NEWARK DETECTIVES INVESTIGATE BEGINNINGS OF TONG WAR 1930

NEWARK DETECTIVES INVESTIGATE BEGINNINGS OF TONG WAR 1930

 

by: Dennis Beyer

 

In an attempt to rid myself of some of the boredom I have had, due to Covid Restrictions,  started reviewing this old scrap book I purchased a year or so ago. I blogged about it last year.  I purchased the book after a New England couple "found" it in a pile of trash. The book contains news clippings of crimes in Newark. City Detective Morris Kirwan is mentioned in almost every article, so the presumption is, This was his Book. My wife thought I was crazy to buy this old book of someone else's memories.

The Book was originally a Newark Police Desk Blotter. Det. Kirwan pasted his news clippings, photos, and letters over the original pages. Some pages included photos from different crime scenes.  These pictures were re- printed onto the pages of The Newark News, and make for very interesting reading. 

In my initial review I found a couple of very interesting items in the book, which I have since sold. I made a nice return on my investment, so My wife can't say I am crazy any longer. One of those items was a Piece of Mail,  from the Crime Scene of the murder of Charles Lindbergh's baby son in 1932.  The Second item was a "AP Teletype with Original Pictures" of three NYC Detectives, who were shot, pursuing a felon, in 1931.

In this same time period, I found a news clipping of a homicide story.  In addition to the news article there was  an "original photograph." The picture is a 4" x 6," black and white print. It shows four men in an old convertible. Condition is good.

(Original Picture showing Low Sung Hung before his murder)

This looks like a staged photo. I can only guess that the Detectives found this picture, and used it to aid in their investigation. It is assumed that Det. Kirwan marked the name "Low Sung," onto the photograph, which is now 90 years old. It is in excellent shape, and finding a nice home in my Newark Memorabilia Collection.

The news story reveals that Mr. Low Sung Hung was found dead in an alley, near midnight (date believed to be in 1930). He was shot twice, and stabbed once. 

Detectives feared that this murder was the "...fresh outbreak of War between the rival gangs Hip Sing and On Leong Tongs." Their investigation revealed the victim to be age 35, employed as a Cook, and affiliated with the "Tongs."  Police also found a nearly complete letter to his Mother.  It indicated he expected someone to kill him, and "Cut out His Stomach."

Three arrests were made the same weekend as the murder, but there is no information about a trial or convictions. The news clipping follows below.

 (Picture is of a News Clipping from circa July 1930. Photo by Dennis Beyer)

 

When I located this scrap book, I inquired as to other souvenirs from Det. Kirwan's career. Sadly I was told his badges were located, but distributed to unknown family or friends.

The badges below are representative of those in use in the 1930's. Det. Kirwan's badge would have looked like one of these. They are almost identical to the current Detective Shield, but without a "blue enamel ring" behind the letters. The Newark "City Seal," with a hand holding a hammer," is prominently located at the badge center point.

 

(Three pictures of 1930 vintage N.P.D. Detective Badges.  Photo by Dennis Beyer)

 

The above three Badges are now part of a display in my Den. They are part of my collection, and often taken to Police Shows in the Florida area. I have a deepfondness for these beautiful badges, and the history behind them. Certainly the story above has contributed to my memories, and my visits with city history.