Two new developments that were termed “important” by authorities investigating, were brought out in the Charley Lung case here yesterday, and, reversing its former verdict, the Coroner’s jury found that he came to his death at the hands of persons unknown to the jury.
The first was the discovery of two bullets in Lung’s head by Dr. D.E. Ford, superintendent of health in Craven county, at the autopsy performed yesterday morning. The second development was the discovery on the floor of the Chinaman’s shop on Middle street splotches of blood. These finding discredited the original verdict of the coroner’s jury that the laundryman shot himself.
Lung’s body was found death from a bullet wound in one eye in his curtained bunk early Thursday morning. Laura Smithers, negress, employed by the celestial, gave the alarm that resulted in the forced entrance of police and the subsequent discovery of the killing. The coroner’s jury returned a verdict of suicide, but later evidence caused Coronery Hartsfield to order an autopsy.
Identify Bullets
The recovery of the bullets from Lung’s head satisfied the authorities that they were fired from the revolver that was found on the bunk beside Lung’s body. They correspond with the size of the three unfired cartridges that remained in the revolver.
One of the bullets, both of which had entered the eye, took a downward course, barely missing the brain pan, the other, passing upward, penetrated the brain and lodged against the top of the skull. Dr. Ford said the latter bullet caused the Chinaman’s death.
The stains on the floor of the shop which, Coroner Hartsfield said he believed were made by human blood, extended from the bunk to a wash basin in the rear of the building, which made it appear that they were left by blood dripping from some object as it was passed over the floor.
Bryan Thinks It Suicide
While the coroner’s jury reversed its original verdict as to suicide, Chief of Police A.L. Bryan yesterday maintained that in view of the security in which the shop was fastened when he and a patrolman forced entrance Thursday morning, it was impossible for anyone to have gained access to the place without awakening Lung and he held to the suicide theory.
The case is admitted by all of the authorities investigating it to be one of deep mystery. If Lung shot himself, reasons for the act are unknown; if he was murdered, thus far no semblance of a clue to the identity of the murderer has been uncovered. In the latter connection, the tong war that has been raging in Chinese circles all over the county is considered a possible explanation.
From the front page of The New Bernian, Saturday Morning, November 29, 1924. Headline spelled victim’s last name “Ling” in yesterday’s paper but “Lung” in the article.
newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn96086034/1924-11-29/ed-1/seq-1/#words=NOVEMBER+29%2C+1924
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