Mr. Robinson to Governor Markham.
Dear Sir: I am in receipt of yours dated the 27th instant and in reply will say that I have had an interview with the Chinese here regarding the fire, robbery, etc., of which you ask, and will try and give you a brief idea of the circumstances.
On the night of July 4 one of the frame buildings in the Chinese quarter took fire, and the firemen, as they claim, “rushed in, the crowd followed, and immediately began to demolish everything.” The building being occupied by one of the Chinese merchants, he, of course, makes the amount of his loss appear as large as possible.
The Chinese also claim that after the fire was extinguished some of those present tried to rekindle it, and even went so far as to take some of their effects out into the street and set fire to them. They consequently had the parties arrested and tried here in Vallejo, resulting in their dismissal for lack of evidence to hold them.
The Chinese were represented by some of the best legal talent in the country. I was not present at the trial, but no doubt you can get a copy of the evidence or all the desired information from George C. Demmon, justice of the peace, where the case was tried. As regards the murder, I have never known a Chinaman being murdered here in Vallejo. No doubt the case to which you refer is the one where one of the Chinese children was burned in the last fire, about a week ago. This fire burned another of their houses, and this they also claim was incendiary. No arrests have yet followed this last. Any further information I am at present unable to give, but think the report has been greatly exaggerated.
Very truly, yours,