The Great Northern Smuggling Case
A train conductor faces federal charges for allegedly attempting to transport Chinese passengers across the border.
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.
Conductor Sullivan, of the Great Northern road, was up before United States Commissioner McCall today, charged with unlawfully bringing Chinese into the country. Last week the conductor had on board as passengers two Chinese men. On reaching the boundary line, the conductor locked the car and informed the inspector that the Chinese were on board, and if their papers were not satisfactory he would back the car across the line and eject them. The inspector, after consideration, concluded to take them to Whatcom and seek the advice of Collector Maloney. Upon arriving at Whatcom, the prisoners were locked up. Today Marshal McGinnis arrested Sullivan on the charge.
“if their papers were not satisfactory he would back the car across the line and eject the Celestials.”
This event took place during the height of the Chinese Exclusion Act era, when federal agents and border officials were tasked with enforcing systemic racism. The case highlights the dangerous legal climate for immigrants and those who aided them in the late 19th-century Pacific Northwest.
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