Shew Hing Association Takes Action.
SEARCHED ROOMS ILLEGALLY
ATTORNEY WILSON HAS BEEN ENGAGED BY PLAINTIFF.
Twenty Thousand Dollars Will Be Asked as Damages for Disturbance Created in the Quarters.
The Shew Hing Benevolent Association will bring suit early next week for $20,000 damages and costs of the action against the city and county of San Francisco, ex- Chief of Police Lees and the Chinatown squad for entering its rooms at 751 Clay street without warrant of law on the 6th day of October last.
The Shew Hing is a member of the Six Companies and is incorporated under the laws of the State of California. In the complaint which is being prepared by Attorney J. N. E. Wilson the members of the association set forth that on the date mentioned the Chinatown squad forcibly entered their rooms, and ignoring the protests of the president, who was present, broke open trunks and boxes and otherwise conducted itself in an offensive manner, all of which was for the alleged purpose of searching for evidence of gambling.
The claim is made that the police have no authority to enter a place that has not the reputation of being a gambling or lottery joint unless armed with a search warrant, and the suit is to be brought largely for the purpose of putting a stop to operations of this character.
The San Francisco Call, San Francisco, CA, January 7, 1900