Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-02-12
WAN AND VAN HELD
FOR GRAND JURY.
Responsible for Triple Chi
nese Murder, Coroner's
Jury Rules at Inquest.
TAKEN TO DISTRICT JAIL

Ziang Sung Wan and Tsong Ing Van,
accused of killing three members of
the Chinese educational mission. were
held for the action of the grand jury
by a coroner's jury at an inquest held
yesterday afternoon at the morgue.
They were taken to the District
jail. The two prisoners will await at
the jail the action of the grand jury.
Both Wan and Van. according to the
jury finding, were responsible for the
deaths By shooting of DR.. Theodore
T. Wong, director of the Chinese mis-
WI and c. Ii. Hsie. at 2023 Kalorama
road
Deni knowledge of Check.
Asked whether they had anything
10 say before the close of inquest
they were warned by Coroner hewitt
that whatever statement they made
might be brought against them. Wan
said that he would like to talk.
81 only want to say that / knew
nothing about the check" he said,
Velope and when / VI ent into the bank
/ passed over the envelope with the
check in it"
Van gave visible signs of nervous
ness. He continually twitched his fin
gers and < times bit his nails.
After Van had made his statement
Wan had something 10 say. He had
shown no signs of nervousness
throughout the testimony. Tall and
Angular and apparently impaired in
health. Wan took the stand.
Il got a telegram last December
from WI asking me to come on a visit
to Washington. was sick then and
could not come. Last month | came
here and went to the mission.
DIT. Wong wanted me to stay. WI
was afraid that Ut. Wong was going
TO transfer him to some other place
Van had nothing to do with the MUIR
ders
Il do not know anything about the
check WI arranged that. That's all
can say
While waiting to be transferred to
the District Jail Wan talked freely to
newspaper men. Van sat by his side
vlsibiy agitated. Wan again declared
that his brother had nothing whatever
TO do with the murders, asserting that
ne was not near the mission house on
the evening of the triple tragedy.
Tell of Tragedy and Check.
Witnesses at the inquest were De-
tectives Kelley. Burlingame and Sand
berg of the police department.; George
Vass. assistant cashier of the Riggs
National Bank. to whom Van is al
eyed to have first presented the check
drawn on DIR. Wong. and the Chinese
student.
Detectives Burlingame and Kelley
told in substance the circumstances
of the killings as contained in the
statement issued yesterday by the po-
lice department. Detective Sandberg,
ofncia photographer of the police de-
partment. verified the pictures Of.
scenes at the house which he had
Laken AFTER the murders
Mr. Vass identified Van as the man
who attempted to cash the $1,000
check at the Riggs National Bank
The signature on the check. he said.
was not like that Of DIR. Wong's.
He said that while the check was
being Investigated Van waited and
passed to him Wu's card. Van then
insisted that Mr.. Vass call up the mis-
sion house. The witness said that al,
attempt was made to call up the mis-
sion house, but there was no answer.
The matter was then referred to an
other employe of the bank, who was
more familiar with the mission house
account than the witness. Inc latter
to pass the check
Ii told Of visiting the mission house
and of finding Wan there and other
incidents. already published, which led
TO the finding of the bodies
Grant Believes Van Innocent,
Il am frank to admit 1 think Van
had no connection with the MUIR
der. said Inspector Grant, chief of
detectives. this morning. The China
man, Chen. is myth so far as this
case is concerned
Wan did mention Chen as a partici
pant. the inspector said. during a talk
with him In the tenth precinct police
station Sunday night. 1t was because
OF the mention of his name that De.
tective Kelly was rushed to New
York.
The name Chen is as common in
New York's Chinatown" said Detec-
Is here"
inspector Grant and the two detec-
tiVes doubted the truth of Vans ref
erence to Chen. they stated. and were
not surprised Monday morning when
W an, in the kalorama road house. re-
tractea MS statement and admitted
ne mad substituted Chen for himself.
Confessed in Interview.
1t was during the interview Monday
morning that Wan, following his
~ithdrawai of the statement about
Chen, said:
fes. / killed WI. Get your pencil
and paper and / tell whole story"
inspector Grant did much of the
questioning. while Detective Burlfp.
game wrote what the prisoue. said
w men van was questioned about his
brothers. statement regarding chen
II is stated, he declared Chen could
nave taken no part in the affair and
sad ne had not seen Chen for a wear
or more.
Foilce officials believe Vans only
connection with the affair was to get
me money at riggs Bank. Ha was
cause of his reese alliance 10 Ren 60,
u He says 1t was not until his re-
turn TO New York that his brother
told him OF the Staying of the three
men.
Murder Pact Denied.