Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-02-10


In his so-caaled confession of what
he witnessed in the mission the night
of the triple murder, according to
police officials, Wan made every effort
to exonerate his brother. W. T. Van,
also held as q suspect. denying that
he had even told him of the murders
before his arrest He did say, how
sysr. that Ben Sen WI was in the
huuse when Dr.r'Wong and C. H. Hsie
were slain, and that quarrel pre-
ceded the killing of WI, but at this
time the police will not diyulge just
what Wu's connection, if any. with
the crime was
Facts to Be Given at Inquest.
All the facts will be made public
when Coroner hewitt holds an inquest,
however, but Just when the hearing
Will be held has not been determined.
II was the inteRtion of the police to
take the case direct to the grand jury
for an investigation by that body, but
United States Attorney Laskey this
morning stated that the coroner would
hold an inquest before the grand jury
starts an Investigation.
Mai Pullman, Inspector Grant and
Detectives BurliRgame and Kelly
heard Wan tell the story of the shoot
ing The prisoner had previously told
it to the inspector and two detectives
and willingly repeated it to Maj. Pull
man later. In the first place. it is
stated. he said robbery was the motive
for the killing of DR.. Wong and Hsie
and that it was not actuated by re-
yenge or because of enmity on part
of a tong association. They were not
of the type of Chinese who figure in
affairs of the tongs, police officials
said.
According to information given by
police officials today. Wan put himself
in the house as witness to the affair.
but never admitted he handled the re-
volver with which the killing was
done He was Drofuse in his apollo
efes for deRiaIs he had made on other
occa sions and expressed sorrow at
having made so much trouble for the
police.
Wan said he was in the house with
WI and another Chinaman when Hsie
entered shortly after 10 o'clock, hav-
ing reached the house several hours
earlier and entered through the front
door that had been left open for Inn.
Just what he. WI and the other Chi
nese did during the early hours of the
evening, il is said. was not made
clear but it was made clear that they
ware together when Hsie arrived.
First Shot in Kitchen.
, When Hsie entered the house he
went to the kitchen in the basement
and 1t was there that the slayer took
his life. Three shots were fired, two
OF them taking effect. The first shot
vas fred in the kitchen. IT did not
take effect, however. and Hsie ran TO
the furnace Boom. trying to reach the
stairway to escape tie the upper door.
but two other bullets sent after him
were effective and he fell to the floor,
dying almost instantly No converse
ton preceded the shooting. Wan said
IL was a little after IL O'Clock when
DIR. Wong returned to the mission. &C
cefding to Vans statement of the
nights deings- He removed his coat
and shoes. put on his slippers and
went to the dining room. probably for
He was igneraRt of what had hap
pened an hour before and had not the
slishtest idea that one of his assist
ants. Hsie, his treasurer, had been
slain.
Attempted to Escape.
Dr. Wong was at the foot of the
sIairs when the first shot vas fireG
at him. the place where his broken
MASSES and handkerchief were found
NY the police when they reached tbs.
hsnse shortly after the triple murder asa
lag of DR.. WanE. Wan said the doc.
TOR tuFned and partly staggered and
partly ran Up the steps to the receg-
lion hall to escape from his assail-
<-isN me 44NtSk AOk4SV W AsHf NfN
reception hall on the first floor.
where the wounded man knocked
over articles Of, furniture and q
hWn SefeFe second shet direetea
shot isiIed to strike him. DR. wonss
was at the stairway leading to the
xaeeud Aoer when he Mas artahy
Nousaed ard his body rolled from,
MAS found TWO days later.
Then came an Interesting part Of
Mans story, which related to WI
He said wv retuEned to the house.
Elm and the other man until the
triple murder was completed
Tells of Visit to Bank.
Wan related the story of Kong LIS
before any of the murders had been
committed and about two hours before
Wu reached there Continuing his
story. Wan told of returning to his
room IN the Harris Hotel and re-
he went 20 the Riggs Bank with his
brother. the latter presenting the
check. letter of Introduction and a
card Of Ben Sen Wu's. 1t was the
h1rpese of Wan to make it appear
that his brother was WI. his appear.
Snee being very much like that of
The latter, and he might have succeed
cd in getting the check cash I'd had
rot a bank epaplose. who knew wu.
disputed his identity.
Last week Wan told the detectives
~ they found the man who wrote the
check they would have the SLAYER, and
during the srilling in the mission late
Satvrday night and yesterday morn.
ing he went as far as to admit writing,
the stub. Last night, according to the
police, he adznitted writing the check
but declared there was no truth in
last weeks statement He wrote the
check. he said, but did not commit
The murders.
Apologized for Telling.
Having told what he said was al
most everything he knew of the muir
der. Wan said he felt he should offer
what he termed an apology for hay-
ing made IL. Chinese. he said, usually
follow the custom of their country
men in murders by not telling of
them He realized he had broken
that custom, he said
Discussing the investigation of the
triple murder today. Maj Pullman
said Vans conduct had been typical
OF the Chinese. He would admit so
much, stop and want to discuss some
thing foreign to the matter under in
vestigation and the detectives would
simply have to discuss the other
matters with him.
For instance" said Mai. Pullman,
AT a critical stage of the inquiry
Wan suddenly switched and said he
failed to understand why his country
peace table"
Admits Signature Is His.