New-York tribune., 1918-04-24
Marshal Fires Over Heads
Of Crowd as Ram Singh
Shoots Ram Chandra
!.
Both Accused of
Planning a Revolt
courtroom Thrown in Panic
by Shooting; Soldiers
Block All Exits

! sational climax to the prolonged trial
Of thirty-two persons charged with
eonspiring to foment revolution IN
India was furnished to-day, when Ram
( Chandra, Hindu publicist and revolu-
zionist. was shot to death in the FED
eral District Court by Ram Singh,
former employe and fellow defendant.
While Singh still pressed the trigger
Of his automatic pistol he, too' was
shot and killed by United States Mar
shall James B. Holohan, who hred
across the room over the heads OF at
torneys.
The trial started November 20 and
the case went to the jury tonight.
Relief that Ram Chandra had dl-
yerted to his own use proceeds from
nroperty which Ram Singh had turned
over for use in the proposed revolu-
ton. is said by Federal officials TO
have prompted the shooting.
Trial seethes With Animosity
The trial since the opening has
seethed with excitement and anlmoslty
among the defendants to such an ex-
tent that all were searched Tor weapons
daily when entering court. ~:
John w. Preston, United StateS us
trict Attorney, had finished ms ciosias
argument when the shooting took place.
Judee William C. Van Fleet, announc-
ing that he wauld charge the Jury N
the afternoon. had left the bench ana
entered the chambers, and spectators
and LAWYERS rose to leave the room. At
one side of the bar sat the defendants'
clustered together, and at the opPoSlte
side. by the jury box, Marshal Holonan
watched proceedings. s
Ram Chandra rose ana stal.eo
across the room. Ram Singh also rose
raised his pistol and began nrlng. ham IAN
Chandra staggered forward ana Ieii
dead before the witness cnalr WIN ia a
bullet in his heart and two otnerS ~
his body. At the same moment Ram
Singh fell. Holohan, man OF great
stature. had shot once with his arm
high over his head. so that the Dullet
should clear nearby counsel. The shot
broke Ram Singh's neck.
Soldiers Block Exits
Soldiers, who have been on duty IN
court since the trial opened, lmmedl-
ately blocked the exits. Judge van
Fleet hurried back into court, ordered
all defendants taken into CUSTODY ana
the courtroom cleared. Then ne De-
gan an investigation, which developed,
he said at the afternoon SESSION OF
court, that Ram Singh had oDtalheo
his weapon during brle1 recess III
the morning session, when he had wan
dered out into the corridor for mo-
ment.
Investigations tonight ran along
many lines, including the possibility
that other defendants knew IN advance
that the shooting was to occur. san
tokh Singh, defendant, was isolated
from the others and interrogated. AZ
the afternoon session of court ne was
surrounded by deputy marshais. Every
scrap of paper used to-day by the de-
fendants for the incessant notes "nlcn
they passed around and tore up, was
sought and examined.
Shooting Causes Panic
At Singh's first shot the courtroom
was thrown into confusion. Specta-
tors, defendants, counsel and others In
the room dartcd for cover, overtnrning
chairs and tables in their fight.
Soldiers and deputy marshais rushed
70 all exits with drawn revoiyers. or-
ger was soon restored.
The double shooting was the first IN
San Francisco courtroom since fran
cis >. Heney was shot In the cheek
during one Of the graft trials ten years
ago. Heney was acting as speciai
Prosecutor at the time.
Ram Chandra was perhaps the most
widely known Hindu in America after
me departure Of his associate,' Har
Dyal, who jumped bail here when ar
rested on charges of violating neutral
NY and fed TO Switzerland. Chandra
Hot als the news he wanted for his pa
per from India, and said he did it
terongh copies of the Koran, marked
peculiarly. Native censors would not
touch these books, he said, and ap-
parently nobody else understood tho
system.
Chandra Arrested Many Times
Chandra was thirty-four years old
snd war born in Peshawur, in the Pun.
lap. He was educated In British Indian
scnoois and did some newspaper worl
N India until 1907, when he was ar.
rested for Yedition. After six months
10 jail he was liberated for lack Of eyi
asnee, but subsequently was arrested
Ana released four times. Many com
parrots at the same time we're either
HAnKsd Or Imprisoned for life,
From India ChAndra went TO Japar
ana thence TO Seattle, Wash, where h,
remained year and rnet Har Dyai. II.
arrived here In 1911 and started hi,
psper "ChAdr." In 1917 he was report
sA 70 have been depoxed as editor, bu
~ Kept on publishing paper he calle.