Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-03-27
DANGLING FROM 4 MOOSE
At THE END OF A ROPE WAS THE
BODY OF SING TONG
FOUND.
THE SUICIDE OF A CHINAMAN
In HIS Laundry Establishment in h
East End Gives Rise to a Number
of sensational umO Theory
That Debts or Recent Criminal
Prosecutions, or Both, May lave
Been the Motives, D~isprOved.

The Chinese colony in this city is
now furnishing considerable food for
gossip. Following upon the heels of
the prosecutions last week for forni-
cation and adultery, came the discov-
cry yesterday morning that Sing
Tong, said to be one of the Cinnamon
who were fined for improper relations
with the Seamon girl, was dangling at
the end of a rope, with a O about
his neck, his body limp and l~ifeless,
in Wing Wah's laundry establishment
at No. 1917 Jacob street. 1t looked
like a plain case of, suicide, and such
1t probably was. There were many
persons yesterday who were ready
with ingenious theories, some of them
foolishly sentimental.
1t appears that Wing Wah's laundry
has not been open since Friday or Sat
urday of last week. This caused
curiosity on the part of patrons of the
establishment and persons living in the
neighbOrhOOd. Several saw, or
thought they saw, Sing Tong's feet
protruding from beneath a curtain in
the store oom The police were mott
fed yesterday morning, and Chief
Clemans and Lieut.. Michaels went out.
1t was impossible to secure a key to
the door, so it was broken open. When
the officers pulled aside the curtain
they found the body of the Chinaman
hanging from the rope, his feet touch
ing the floor. His arms were at his
side, his head inclined toward his
shoulder, and his tongue between his
teeth. The rope was a new one, and
there was a mark around his neck in
his dark skin.
The body was cut down, and a
crowd of men, women and children, at
tracted by morbid curiosity, poured
into the room. A gas jet in the room
was burning low, indicating that the
rash deed had been committed after
dark.
10 Lee, of Martins Ferry, who is the
recognized leader of the Chinese col
ony in this section Of the country,
came over to Wheeling yesterday as
soon as he was informed of the suicide,
and in company with ex-JuStice Geo.
Ankle, called upon Coroner SchultZe.
Here 10 Lee told what he NEW of the
motive of Sing Tong which induced
him to destroy his own life. He ex-
planned the mistaken notion that the
dead Chinaman was Wing Wah, by
the fact that Wing Wah OWNS the
laundry, but is now in Scio, O., while
Sing Tong was conducting it for him.
According to the story of 10 Lee,
Sing Tong was frightened into COM
hitting suicide. He was threatened by
people who called at the laundry, with
nrroc4 r1nnvn Tho nn1 nh0rO0 Irnnn
which the Celestials were arraigned
last week, and it was represented to
him that he would first be cast in Jail,
and then hanged. 10 Lee says he
talked with Sing Tong last Thursday,
and the latter cried over the situation,
and appeared to fear that he would be
thrown into Jail. The Martins Ferry
Chinaman thought it was this fact
which caused Sing Tong to suicide.
The Cinnamon are in the habit of
assembling every Sunday afternoon at
the laundry of one of their number
Last Sunday Sing Tong was missing,
but if this fact occasioned any suspi-
cion, it is not in evidence that it led
to any investigation. 1t is reason
able proof, however, that he did not
commit suicide on Sunday night.
Coroner Schultze, after learning all
the facts, decided hat deceased came
to his death by hanging. The body
was turned over to Foster & Watkins.
The dead mans cousin, Long Sing, will
be here to-day and may take charge
of the remains. Otherwise, it is like
ly that he will be buried by the county.
When You Are Moving.
Why don't you exchange your old