The Paper Daughters of Chinatown - Heather B. Moore Page 0,68

“I’ll see you at Wong Fong’s trial in Mayfield.”

The day of the trial arrived a few weeks later. Another courtroom, another full house, due to the media attention and the ranting articles in the newspapers disparaging those behind the abduction of Kum Quai and the legal system that kept her in her abductors’ possession. Dolly took courage from the editorials published in Kum Quai’s favor. Dr. Hall was in attendance, the man who had originally helped her in Palo Alto, as well as Dr. John Endicott Gardner, who had been sent by Colonel Jackson, the Collector of the Port and Immigration Commissioner for San Francisco. She glanced only once in Wong Fong’s direction. She hoped that, after today, she would never have to see the man again.

Watching the trial of Wong Fong was immensely satisfying, but she couldn’t have been more surprised when Attorney Herrington announced, “I have brought Kum Quai today. She will be her own witness and testify of the advent of her marriage.”

The courtroom erupted into speculation, and sure enough, moments later Kum Quai walked into the courtroom. She was escorted by another woman, who Dolly later learned was Herrington’s sister. Kum Quai wore an American dress, but a veil covered both her short hair and her face, so Dolly couldn’t see the young woman’s eyes.

Dolly knew that if she could get a good look at Kum Quai, she could get a sense of what was going on in her mind.

“We need an interpreter,” the justice of the peace said.

At that moment, Dr. Gardner, an official government interpreter, stood.

Dolly wanted to clap, since an interpreter would give Kum Quai a better understanding of what was truly happening at the court. Instead, Dolly clasped her hands together as Dr. Gardner offered his services.

“May I ask the witness Kum Quai a question?” Dr. Gardner asked the judge.

“You may,” the judge replied.

Dr. Gardner turned to face Kum Quai, and, before the entire court, he asked, “Do you have a chuck-jee?”

A chuck-jee was a legal registration card, and Dolly leaned forward in her seat so that she wouldn’t miss out on a single word from the veiled Kum Quai.

“I do not,” Kum Quai said. “No chuck-jee.”

Perhaps not everyone in the courtroom understood the significance of this admission, but it was made clear when Dr. Gardner said, “Then I place you under arrest in the name of the United States government.”

Protests rang out from the audience, but what they didn’t know was that Kum Quai would now be protected under federal jurisdiction and separated from her captors.

Red in the face, Herrington leapt to his feet and raised his hands for quiet. When the courtroom had settled enough for Herrington to speak to the judge, he said, “My client needs to wait outside the courtroom. This is very distressing. My sister will stay with her, since they have become attached these past few weeks. The women can wait in the comfort and shade of the buggy.”

“Motion granted,” the judge said.

Dolly’s pulse thudded as Kum Quai was once again led up the aisle. Dolly didn’t like this turn of events at all. Her gaze caught Dr. Gardner’s, and he rose, apparently thinking the same thing, along with Dr. Hall.

Soon, Dr. Gardner and Attorney Herrington returned to the courtroom to continue the trial proceedings. Dr. Hall remained with the women, guarding them. Dolly was itching to leave too, but she had to find out the final judgment against Wong Fong.

When Herrington left the courtroom unannounced, Dolly wondered where he could be going. The answer came moments later when Dr. Hall came running into the courtroom. “He’s fleeing with the women!”

The courtroom erupted into action, and Dr. Gardner was out the door first. Dolly arrived in time to see Gardner and Hall pursuing the fleeing buggy in Hall’s sulky.

More men untied horses and urged their buggies and hacks into pursuit. In his haste, Herrington took a side road that was blocked by a padlocked gate.

Dolly picked up her skirts and ran down the road with a crowd of people. She couldn’t tell what exactly was going on until the crowd parted enough for her to see Herrington’s buggy returning to the courthouse. Dr. Gardner rode at their side, his hand holding the reins of the horses, steering the party.

The crowd shifted, allowing Dr. Gardner to pull up to the courthouse. He alighted from the sulky and said, “Attorney Herrington and his sister are now under arrest. I’m placing Miss Kum Quai in custody of Donaldina Cameron