Mr. English to Governor Markham.
Dear Sir: In reply to your favor of the 25th instant, requesting that I should “cause immediate investigation” of the complaint of the “Chinese consul-general San Francisco,” as to outrages committed against Chinese merchants in Vallejo, I beg to say that I think the complaint is exaggerated. On the night of July 4 one of the houses in the Chinese quarter took fire, and during the fire said house was considerably broken up, and the merchants claim that considerable merchandise and clothing-was stolen. Our officers here arrested a young man on suspicion of arson in setting fire to said premises. The case was tried several days ago injustice G. C. Demmon’s court, and by advice of our county district attorney was dismissed for lack of evidence. On the night of July 19 another fire took place in Chinatown, in the house immediately adjoining the one of July 4. The building was completely destroyed and with it a little Chinese girl aged 3 or 4 years, who was burned to death. Suspicion was at once aroused that this was the work of an incendiary in revenge for the arrest of the man arrested on suspicion as to the first fire, but investigation seemed to prove that the last fire caught from the inside of the premises. For further information I would refer you to Justice Demmon. If there is anything I can do further to assist in this matter, command me.
Yours, very respectfully,