Case Summary

On June 25, 1903, Wong Yuen petitioned for a writ of habeas corpus on behalf of Lee See, who he claims to be his wife, and Ah Sing and Ah Yuen, who he claims are his son and daughter, respectively. Wong Yuen claimed that his wife and children were being held by Chin Tai Hee in Room 12 of 408 Main Street in Seattle, and that Chin Tai Hee had no legal claim over the three bound parties. Wong Yuen stated that he feared his wife and children would be taken out of the court’s jurisdiction, so Judge Bell had Chin Tai Hee and the three others put in custody. While in custody, Chin Tai Hee petitioned for habeas corpus himself, and was granted his freedom by paying bail, and agreeing to come back to court when summoned. Although the actual case file did not give much information beyond this, newspaper coverage illuminated the complexities of this case. Coverage indicated that Wong Yuen had been tried and convicted of forgery against Chin Tai Hee, and that he filed this habeas case from jail. Additionally, newspapers indicated that the Chin family and Wong Yuen were rivals who had a long history of fighting with each other, to the degree that Chin Tai Hee had promised a reward to anyone who could kill Wong Yuen. Newspaper coverage also indicated that Chin Tai Hee and Wong Yuen were both claiming that Lee See was their wife, and that they were the father of the two children. The newspapers indicated that Judge Bell eventually sided with Chin Tai Hee, proclaiming him the rightful husband and father, which was seemingly confirmed by the testimony of Lee See. Wong Yuen’s writ appears to have been denied, and Lee See and the children remained with Chin Tai Hee.

Case Information

Petition type(s)

• Interpersonal

Petition subtype(s)

• Spousal custody
• Child custody

Outcome

Writ denied

Fate of bound party

Remained in custody

State

• Washington

Tag(s)

• Coercive habeas

People

• Yuen, Wong (petitioner)
• See, Lee (bound party)
• Sing, Ah (bound party)
• Yuen, Ah (bound party)
• Hee, Chin Tai (respondent)
• Hee, Chin Tai (responding party)
• Hee, Chin Tai (holding party)
• Bell, William R. (judge)
• Blake, Henry F. (petitioner attorney)
• Williams, (petitioner attorney)
• Factor, (respondent attorney)
• Factor, (respondent attorney)

• Additional parties

  Koepfli, C. A. (Clerk)

  Cudihee, Edward (Delivered writ, Holds Petitioner, Bound Parties, and Respondent in custody during case)

  Nelson, L. W. (Deputy Sheriff)

  Brewster, J. M. (Deputy Clerk)

  Hee, L. Chin Gee (Surety)

  Shee, Song (Surety)

  Ling, On Chang (Surety)

  Kim, Chin (Surety)

  Quang, Chin (Surety), See, Chin Song (Surety)