Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1930-04-29
TONG REVENGE
Held REASON
FOR MYSTERY
Matamoros Missing
Man Goes Way
Of Dragon?

With the whereabouts of Samuel
Shong, a Matamoros Chinese baker,
still a mystery. police Of the sister
city today were ascribing his disap-
pearance reported Monday to tong
warfare.
Reports made in The Herald yes
terday said that the Chinese bak-
cry presented a scene Of confusion
when police entered ID indicating
that while foul play had been met.
the baker had not permitted himself
to be taken, or killed, without a
struggle.
While Bret Harte has held that
the way Of the heather Chinese is
passing strange. Matamoros police
today believe the whole story Of
Shong'S disappearance stands be-
fore them IN the finding Of a dragon.
drawn on a crimson scarf. its acales
stained a crimson color, lying on the
table in the midst of the disordered
room. But things Chinese cannot
remain an open book, 1t seems. The
dragon now has mysteriously disap-
peared.
The latest theory OF the police Is
that the baker was taken to the river
and his body committed to the riS-
ing waters Of the Rio Grande IN
warfare OF a secret society, which
may have followed him from the
interior Of Mexico to the border city.
Tracks Tovard River
Police started working on the case
early Monday morning when the
bakery az Fourteenth and Bravo
streets was found almost turned
t0psy turvy. inside, indicating that
a fierce struggle had taken place.
Search vas started for the missing
man and several were taken into
custody for questioning. The river
theory arose today when tracks were
found leading toward its bank.
/ Nelghbors heard barking Of dogs at
about ! o'clock Monday morning.
but no men were seen, 1t was said,
nor was noise OF any struggle heard.
A boy helper, II IS thought, was
drugged ate Saturday night IN order
not TO be a witness 10 whatever
happened IN the little baker shop
on Monday morning.
shong a Tong Man
Delving into some or the past life
OF Shcng, information has been Civ
en- that he is known TO have been
active IN Chinese tongS in the in
terror OF Mexico, and once held a
high office in a Chinese secret So
ciety IN Tampico.
Today the police are most con-
cerned with what went with Snong's
body. and how did the scarf with
the red dragon disappear SO myster-
iously?
Suspects Released
Several suspects held in connec-
ton with the bakers disappearance
were released by Matam0ros police
this morning. A Mexican law pro-
yldes thss a person may be held
twenty four hours for questioning
ana II not enough evidence has been
accumulated. he is released. He may
be re-arrJFted If evidence gathered
after he has been released deems il
necessary. IN this case the corpus
dClicti' has not been found.
Helper Released
The boy helper, after being ques-
Toned, was released as were the mar
and woman living next door 10 the
victim. Geronimo Wing, ShongS
employee, was released after an all
night grilling by Matamoros police.
Wing declared that he had gone to
work at about N o'clock Monday
morning and that upon arriving at
the bakery he had found it in a
state of disorder. He then reported
the matter to the Matamoros police.
Other Cinnamon. who had been
held for questioning were also re-
leased.
Police Still Working
The Matamoros police depart
ment is doing all in its power TO
solve the mystery and Will continue
to work on the case" Librado Salin-
as, police chief, declared this morn
ing.
ST.. Licenciado Legorreta. Mata-
moros special investigator. is also
working on the case. Cinnamon
are certainly mysterious characters
to work with" Sr. Legorreta said.
II is believed b Matamoros police
that Shong met with foul play and
his body tossed into the Rio Grande.
II so, his bones may someday be
found along the banks of the Bravo
thus clearing the mystery that Is the
chief topic Of conversation in Mata-
moroS.