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
Chaplain Lloyd educated public on rehabilitation
In 1905, WH Lloyd was tapped to replace an ailing minister at a church in Folsom and act as chaplain…
Go behind SQ grave marker of Ah Sun
A photo of a grave marker in a local newsletter led San Quentin (SQ) Museum volunteer Jeff Craemer to ask…
Meet the first matrons of San Quentin
With 15 women incarcerated at San Quentin in the mid-1880s, the state decided to create a matron position to oversee…
Roosevelt Clopton served state as officer, agent
For military veteran Roosevelt “Ted” Clopton, being a lifelong student guided his choices from joining the Army to becoming a…
SQ Captain Rivera Smith served nearly 4 decades
Rivera Smith was the longest serving staff member at San Quentin (SQ) when he passed away in 1950, serving nearly…