Tag Archives: Stockton

Lee Goon Ok and Lee Hong Tun with toy horse and toy car

Lee Hong Tun and Lee Goon Ok with toy horse and toy truck
“Photo of Lee Goon Ok and Lee Hong Tun,” 1939, Chinese Exclusion Act case files, RG 85, National Archives-Seattle, Lee Hong Tun case file, Seattle Box 799,file 7030/12537.

Lee Hong Tun arrived in the Port of Seattle on 1 November 1939. He was accompanied by his mother, Ng Shee. Their destination was Washington, D.C.

UPDATE
Lee Loon testified that he was born in Stockton, California. As a citizen he could bring his wife, Ng Soon Hey and his son, Lee Hong Tun, from China to the United States. Lee Hong Tun was born at Mong Kong Village, Toishan, Kwangtung, China on 23 June 1936.

Although Immigration believed the Lee Loon and Ng Soon Hey were married they were not sure if Lee Hong Tun was their blood son. They had been married fourteen years before their son was born. The Board believed that such a thing could be possible but thought it was very improbable. Also, there were several discrepancies in the parents’ testimony. The Lees did not agree if there had been a shaving ceremony or when Lee Hong Tun had been vaccinated and if he had measles. Their attorney, Edwards Merges, argued that they both agreed that their son was born in the morning at home in the small door-side bedroom with no physician in attendance and the applicant was both bottle and breast fed. Merges believed the differences in Ng Soon Hey’s testimony were because of fear, nervousness misunderstandings and exasperation.

Merges reasoned that Lee Hong Tun, age 3-1/2, was too young to testify on his own behalf, his parents were U.S. citizens and excluding their son would tear the family apart. Lee Hong Tun could not live on his own in China. If he was deported one of his parents would have to go with him.

Lee Hong Tun 1940
“Photo of Lee Hong Tun, M143” 1940, Chinese Exclusion Act case files, RG 85, National Archives-Seattle, Lee Hong Tun case file, Seattle Box 799,file 7030/12537.
There were 39 pages of testimony and conclusions. Three Seattle files and three San Francisco files were reviewed. Lee Hong Tun was admitted into the U.S. on 5 February 1940, more than three months after he and his mother arrived at the Port of Seattle.

Kaju Yamauchi – Statement of Medical Detainment Expenses

Kaju Yamauchi Detainment Expenses 1919
“Statement of Detainment Expenses for Kaju Yamauchi,” 1919, Chinese Exclusion Act case files, RG 85, National Archives-Seattle, Kaju Yamauchi file, Seattle, Box 1264, Case 36403/20-2.

[Why is a Japanese citizen included in the Chinese Exclusion Act files?
The Chinese Exclusion Act did not exclude Japanese citizens. Kaju Yamauchi was detained because he could not be admitted with trachoma and hookworm. According to the immigration authorities hookworm would affect his ability to earn a living and trachoma was a dangerous contagious disease.
]

Kaju Yamauchi, age 13, arrived in Seattle, Washington on 26 April 1919 on the S.S. Fushimi Maru. He was born in Aichi-ken, Japan on 20 January 1906 and his last permanent residence was Sofuei-cho, Japan. He was going to live with his father, Karoku Yamauchi, San Joaquim #5 Tract, Stockton, California. When Kaju arrived he had trachoma and hookworm. According to the Assistant Commissioner-General of Immigration, Kaju’s father, a prosperous farmer, would pay for his son’s treatment. Kaju received hospital treatment, was cured, and admitted to the United States 110 days later on 16 August 1919. The charges on the statement were for 333 meals: $78.26; charge for hookworm: $17.60; charge for trachoma: $50.00; and a telegram: $1.30; total: $147.16.