A photo of a grave marker in a local newsletter led San Quentin (SQ) Museum volunteer Jeff Craemer to ask if we could learn more about the person behind the number: Ah Sun.
“A bulletin at the Marin History Museum has this grave marker photo on it. I located the name of the person from a list I located,” Craemer writes. “Is there any way to find out more about this person?”
Using his number, we found his photos through California State Archives. These records then gave us a date range to start digging into historic newspapers to learn more about Ah Sun.
Brief history of Ah Sun
Ah Sun, 24410, was received July 2, 1910, at San Quentin after being convicted of second-degree murder out of Santa Clara County. The 59-year-old man’s occupation is listed as dishwasher.
There wasn’t much information available, even in the newspapers.
Sun was convicted of murdering Chin Hong at the Zook ranch near Gilroy on May 10, 1904. Sentenced to state prison, his attorney appealed, pushing for a new trial.
Attorney John Fitzgerald argued Sun was found guilty based solely on circumstantial evidence. After reviewing the evidence, the state Supreme Court upheld the original conviction. They also upheld Sun’s prison sentence.
“Ah Sun will (remain) in San Quentin (to finish) serving a 15-year sentence (for) the murder of Chin Hong,” reported the San Jose Mercury News, Oct. 28, 1911.
According to prison records, Sun died May 24, 1915, while in the prison hospital. Despite our best efforts, no cause of death could be found in the records.
Story by Don Chaddock, Inside CDCR editor
Follow CDCR on YouTube, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter). Listen to the CDCR Unlocked podcast.
Learn more about California prison history.
Explore CDCR history
Remembering Folsom State Prison Warden Clarence Larkin
In this installment of Unlocking History, we look at the life of Clarence Larkin, a longtime Folsom State Prison employee.…
Family seeks info on Cottonwood robber Clifford Bosenko
Robbers Clifford Bosenko and Sid Horn knocked down a man in 1905 in Cottonwood, relieving his pockets of $45. More…
Asedo family seeks answers on 1920s San Quentin rumors
A family legend regarding Ignatius Asedo serving time at San Quentin in the 1920s turned out to be fact: He…
Trains and Treasure: Dig into 1894 case of Alva Johnson
When Inside CDCR received a question regarding the identity of a man from the 1890s, we found the story of…
Explore photos, stories of two men from 1890s
A request from longtime San Quentin Museum volunteer Jeff Craemer had us digging into the stories of two men from…