The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-10-09
CASE Of HARA-KIRI
SUICIDE ATTEMPTED BY A JAP
ANESE OFFICIAL WHO WAS
IN DISGRACE.
NOW FLYS HAWAIrS FLAG.
CASE OF THE STEAMER CHINA
DECIDED BY THE ISLANDS
COURT.
MEETING ADDRESSED BY MORGAN
Natives EnIightened on the Subject
of Annexation by the Senator
From Alabama.

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. S.--The
steamship China arrived here today
from Hong Kong, via Honolulu, with
the following advices:
Councillor Aki Yama, of the Japan
| csc foreign office, attempted suicide at
Yokohama on Sept. 20. At last &C
counts he was in a critical condition.
There were two severe wounds, one in
the throat and the other in the abdo-
men. Aki Yama arrived in Honolulu on
the Japanese cruiser NaniWai last May
to assist Minister Shimamura in hand
ling the Japanese immigration matter.
He was ordered home in July, and the
impression got abroad at the time that
he failed to accomplish what was ex-
pected of him by the government; that
he had gone home in disgrace, or at
any rate prior to his departure the
matter had been taken entirely out OF
his hands.
At o'clock on the goth he went away
from the foreign office saying that he
felt unwell and ON reaching home, he
complained of suffering and went to
lie down. About half an hour later
member of the household entered his
room and found him bathed in blood.
A sword about three feet long was
grasped in his right hand and several
severe wounds were visible on his neck
and abdomen He was almost I'M
conscious, but owing to the difficulty OF
using a weapon of such length for sui
cidal purposes, according to the ortho-
dox Japanese fashion, he failed to IN
flict mortal injury. 1t would seem that
when he plunged the sword into his
stomach and attempted to draw it
across. the impossibility of guiding it
correctly resulted in it's glanc1ng up
ward against the ribs on the left SIDE,
and although an effort was made to
change the direction to the right, the
enfeebling effect of the first rendered
the second inocuous The same dill
GUILTY saved the jugular vein when the
sword was directed against the throat.
When his mother raised his head, she
asked him what had induced him to
take such a course, but he made no
answer, although he managed to let 1t
be understood that he did not wish to
have medical aid. A physician was
soon on the spot, and the wounds were
treated, that in the stomach requiring
fifty stitches. 1t is understood to be the
doctors opinion that if no complica-
ti0ns ensue a fatal result need not be
apprehended The almost invariable
custom with q Japanese who contem-
plates suicide, is to leave written
statement Of his reasons for the act,
but nothing of this kind has been
found in this case, and it is, of course,
idle to speculate on the motives, by
which he was influenced. Possibly the
simple explanation is mental derange-
naent, but naturally there is d1spos1-
ton to infer that some feature OF the
Hawaiian affair had depressed him be-
yond endurance.
The supreme court Of Hawaii has af-
frnned the decision of the lower court
81 +IaA CT h
and at a late hour yesterday G.. w
McFarlane secured Il register for the
big vessel 1t was feared that the gov
eminent might ask for rehearing OF
the case before the supreme court, but
no further objection was offered, and as
soon as possible after Judge Perry had
issued the writ against the collector Of
customs it was presented at the Gus
tom house and the formal papers
drawn up, giving the China the right
to fly the Hawaiian flag Now that
the China case is disposed of, the Pa
cifie Mail company will send the Bar
acouta, now plying between Central
American ports, and will make appii-
cation for Hawaiian register for her.
There is no doubt that the Baraeouta
will get her register. MacFarlane,
who is her flag owner, says she will
come here next month.
DR. Jarrard K. Smith, a brother of
Attorney General Smith, was murdered
at Koloa, on the island of Kauai, on
the night of Sept. "a. A native named
Kapea committed the deed. His
brother, an accomplish, turned states
evidence, and the arrest of the muir
derer followed. The crime was most
cold-blooded one. Mr.. Smith was at
his desk engaged in writing; knock
called him to the door, and as he
stepped on the veranda the native shot