Evening star., 1920-01-06
CHINESE STUDENT
ON STAND DENIES
THAT HE KILLED WI
Repudiates Alleged "Contes-
sion" and Claims
"Extorti0n."


student who is on trial before Jus
tice Gould and jury in Criminal Di
vision l, on a charge of murder in
connection with the killing of Ben
Sen WI, an undersecretary at the
Chinese educational mission. 2O2S
Kalorama road, January 20 last, tes-
titled today in his own behalf. He
denied strenuously that he killed WI
and repudiated the alleged "confes
sion which he claimed was Eek
through continued harassing while he
was i'll. He put forth an ''alibi,"
swearing he was sick in a hotel at
the time the tragedy is supposed to have
occurred.
He made the incriminating state
mentS. he asserted, to escape further
persecution by the detectives.
Wan denied the claim of the gov
ernment. that he was without
funds which the prosecution con-
sidered the basic reason for the al
legged attempt to raid the funds of
tthe mission by cashing a check of
$4,000 and killing the three mission
officials when caught in the attempt.
Prisoner Spoke in Low Voice.
The prisoner spoke in low voice.
having several times to be cautioned
by the court to speak louder. He
kept his hands tightly clasped and
swayed frequently to and fro in the
moistened his lips from glass of
water placed at his side. Otherwise
he displayed no emotion.
After giving his age as twenty-five
years and telling of his arrival in
America in 1916, the prisoner detailed
the places where he had studied. He
said his father died twenty years
ago. leaving an extensive estate, and
that his mother had frequently sent
him cash. When he came from New
York last January he had about $500
in cash and did not owe anybody.
he said. He also had valuable pearl,
ruby and jade stickpins given to him
by his mother and relatives when he
left China and as presents since his
arrival in this country.
Wan had been visiting at the mis-
sion, he stated. but left tEeer January
81 with WI, who accompanied him
to Union station. His illness becom-
ing more acute, witness stated WI
advised that he defer his departure to
New York. and he registered at the
Harris Hotel. The witness explained
sending the two kilograms, put in
evidence by the prosecution to his
brother Van in New York He said
he was so sick that he wanted his
brother to wait on him. When Van
did not come in response to the first
telegram he sent the other to hasten
him, he said
d
on the evening of the tragedy and
to have seen kang Lii at the door.
He went to the mission for the pur-
pose of getting a package which had
arrived for him from China.
He found no one at home and short
ly after the visit of kang. he left the
| mission and returned to the hotel, where
he arrived about s O'Clock. He was
| feeling so badly. he said. he went to bed.
where he remained until his brother.
Van, returned from theatcr about l l
o'c.ock, when they took a short walk
! to bed.
Alleged Hour of Crime.
| 1t was between the hours of s and
| II that the government claims the triple
murder was perpetrated. Wan was
| still testifying when this report closed.
| Continuing his testimony after The
Stars report closed yesterday, Van,
the brother of the accused. declared
that the police harassed his brother
; with questions when he was i'll. AT
the Jail when the alleged confession
| was secured Van said his brother
| was SO i'll that it required two men
| to remove him to the Red Cross room.
Wan could not walk. the witness said.
i When Burlingame had secured the
alleged confession, the detective and
i police stenographer passed his cell,
Van stated, and seemed in excellent
: SplIllS. he was SILL
ing, witness declared. and he heard
Burlingame say: I'VE got it," refer
ring to the alleged confession.
| Under cross-examination by United
States Attorney Laskey the witness
denied that he saw a check in the
| envelope which he presented at the
request of the two strange Cinnamon.
one of whom was double of his
| brother. He also denied presenting
| the card of WI for the purpose of identi-
| fication and fatty contradicted the
/ testimony of the five bank officials
who identified him. He said he did not
tell these bank men that he had never
! been in Washington, as testified by
| them
| Il was so excited | do not remem-
i Der what | say" answered the witness
/ to several prodding questions of the
| United States attorney.
| When the witness on redirect exam
| inatio was telling in detail certain
! conversations, Justice Gould, inter
| rupting, asked: Were you not SO ex-
/ cited then that you could not remem-
/ Der what you said?" The witness an
| swered in the affirmative.
How do you remember these details
so well?" inquired the court.
What hurt my feelings | rememb er
! WELL" responded the young Chinaman;
| "other things not so WELL
| William 3. Garrett, form a guard
at District Jail, was the next witness.
He knew Wan at the jail, and recalled
| visit of Burlingame and another to
| the cell. Wan had been sick ever
since he was taken to Jail No cross
| examination by the prosecution.