As mentioned in a previous post, San Jose resident and Chinese American, Ma Chuck, became the first man of Chinese decent to register to vote in Santa Clara County in 1894. This path to suffrage did not come easily for Ma Chuck. There was some debate whether it was legal to vote. Fortunately, the Fifteenth amendment settled the issue and there had been another Asian to vote in Monterey County before him.
Unfortunately, Ma Chuck was viewed by some in the Chinese community about being too 'Americanized' and started fights with him.
Whether due to intimidation or not wanting to prosecute his own people in the Chinese community, Ma Chuck did not show up at the trial of his batterer, Ah Coon.
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