Evening star., 1920-01-05
VANS CONFESSION
FORCED, IS CLAIM
Police Cruel With Questions,
Lawyer for Accused China
man Tells Jury.

Ziang Sung Wan. the young Chi
nese student, on trial for murder iT
the first degree, in connection will
secretary at the Chinese educational
mission 1923 kalorama road. January
30 last was victim of police sue-
gestion' according to the opening
statement for the defense made today
by Attorney James A, O'Shea to JUS
tice Gould and q jury in Criminal D.
vision l.
Counsel said he expected to show the
innocence of his client. and that he
knew nothing of the murder until he
read the announcements in the New
York papers. Wan. he claimed. was
subjected to a course of cruelty by the
police. was hammere; with questions.
Cursed pushed and struck" until he
made the alleged confession. The
admission of guilt was extorted. the
lawyer said. and was no, voluntary.
At the mission house, the lawyer
said. he expected to prove wan was
examined by the police from Z O'Clock in
the evening until o'clock in the morn
ing The guest held out as long as
ne could, but in his enfeebled condi-
ton became a victim to the police
suggestion" and made the incriminat-
ing statements, counsel asserted.
The lawyer declared he would prove
d
claimed by the prosecution. which
asserted that the replenishing of his
depleted finances was the reason for
the alleged forgery and murder.
Wan knew nothing of the forgery.
the lawyer stated. The younger
brother. Van. had met near Union
station two Cinnamon. named Wang
and Moy. one of whom closely re-
sembled Wan. who asked him to di-
rect them to Riggs Bank, which he
consented to do. Wan was not in
the cab. but it was his double. ac-
cording to the lawyer. The cab driv-
er in his testimony had identified
the accused as the other occupant
of the cab.
First Witness for Defense.
Tsong Ing Van, brother of the ac-
cused, who was held jointly by the
coroner's jury with Wan, but was ex-
onerated by the grand jury, was the
first witness for the defense.
Although relieved of the murder
charge. Van is under Indictment for
forgery in connection with the at
tempt to cash a check for $1,000,
drawn on the mission funds.
Van said Wong, who went with him
to cash the check. looked much like
brother but little taller"
He said Wong asked him to cash the
check and gave him a large envelope,
which he gave to the paying teller.
He did not open the envelope and was
ignorant of it's contents. witness de-
clared.
He did not tell his brother of the
bank incident when he returned to
the Union station. Wan complained
of his absence because a train had
been missed and took the next train
to New York.
The witness told of the financial
condition of his brother and himself,
saying that he had shortly before the
tragedy received a remittance of $500
from their mother in China. who had
promised another $500, which they
were expecting. Wan had lent 800
to S. c. Hung, $50 to a man named
Chen and some money to one Fried
man.
Van said his brother first read of the
tragedy in New York and told him to
get a pen and paper to write to Kang
Lii, who had seen Wan in the mission.
Nothing had happened then," Van
said his brother told him.
Before making the opening state
ment for the defense, counsel for the
accused sought to make the govern
ment elect on which count of the in
dictment it would go to the jury.
The court denied the motion, as also
q request for the exclusion of certain
testimony and exhibits.