Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-05-05
VAN TAKES STAND
TO AID BROTHER
Declares Wan and He Were
Mistreated When Held by
D. c. Police.

Tsong Ing Van today made his third
attempt to save the life OF his brother
Ziang Sun Wan. who Is on trial be
fore Justice Eoehling and a jury In
Criminal Division l on a charge OF
murder In the first degree In con
nection with the killing Of Ben Sen
WI at the Chinese mission In 1919
Van retold the story which he had
narrated at the two previous trials oil
his brother. declaring that he met
strange Chinese At Union station who
asked him to assist In getting check
cashed. He said his brother was at
the Hotel Harris at the time the
tragedy is claimed by the defense 10
have been committed.
Van asserted that his brother re-
manned at the station while he and
the stranger went in a cab to the
Riggs Bank where he offered the
check for $4,000, which the bankers
refused to honor. The stranger wait
ed outside the bank. according to Van.
The witness told Of his arrival from
New York .Ianuar, %. when he found
his brother In bed with stomach
trouble at the Harris Hotel. and OF
their determine ton to go back to the
metropolis. He then explained the
check incident and told OF the ride
back to New York.
Van complained of the police
met hods during the inVestiga ton ana
claimed he was mistreated. When
Kelly entered the room said the Wit
ness he blurted out Where is the
pistol?" and Immediately searched the
witness. while Burlingame frfsked
his brother When witness demurred,
saving his brother was sick ana
should not be treated that way. Kelly
told him to shut up" declared the
witness. At the clinic in Washing
ton, he said. Maj. Pullman. inspector
Grant and Detective Kelly drew up
chairs around him and accused nim
of the triple murder, asking TO what
tong" he belonged.
Says He was Punched.
Kelly rinched me" said IN" wit,
mess. when | refused to answer
questions. Some one shook me and
Grant poked his finger in my face.
Nal Pullman was not rough. the wit
ness said.
Edwin B. Hesse. jor Of police,
testified late Yesterday afternoon. He
was property clerk at the time Of the
tragedy and brought the records OF
the department. explaining what was
turned over to him at the time. Maj.
Hesse knew nothing Of the eyeglasse
which the defense claim may have
belonged to the ASA ssin.
Samuel c. Malone. handwriting ex-
pert who said ne had testified in $500
cases. including about 900 for the
Government. was called to the witness
stand yesterday. Mr.. Malone said
checkbook at the mission was not
In VANS handwriting. but indicated
that some one was attempting to imi-
tate his method of writing.
Malone did not believe In built up
handwriting exhibits such as dis
played by the Governments expert.
BERTHE C. Farrar, of the Treasury
Depa
German NJ Hendricks. newspa per
reporter who covered the mystery OF
he triple murder at the mission house,
told how the newspaper men were
elected from the mission house short
lv after the arrival Of Maj. Raymond
Pullman, chief of police, to investi'
gate the tragedy. The men did not get
out quick enough. he said. and were
assisted into the street by officers.
He explained the appearance Of the
mission house and was called to corrob-
crate some testimony already given
BY the defense in regard to the sitGa-
ton. Hendricks also explained the
Layout" at police headquarters in
January, 1919.
The case will proba bly, go to the jury
late this week or early in the next
week.