LEE WAT SUN

Description

Biographical informationLee Wat Sun (aka Lee Watson) was born in China. He migrated to Western Australia in 1881. He may have been of mixed race parentage.

He acted as an interpreter for other Chinese, such as Tan A Chion and for Ah Pang in the Roebourne Bank murder case. In 1885, Lee Wat Sun was lame and needed to use a walking stick. At that time he was working as a cook at the Victoria Arms Hotel in Roebourne for Noonan.

He had his leg amputated at Perth Hospital in 1886 after which he was admitted to the Mount Eliza Invalid Depot (I). By 1889 he was living at Mrs Jackson's boarding house.

He was naturalized in November 1889. Shortly afterwards, he charged three Chinese men, Jimmy Ah Tew (Ah Chow Jim), Ah Liss and Tui Isiong with having threatened to ill treat and kill him. Hookam Chan was a witness to the threats. Watson said that he was threatened because he had told authorities that Jimmy Ah Tew (Ah Chow Jim) had leprosy, which he caught from Ah Lee.

By 1891 he had moved to Albany. He was said to be wandering about town and supposed to be of unsound mind and was remanded in Albany Gaol. By 1896 he was living with Ah Kit (1). He was arrested in York in August that year after he stole a suit of clothes, a pair of boots and a hat from Ah Kit. He was sentenced to 4 months imprisonment.

By 1899 he had returned to Albany and was living on Albany Road. In February Hong Kee broke into his house and stole a tin trunk, containing clothes, seven tins of opium, valued at £10 10s., and 15 sovereigns.

In 1906 he was a storekeeper. He brought a charge of assault against Ah Fook who knocked him down and took his trousers, which had money in the pocket, and his wooden leg.

In 1911 he was arrested in Northam for possession of 5 ounces of opium which he had concealed n his wooden leg. He was sentenced to four months' imprisonment.Other nameLee Wat Sun (differentiated name)LEE WATSON (also known as)John Francis WatsonLi Wat Sun

Employment

Job titleCookEmployerWilliam NoonanDate employed1885

Connections

Subject (person)AH CHOW JimCHOW YOUKE (2)Ah TongRichard HaynesTui IsiongAh LissHookam ChanAH KIT (1)William NoonanSubject (organisation)Mount Eliza Depot (Poor House)Perth HospitalMrs Jackson's boarding houseAlbany GaolSubject (place)AlbanySubject (topic)Chinese heritage in Western AustraliaInterpreterAmputationLeprosyVagrancyRelated collectionAnne Atkinson CollectionRelated linkThe Inquirer and Commercial News, 20 November 1889: 5."IN A WOODEN LEG." The Daily News (Perth, WA : 1882 - 1955) 24 April 1911: 3 ."QUARTER SESSIONS." The Albany Advertiser, 24 November 1906: 4."Perth Police Court." The Daily News, 18 November 1889: 3."COUNTRY." The West Australian , 4 August 1896: 5."ALBANY POLICE COURT." The Albany Observer, 24 January 1891: 3.AU WA S1219- cons867 [04757]"COUNTRY NEWS." The Inquirer and Commercial News, 10 February 1899: 2.AU WA S1219- cons867 [03378]AU WA S1219- cons867 [03404]AU WA S1219- cons867 [03405]

Item information

ContributorSchool of Social SciencesSource of informationAsian immigrants to Western Australia, 1829-1901 (Atkinson, 1988)

Significant place

RelationPlace of birthPlaceChinaDate[date unknown]

Significant place

RelationImmigrated toPlaceAustraliaDate1881 (WA)

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UWA Collected

LEE WAT SUN

THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA