The 'Twin Brother' Defense
A Seattle man facing perjury charges for allegedly smuggling a woman into the country claimed his previous testimony about her identity was just a mistake regarding his twin.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
The trial of Lee Fook Bow on the charge of perjury in connection with habeas corpus proceedings to secure the admission of his alleged wife, Chum Mee Yung, was continued before Judge Hanford yesterday. The prosecution presented evidence from officials who testified that the defendant had previously identified the woman as his wife and presented marriage certificates to customs officials in San Francisco and Puget Sound. A government witness, Ah Quia, testified that he traveled from China with Chum Mee Yung and that Lee Fook Bow was already in Victoria waiting for the arrival of the ship. After the prosecution closed, the defense attorney, W. H. White, requested an adjournment, stating that his client wished to testify that the picture previously shown to officials was actually that of his twin brother in China. The judge granted the delay so counsel could consult with the defendant, who faced the prospect of adding perjury to his existing charges.
“He stated to the court that Lee Fook Bow wanted to testify that the picture which had been shown was that of his twin brother in China.”
This case highlights the extreme barriers, including the Chinese Exclusion Act, that families faced while trying to reunite. The 'twin brother' defense was a desperate, often unsuccessful, attempt to navigate a legal system designed to keep families separated.
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