The Caledonian-record. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1920-current, 1921-12-29

known in Sam Wah's den in the
Scott block on Railroad street.
Whatever the motive of the in
human crime committed on the de-
fenseless Oriental, the findings of
the autopsy performed Wednesday
afternoon can indicate nothing
short of "A violent death.
Though nearly "a hours have
clalpsed since the body of Wah
was found lying on the cold ce-
ment floor of little back room
vet States Attorney James b.
Campbell and the police and other
authorities say they have no def
mite clue that might tend to IN
climinate the murderer. They are
all bafflcd by one of the mos:
brutal murder mysteries that has
stirred Northeastern Vermont in
the past few years.
The fyail body of Sam Wah was
lifted from the pool Of blood IN
which it lay and taken to the un-
dertaking rooms at the Calderwood
block, where DR.. c. F. Whitney
and DR.. C. A. Ravey of the state
laboratory at Burlington perform
Cd the autopsy.
Sam Wah's skull bore evidence
% having been struck repeatedly
by a hard instrument. The skull
was fractured in the top part OF
head and a little to Tho right. Three
or four decorations of the scalp
were mute evidence that the CHM
man had not fallch accidcntly olto
the small, rou9d s.Cve near which
h. Euy dead. TIE theory Of acci-
dcrtal death, in Wv of the highly
discriminating circumstances, has
trcn discarded.
The autopsy iii closed no other
;'Iasions on any other part OF
Wah's body He had evidently been
struck several timcs-maybc IN,
seven, or eight,-on top of tn
head. He tried to stem the flow OF
blood from the deep wound on the
top of his head; his hands were
both Smcarcd.
1t is possible that some hcavleI
instrument than the poker, Whlcn
wa found near the body, was used.
On the walls of the little back
room were hung several flat-lronS
which could be used to deliver
dcath-d dealing blow.
The Cinnamon had no init
mate friends in whom he contldcd.
He was a friend of little children
TO whom he often distributed
candy, which he purchased at the
Woolworth store across the street !
from hi laundry. In his miniature |
Chinatown-hc comprised the en-
tire Chinese population OF ST.
Johnsbury-therc often gathered |
gang of gamblers. The stake
sometimes ran high and much |
money changed hands. Sam Wah
himself wa an inveterate gamb-
Ter. !
At restaurant where he often
took his meals, he sometime
spoke of the fascination New
York's great Chinatown held Tor
him. There were thou. ands of his
race there and endless oppUt ,uni-
ties to satisfy ones passion for
the dice. he intimated.
Sam Wah was seen at Shcr-
burnc's restaurant Sunday about
supper time. 1t was then evident
that he was very feeble. Ordinar-
ilv he was "a hearty eater. When
ever chicken was on the menu, he
ordered generous portion. Sun
day evening, however, he was un-
able to eat much. He displayed
difficulty in rai.ing his elbows TO
put them on the table before him.
He indicated desire to return
Immediately home Several dough
nuts were placed in paper baG,
which was handed to him and he
trudgcd along home. After his
death two pounds of beef steak
was found wrapped in paper in the
outer room, used by Wah a.
laundryman.
The body was found Tuesday
evening about 1880, although
death may have occurred anytime
after ne was last seen, dCcOTdiHS |
to the police, on Monday after
noon. A stocking torn off the
right foot indicated that the slay
cr had searched Wah for money
His trousers were loo3ened about
the waist. as through someone
had flmbled for the money belt,
the Chinaman Is said to have worn
at all times.
1t is a certain that Sam Wah
had Secreted either in his clothes
O. in various parts of the room
II considerable sum of money.
Perhaps a thousand dollars o..
more. no one know. Several years.
ago the Oriental had an operation