(Nigel Maxwell/paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Ghost stories

Over 100 years later, Sam murder case continues to haunt Prince Albert

Oct 30, 2019 | 5:05 PM

One of Prince Albert’s oldest and most famous murder cases continues to send chills down spines.

On August 26, 1911, Hoo Sam, who immigrated to Canada from China, purchased a revolver and murdered his business partner Mark Yuen, behind the restaurant they owned on First Ave. W. Spencer Borotsik, Interpreter for the Prince Albert Historical Society, said to this day the motive remains unknown.

“We know they were fighting but we don’t know what they were fighting about. There are some theories [he] could have been stealing from him but we are really not sure even to this day,” he said, adding there were not enough translators at the time to get a full statement from Sam.

The gun used by Sam remains sealed in a glass case at the Police and Corrections Museum. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

Following the shooting, Mark Yin, who also worked at the restaurant, heard the gunshot and went outside to see what happened. Upon seeing Sam with the gun, Yin ran North, chased by Sam who fired several unsuccessful shots.

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The two men got as far as the building now known as the Arts Centre on Central Ave. where Sam shot Yin. At that point a bystander stepped in and tackled Sam, restraining him until police arrived.

Yin survived his injury and later testified at Sam’s trial in November, 1911. Sam was found guilty of murder and was executed by hanging on March 26, 1912.

Borotsik said after more than 100 years, the case continues to intrigue people.

“Murder cases in small towns are just a fascinating idea because people dont tend to think that’s going to happen in small towns but it always can,” he said.

The location of Hoo Sam’s remains continues to be a mystery. (Nigel Maxwell/paNOW Staff)

At the time of the murder, it was common practice for any bodies not claimed by family to be buried in the nearby farmland outside the jail grounds, which now happens to be part of Kinsmen park. One of the urban legends of Kinsmen Park is Sam’s remains are not only buried on the grounds in an unmarked grave, but that his spirit haunts the grounds.

“Kinsmen Park is kind of creepy late at night, but as anything I can confirm, I cannot confirm anything other than he’s probably buried there,” Borotsik said.

The restaurant Sam owned, the Saskatchewan Cafe, is long gone but the building itself continues to be used by a number of different agencies and groups including Catholic Family Services and A2Z Safety and Training.

The former home of the Saskatchewan Cafe continues to stand, and the people who work there claim to hear strange noises. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

On Wednesday, paNOW spoke to several people at the building who claimed they’ve heard strange noises late at night like knocking or footsteps. One woman said it was not uncommon for doors to mysteriously open and close.

Mark Yuen was buried on Friday, Sept. 22, 1911 at the South Hill Cemetary in an unmarked grave.

South Hill Cemetary. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell