A Long-Term Resident Wins Back His Right to Remain
After twenty-four years of life in Walla Walla, a man named Louie successfully petitions a federal judge to replace a lost residency document.
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.
A Chinaman named Louie surrendered himself to the United States officials Saturday night for the purpose of having the court give him a hearing and adjudication of his right and status. It appears that Louie came to Walla Walla about 24 years ago, and has since resided here. Ten years ago he applied for and was issued a laborer's certificate. This certificate was destroyed by fire some time afterward. After hearing the testimony of William O'Donnell and Mrs. T. S. Mabry, Judge Hanford this morning signed an order stating that Louie was entitled to receive a duplicate certificate and the revenue officers were directed to issue the same.
“Louie surrendered himself to the United States officials Saturday night for the purpose of having the court give him a hearing and adjudication of his right and status.”
This story highlights the precarious existence of Chinese residents in Washington under the era's exclusionary laws, where legal status depended entirely on fragile, state-issued paperwork. It captures the reality of the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act, which forced immigrants to constantly prove their right to live in their own homes.
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