The Reverend and the Chinese Theater Scandal

Rev. Tom Sing, of Chicago, was arrested tonight at Seattle when he stepped from the City of Seattle. Deputy Collector McKenzie, in making the arrest, told Sing he would place him in jail there if he chose until he could get a warrant, or he would bring him over to Tacoma without a warrant if he preferred. Sing preferred not to go into the Seattle jail and Deputy McKenzie brought him here, arriving shortly after midnight. Sing was placed in charge of Deputy United States Marshal McKay at the Grand Pacific hotel. Collector Waston and a deputy inspector of the treasury department caused Sing's arrest on the charge of illegally getting Chinamen into the United States. Sing alleged that he represented the World's fair Chinese theater, and swore that thirty-one Chinese, who were admitted from the Mogul, had a concession to act in the Chinese theater in the World's fair grounds. On this allegation the actors were admitted. Since then it has transpired that the actors had no legal right to enter this country. Inspector Sabin understood that Tom Sing was trying to skip to Canada. When this was learned, Deputy McKenzie was wired to arrest Tom. He came along peaceably and does not say much. While he was at the hotel at Seattle he tore up a couple of telegrams and threw them in a spittoon. McKenzie fished the pieces out and with a glue pot and brush pasted them together. One read thus: 'Chicago, May 9. — To Tom, Tacoma: We spent every cent we have here. Do your best. Sign for notice of any check. Can't do anything here.' The other telegram instructed Rev. Tom to look out for certain actors, and assured him he would be paid 'all right.'