The Caledonian-record. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1920-current, 1921-12-30

DOOl O1 DlOOu L ltCCody CIV g
Wallace of the ST. Johnsbury
police. The head Of the Oriental
had been crushed in at the top by
repeated blows from some heavy
instrument in the hands OF an un-
known assallant.
1t is possible that Sam NaA
MAY have had d considerable sum
o1 money secrctcd IN his little
habby quarters. Zen years ago,
ne was accustomed TO go TO Il 81
JohnsOury bank ana seek to OK
onange paper currency Tor pieces
OF gold. What he Md with the
golucn coins no one seems 10
know. The Chinaman never made
any deposits in amy of the locai
banks and inquiries at the post
Office revealed no transactions
with banking houses i'll larger C.
ties.
In the days before prohibition,
Wah occasionally sent money or
dcrs for small quantities OF GIN
and for small purchases. / 1e
intoxicating beverage was ordered
from a Boston firm, while the put-
chascs were in the nature OF wear
ing apparel.
The murdered Chinaman was
never arrested for any mlsde-
mcanor during the 50 years that
he lived in st. Johnsbuiy. How
ever. about 20 years ago, when
Sam Wah had Il place OF business
ON Eastern Avenue, he was raid
ed and three Chinese were fouitG.
They had been smuggled into tins
country from Canada, although 1t
WAS impossible TO attach any
blame, at that time, to Wah. Char
lc, Lee. a partner Of Wah, WaS
found to be implicated in the
smuggling of Oricntals into th-
country, was proven guilty ana
sentenced to two years in pi1So'h
During the last few year Wan,
declining in years bore the repu-
tation Of peaceful citizen. But
a dozen years ago, his place on
Railroad street was raldcd AGAIN
bv the police officers who believed
that gambling game was in pro
grcss At the approach of the OF
GERS the game was hastily broken
up, the participants scattered, and
Wah was taken TO the police sta
ton. He was not placed under an
rest but was Aarncd by the police
again another ofenac.
Information, now in the hands
of the authorities indicates with
much clarity the time of the mur-
der. At 10 Monday night, light
was seen in the basement apart
mcnt of Sam Wah, Then at IL
two witnesses, whose identity Is
not disclosed came through the
alley-way by the Chinese laundry
and say that the light had been
put out. 1t was just before this the
authorities believe the crime was
committed.
That the murder was perpctratcd
late Monday night Is further sub
,tantiatcd by the fact the tlrc in
Wah', small round stove had
burned out Tuesday morn 1G
when the cobblcrs went to wo.k
in the Shu-F'ix next door The
stove is of the type commonly
used as a car heater on railroads.
A coal fire, such as the Chinam&n
kept in the little stove, ought to
burn eight or ten hours without
attention. Tuesday morning, 1t was
20 cold in the shoe repairing cs-
tablishmcnt, which is ScpaiatcI
by thin board partition from the
dead Chinaman's quarters, that
Mr.. Nadeau's helper found it ex-
trcmely difficult to ply his trade.
Cold air was issuing from Wah :
rooms through the c.acks and
apcrtures in the wall.
Examination of the little, shah
bv back room where the crime was
committed has brought to light
spvoral interesting bits of evidence
which may point to &c sex of the
a ,ailant Repeated blows upon
the head, might tend to indicate
that a woman delivered them. An
other fact which perhaps would
substantiate the theory that d
woman committed the crime wa
The careful manner in which Wah
was searched. If a man he'd
killed the Chinan3an. he ould prob
ablv have struck the latter orce
or twice on the head. and then
torn his clothes from him in fran
tic search for his money ba0. Thi-
was missing. when the body va.
found bv the Officials
moon, coated with blood. wa
picked up nca" the set tubs, I'm