Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 18, 1960)
Reporter Tells of Experiences During Year in Red Chinese Prison r.dllnr'c Rain UTLII. -I n iZZl communists arc trylns Francis ui!? pi on jpy chircn in Moscow this week, the story ol an other spy trial and prison sentence s oeins written in Tokyo. It is ..Li ' Pers0I s'ory or Bill Vim, a Chinese reporter employed by 1 " international In Horn vi'I' ia nrlson 1" Canton. Mm tells how he was picked up hV Commnn ti .......I... il-. while on asslenment in China and m. .rse? w"h "Pylnit. Here Is the vn -i dlspatchei abaut his By BILL YIM Tokyo - IUPD - The Chinese Communists imprisoned me Xor one year on trumped up spy charges. They knew they were wrong. I knew they were wrong. I lost one year of my life, but now I am back in freedom. At 7 a.m.,' July 19, 1959, I had crossed the border from Hong Kong into Red China on a news assignment. One year, fcine days, two hours and 20 minutes later, I crossed back again. For one year, I never slept in the dark. The single, un shaded light bulb in my prison cell glared throughout the night. For one year I never saw another prisoner, al though I am sure there were 1,000 in the same Canton jail. Runs Around Cell For that year I sang to my self, danced or ran around the cell to preserve my sanity. During that time I belonged to the Communists. They had my body. But they wanted my mind. They finally re leased my body. They never captured my mind. The story I want to tell is the truth about the Com munists - and their own com plete disregard for the rights of individuals and their con tempt for the principles of freedom and equality." My Westernized name is "Bill." My Chinese name is Yim Yuen Lo. I was born 24 years ago in Kiangsi Province of mainland China. My fam ily fled to Hong Kong during World War II when I was three. I have lived in Hong Kong since, working after I finished school, first for a European news agency and then for United Press Inter national. To Interview Downey In July, 1959, I was assign ed to go from Hong Kong to Canton for an interview with William Downey, younger brother of John Downey, an American citizen serving life imprisonment o n espionage charges. Younger Downey had received special permission to enter Red China and UPI wanted me lo interview him. All arrangements for the Medford Tribune SECTION B MEDFORD, OREGON, THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 1960 PAGES 1 to 8 ... .J.. , rr . t : lM W fa , , ' 'lab, ,, NEWSMAN RELEASED Chinese newsman Bill Yim, shown with his mother in Hong Kong after his release, spent more than a year in Canton, China, in a Communist prison. Employed by United Press International, Yim was arrested on trumped-up spy charges. He was freed after his captors tried in vain to reform him. (UPI Telepholo) trip were made through the China Travel Service, a Com munist organization in Hong Kong. I paid them $41 and they bought my train ticket, made hotel reservations and arranged for their representa tives to meet me in Canton. I told them fully about the purpose of my trip. They gave me permission to take a camera and typewriter. I re ceived a tag for my lapel so the Communists at the Can ton railroad station would spot me, The next day I crossed the border into China without dif ficulty although I answered many questions from the bor der inspectors. I told them I intended to stay only two or three days. Gels Good Service A flood had hit the area. On the the three-hour train ride to Canton, I look pictures of the high water and of Red army soldiers, peasants and workers at the four stations where we stopped. Two very friendly travel men met me at the station and look me to the Huachia Hotel, where I got the best room in the house. I paid for the taxi, but the driver re fused a tip as did the travel service men. I tried immediately lo con tact Downey but without suc cess. Everyone pleaded ignor ance of his whereabout - that day and the next. So I went sightseeing, taking pictures of streets, houses, people, traffic and construction - typical tourist photos. Then my Hong Kong office advised, me that Downey was leaving Canton. I was told the reason I could not reach him was because I had not contacted the New China News Agency, although I am sure the agency knew I was coming. . Confiscate His Papers I made plans to return to Hong Kong, but at 11:30 that night a hotel waitress told me the security bureau wanted to talk to me. I look a taxi. Two Communists were wailing for me, young men about 25, dressed in white sports shirts, slacks and rubber shoes. To my astonishment they accused me of illegal entry into China as an American reporter. They said I should have reported lo the security bureau, They confiscated my I Then they drove me in a papers, warned me not lo Jaguar automobile to the communicate with anyone or attempt to leave Canton and to come back the next day. For the next seven days I was interrogated, usually at night. Afterwards I was al lowed to return to my hotel. I decided I had lo notify Hong Kong. I called a taxi and said I wanted to go sight seeing. When I got about two blocks from the cable office I had the cab stop and walked the rest of the way. Calls for Help "Date return unknown," I cabled UPI. "Need help." I signed the cable, "Ivyman," because in Hong Kong they knew I liked Ivy League clothing. I picked up my taxi, rode around the city and returned lo Ihc hotel to wait for a phone call from Hong Kong. It never came. The next day, I tried to put through a call myself. That did it. Within minutes, a security bureau official entered my rooms. "So you wanted to call Hong Kong," he said, "Have n't you forgotten our discip line?" I was taken back to the security bureau for the last time. I had decided lo "con fess." I was afraid for my life and I wanted to survive, not only for myself but so I could tell my story. Yim Signs Paper The Communists accused me of working for a "U.S. imperialist propaganda o r gan" and collecting military, economic and political infor mation. I admitted to "vio lating the sovereignty of the Chinese Peoples Republic." That seemed lo be enough. After half "an hour, the Communists produced a paper authorizing my arrest. I sign ed it, thi?n wrote: "I do not know the reason for my ar rest." A door was opened and in walked the hotel waitress I had known. She carried my coat, camera, typewriter and a Pciping review magazine I had bought. The Communists had me check my possessions. brick-walled prison. Tomorrow: Kim tells of his show trial six months after imprisonment and of his "re form" before he was released. Public Should Be On Guard (or Gyps A warning lo the public lo be on guard againsl the "ten top gyps" was issued today by Don McNeil, manager of the Medford chamber of com merce. He referred lo a feature article in the July issue of Changing Times magazine which lists the ten leading schemes and practices current ly exploiting the gullible, as reported to the national bet ter business bureau. They are deceptive drug, de vice, cosmetic advertising; questionable franchise deals especially in vending ma chines; mail order sale of du bious gadgets and garden sup plies; unsound earn-money-at-home schemes; high pressure home improvements; fictitious list and comparative prices; bait ads; unordered merchan dise schemes, especially in charitable appeals; telephone sale of doubtful securities; and photography schemes. "Consumers can best be protected against the minority in business which engages in questionable practices by deal ing with firms of known re liability," McNeil stated. "If there is any doubt about it, ap propriate inquiry should be made in advance." Tips Tower-Climber Says Judge is Right Paxton, Neb. - Carter Pry- sock, 28, in court after he scrambled up a 200-foot lower over the South Plalte river, agreed with the charge of in toxication. "I never could have made il if I'd been sober, he admitted lo the judge who fined him $50. PARKER & LUCILLE WOODS On the Opening of Your Fine New Medford Store! 220 EAST MAIN ST. Ws are proud to hove had a part in the planning, building and furnishing of this handsome new store in Medford. This it, we' believe, a fine ex ample of good designing and planning for the utmost comfort and convenience of shoppers. May we suggest that you drop in at Parker and Lucille Woods' smart shop' today and see how attractive and functional it is. We know you'll be pleasantly surprised. BAKER PAINT & WALLPAPER CO. 1945 W. Main -Ph. SP 3-1062 Carpeting & Floor Tile Installed by Dyke's Floorcovering Medford - - Grants Past All Ceramic Tile Contracted by MODERN TILE CO. 2456 Nieto Way -Ph. SP 3-4170 Parker Woods Leon's 220 East Main Here's the ruggedest fabric in Continentals I LIE w 1 S 2 f ml ' 1! m A Special Factory Concession Makes This Pos sible in Famous Brand Wool Capri Pants, in Skirts and Matching Fur blend Sweaters At Great ... SAVINGS! O SKIRTS SI 99 UJ Values To $10.98 SWEATERS Values To $10.98 WOOL CAPRIS $99 BEAUTIFUL PLAIDS II Values To $14.98 LEVI'S' Mark! f COHTMimLS in Wash and Wear GRIZZLY CORD So handsome! You'll look your best in the flattering fit of LEVI'S Mark I Con tinentals! Slim, beltless and pleatless, with extension waistband and adjust able elastic side tabs, offset pockets and finished cuflsl So tough! They're tailored in rugged, heavyweight Grizzly Cord an extra heavy wash-and-wear bed ford cord that wears as well as it looks! Lots of popu lar campus colors to choose from, tool , . . about $5.95 Sa. them -try them -buy tti.m at your favorite Jtorel (ftnMHHlUVI'SM.Mr(.al-nli.l. MfCHT "KC .MB X Iff & II JTWI A m TvvT IP W91I I . II mli i GRIZZLY CORD CONTINENTALS OLIVE GREEN OR ICE BEIGE MEN'S SIZES 29-36 street floor BOYS' SIZES lower floor 5.95 4.98 Air Conditioning & Lighting Installed by ; Trowbridge & Flynn 214 W Main -Ph. SP 3-6241 PARRISH CONSTRUCTION CO. 1057 Court St. -Ph. SP 2-8111 w Parker 220 East Main Phone SP 2-5847 OODS o Leon's
