the railroad yards or to the roundhouse? Mr. NELSON. And put them in the box. Mr. BUSIEK. Now, did employees around the roundhouse see that or know that was going on? Mr. NELSON. No; up there there are only about two or three men working at nights, and they generally sleep because there isn't much to do there, especially in the morning-1, 2, or 3 o'clock in the morning. Mr. BUSIEK. Were you pulling a freight? Mr. NELSON. No; firing a passenger run. Mr. BUSIEK. Do you mind giving the commission the names of the people here in Seattle who were engaged in that? Mr. NELSON. Why, I was in with a fellow by the name of Clifford Joslin (Johnson). Chairman WALSH. A fireman? Mr. NELSON. A fireman of the Great Northern, runs a hotel near Interbay, and a fellow by the name of Price, he is-I forget his first name--he is manager in that hotel on account of the fact that Mr. Joslin (Johnson) is on the road quite often. Joslin (Johnson) came to me; I was out of work seven months and a half, six; and when I did start to work there I was quite a bit in debt; so he asked me if I had any objection to taking down some Chinamen for him. I said all right, I would take them down. So he gave me a letter to a party in Vancouver, 26 Canton. I went up there and I got a Chinaman from this party and brought him. Chairman WALSH. How many? Mr. NELSON. Two. Chairman WALSH. Who was this party up in Vancouver? Mr. NELSON. Why, I have forgotten the man's name. Chairman WALSH. You mean you have forgotten it for to-day? Have you given it to the district attorney? Mr. NELSON. I believe the district attorney has got that from a man in Vancouver. I have forgot what his name is. I found out what the man's name is from-he is a Chinaman that runs the store Commissioner O'CONNELL. Do you know where the store is? Mr. NELSON. Yes; 26 Canton Street. Mr. BUSIEK. Did these people ever tell about how many other men they had bringing Chinese over? Mr. NELSON. No-beg pardon. Mr. BUSIEK. Did Mr. Price or Mr. Johnson or this Chinaman up in Vancouver ever tell you about anyone else bringing Chinamen over for them? Mr. NELSON. No. Mr. BUSIEK. Did they make any remark about bringing Chinese over by boat? Mr. NELSON. No; not by boat. Mr. BUSIEK. Did they say that they had been engaged in this work before? Mr. NELSON. Well, they hinted at that; they had been in the opium game before. Mr. BUSIEK. Where did you deliver these Chinese? Mr. NELSON. I would take them to Interbay, and then they would come after them at Interbay. Chairman WALSH. Take them where? Mr. NELSON. To Interbay, the roundhouse of the Great Northern. Chairman WALSH. Who would come after them? Mr. NELSON. The Chinamen or whoever they were supposed to be delivered to. We left Joslin (Johnson) and Price handle that up there. I had nothing to do with that. Chairman WALSH. Who was it handed you the money? Mr. NELSON. I didn't get any, because they never paid me. Mr. BUSIEK. They were to pay you $125? Mr. NELSON. One hundred and twenty-five dollars apiece. Mr. BUSIEK. You brought over about 14 or 16? Mr. NELSON. Yes; but not for them people, though. Mr. BUSIEK. Whom did you bring over the others for? Mr. NELSON. Well, I brought them over for a certain Chinaman in this town. Mr. BUSIEK. What is his name? Mr. NELSON. It is a certain party down here in Washington street. Mr. BUSIEK. Who is he? Just give the commission his name. The commission wants to get at the bottom of this. Mr. NELSON. I believe his name is Sing; he is called Sing, Charlie Sing. Mr. NELSON. I have forgot his address. Mr. BUSIEK. What store is he in? |