Evening star., 1927-03-26
ALL D: c. CHINESE
HELD IN CITY AFTER
Staying OF WAITER
Police Suspect "Paid Killer"
in Shooting--TWo TongS
Claim Body.
ALL OUTLETS GUARDED
TO PREVENT ESCAPE
Neutrals Fear Reprisals, but Both
Hip Sings and On Leongs
Acknowledge Victim.

Washington Chinatown district since
the expertly executed murder OF Lem
Chong. 40 years old, waiter in the
Canton Pagoda Restaurant, 1343 +
street, shortly after o'clock ycster-
day afternoon, police officials today de-
creed that no Chinese will be permitted
to leave the city pending the search
for Chong's slayer. Hundreds OF au-
tomobiles leaving the city at various
points last night were held up by de-
tails of police who searched them in
the hope of finding the young Chinese
who so coolly stepped out OF the res
taurant after he had murdered Chong
and engaged a taxicab to drive him
away from the scene. The killing is
attributed to the renewal OF tong war
fare.
Shortly before noon George None.
Is years old, Chinese cook at a res
taurant on Ninth street below d
street, was taken into custody by
Detectives Ed Kelly. Joe Waldron and
Tom Sweeney and transferred TO
police headquarters for questioning.
The detectives indicated None would
be held for investigation in connec-
tion with Chong's murder.
After questioning None for some
time the detectives decided to see IL
the two employees of the Canton Pa
CODA. who were near when Chong was
murdered. could identify them. They
Immediately sent a call for half a
dozen Chinese to be lined up with
None, with the view of giving the
Canton witnesses an opportunity OF
trying to pick out the killer"
Shot three times in the head, stom
ach and chest. Chong was instantly
killed. According to two employees In
the kitchen of the restaurant where
the murder was done, Chong contested
his slayer's challenge before the shoot
ing with the repeated utterance OF
What for? What for? What for?"
Dispute Over Body.
While police were informed shortly
after the staying that Chong was q
member of the Hip Sing tong, George
Wen, a leader of the On Leongs, the
opposing faction, denied this today to
Detective Ed Kelly and declared that
Chong was an On Leong and that the
On Leong organization will insist
upon claiming the body and conduct
ing the funeral. Inasmuch as the
Hip Sing leaders already have an
nounced their determination to take
test over the matter looms In the
offing.
Chong, 1t was revealed today. has q
white wife in Cleveland, Ohio. He
is a nephew of Lem Yung, who Is
credited with starting the ctty'S firSt
Chinese restaurant on the southwest
corner of Fourteenth street and Penn
syIvania avenue. Yung, 1t is said, now
is in China and 1t was the uncle that
purchased for Chong $500 interest
in the Canton Pagoda. Chong, 1t Is
declared, periodically sent to his uncle
in China dividends from his invest
ment at the Canton.
Driver Gives Description.
The only material aid given the
police in the search for Chong's slayer
was the prompt tip of Leon Dieux,
taxicab driver. Still wondering why
a Chinese customer should have pressed
81 in his hand, refused change.
and jumped out Of his cab at Ninth
md ID streets, he came beck to his
stand in front of the Canton to md
. wondering crowd OF several hundred
people. Upon learning that a Chinese
had been killed he told the police
of his passenger. It is from this de-
scription that the police are hopeful
of finding the slayer.
Police are convinced that Chong
was killed by a paid slayer. It was
explained that being killer Is q
profession, such men receiving q
salary of $35 week and $1,000
bonus when they actually kill some
probably was decided upon at a Tong
gathering. Should the killer" be
Caught, It is said the Tong which
sponsored the killing would raise all
She money he needed for his defense.
The body of Chong lies at the
morgue pending the setting OF a date
for the inquest. The inquest Is being
delayed to give the police a chaEcs
to catch the slayer.
ReprisaIs Are Feared.
Chinese 'neutrals.' those who do
not belong either to the Hip Sing or
the On Leong, frankly told the police
they believe that Chong's murder VIII
result In reprisals.
While Mr.. Wen stoutly contends
that Chong has been a member or
the On Leong group for the past i've
years, or ever since he has been Q
admits that Chong may have been
one of those Chinese who plays safe
and tries to 'be In good with both
the Hip Sing and On Leong. In this
latter event, of course, it is admitted,
he may have incurred enmities which
would have resulted in the decree for
his life.
Neutral Chinese said today that
every indication is that the killing
was a tong affair.
They said the crime evidently was
by a man who had looked
over the ground well, as 1t happened
iust at the Zero" hour in Chinese
when no customers were
present.
Agong Moy, who was in the
kitchen with Chong and heard his
cries, and Moy Soon. who was nearby
reading a Chinese paper, contended
the murder was so swift they did not
realize what was taking place and
had no opportunity to stop the slayer.
Mr.. Wen visited headquarters to-
iay and went into conference with
detectives, volunteering to be OF as
much assistance as possible.
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