Evening journal., 1918-04-24
TWO shot DEAD IN
FRISCO controversy
Ram Chandra, Slain by
Singh, Fellow Hindu,
Avenged by Marshal
ANIMUS SHOWN
DURING HEARING

SAN FRANCISCO. April 2l.-A sensa-
tlonal climax 20 the prolonged trial Of
thirty-two persons charged with con-
spring 20 ioment revolution in India
was furnished when Ram Chandra,
Hindu publicist and rovolutlonist, was
shot 20 heath in Federal District Court
by Ram singh. a former employe and
fellow defendant. While Singh stlll
pressed the trigger OF his automatic
pistol he. too, was shot and killed hv
United States Marshal James B Holo-
han. who fired across the room over
the heads ot the attorneys
Tho trial started November 90 and
the case went tc The jury last night.
Belief that Pam Chandra had d.
Yerted to his own use proceeds from
property which Ram Singh had turned
over for use ia the proposed revolution
IS said by Federal officials 20 have
prompted the shooting
The trial since the opening has
seethed with excitement and animosity
among the defendants TO such an extent
that an were searched for weapOSs
daily when entering court.
The United states District Attorney,
John W. Preston, had finished his clos
ing argument, which Mrs. Preston was
present 90 hear
Just before the shooting Judge VII
liam G.. Van Fleet announcing that he
would charge the jury in the afternoon,
had left the bench and entered the
chambers and spectators and lawyers
rose 10 leave the room. At one side
OF the bar sat the defendants, clustered
together. and at the opposite side, by
the jury box, Marshal Holohan watched
proceedings.
Ram Chandra rose and started across
the room. Ram Singh also rose, raised
his pistol and began firing. Ram
Chandra staggered forward and fell
dead before the witness chair with a
bullet in his heart and two others in
his body. AZ the same moment Ram
Singh fell Holohan. a man Of great
stature, had shot once with his arm
high over his head, so that the bullet
should clear nearby counsel. The shut
broke Ram Singhs neck.
Soldiers VINO have been on duty In
court since the trial opened immediate
ly blocked the exits. Judge Van Fleet
hurried back into court, ordered all de-
PENDANTS taken into custody and the
courtroom cleared. Then he began an
investigation. which developed. he saiC
at the afternoon session OF court. that
Ram Singh had obtained his weapon IN
the course OF a brief recess in the morn
ing session, when he had wandered ou
into the corridor for q moment
Investigations last night ran SlonG
many lines including the possibility
that other defendants knew IN advance
that the shooting was TO occur. san
TOXIN Singh. n defendant, was isolated
from the others and interrogated. A
the afternoon session OF court ne wa
surrounded by deputy marshals. Ever-
scrap OF paper used by the defendant
Tor the lucessant notes which they pas
ground and tear up was sought snd eX
smined.
At singh's first shot the courtroom
was thrown into confusion. Spectators
defendants. counsel and others in th
room darted for cover. overturnlnl
chairs and tables Ia their flight. Sol
ders and deputy marshals rushed 10 al
exits with drawn rcyolvers. order wa
soon restored.
The double shooting was the 1rst 81
san Francisco courtroom sine
Francis j. Heney was shot IN the chee
during one OF the graft trials ten year
ago Heney was acting as special prose
cutor at the time.
Ram Chandrs was perhaps the mos
. widely known Hindu in America afte
ihe departure OF his associate, Ha
Oval who jumped bail here when an
rested on charge'of violating neutralit,
ard fed TO switzerland Chandra 90
an the news he wanted Tor his pape
from India and said he did it through
copies Of the Koran, marked peculiarly
Native censors would not touch thes
books, he said, and apparently nobod
else understood the system
Chandra was thirty-four years Oh
end was born in pcshawur. I'm the Pun
jab. He was educated in British India
schools and did some newspaper wor
in India until i9o7. when he was arrest
cd for seditOn. After six months il
iail he was liberated for lack OF evl
dence, but subsequently was arreste
and released four times Many com
patriots at the same time were eithe
hanged or imprisoned for life.
From India Chandra went 10 Japa
and thence 90 Seattle. Wash where n
remained o year and met Har Dyal n
arrived here in 1914 and started hi
paper, Ghadr. In 1917 he was reporte
30 have been deposed as editor, but b
kept on publishing a paper he calle
the Hindustan Gnadr.
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