Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-07-16
AssAssINs FOLLOWING THE HEIR
APPARENT OF COREA.
TRAILED HIM TO AMERICA.
HE CAME HERE IN THE VAIN HOPE
OF ESCAPING THEM.
COrean Progressive Party Wants His
Life. That There May He No Heir
10 the Throne when His
Father Is Assas-
sinated.

New York. July 15.-The Journal and Ad-
vertiser says. Prince Euie VIVA, heir ap-
parent to the throne of Corea, is said to be
in danger of losing his life. This young
Corean arrived in America several months
ago, ostensibly 10 complete his education
I'm an American college; in reality. he came
to avoid hired assassins who have fol-
lowed him. Despite the fact that the
United States offers to the prince refuge
far more secure than his native country,
he is continually lodging men who are
hired by the Corean Progressive party,
which is against the present dynasty. 10
kill him.
The prince is believed 10 be in Washing
ton at present. The members of his suite
go armed to the teeth. The secret service
officers and the police Of San Francisco
and Washington. and possibly of New
York though this has been denied, have
been instructed 10 look out for his safety.
The prince is the son of the king by q
former union.
The queen has been assassinated. the
mother of the young man has been killed.
and others interested in the royal family
of Corea have gone TO their last home on
account of this youth. Japanese secret
officer, at present in New York, who is
perfectly familiar with the affairs of Prince
Euie Wha, tells the following story of the
troubles OF the young man: The young
prince" said this officer. 'is a general
favorite wherever he goes. and while in
this city at the Waldorf he made many
friends. But he has marked peculiarly;
he wears the look of hunted man. Since
his birth in 1855, assassins have tried to
take his life. The king. believing he would
be safer in the United States than in Co
rea, sent him here and he has been followed
by two men who have sworn to take his
life. and If he gets back TO Corea alive IL
will be because Corean assassins have lost
their cunning.
These would-be assassins are believed TO
be in San Francisco at present. Both are
Coreans. although they pass themselves as
japanese One of them is a round-faced
and heavily built man, with a very kindly
expression of countenance. He is such a
fluent japanese scholar as 10 deceive even
the native japanese, and his mission here
is not suspected save by the detectives who
have been informed OF it,
He vas a fellow COnSpiratoT OF the
unfortunate Kim Kium, who was lured
to Shanghai shortly before the outbreak
Of the war between China and Japan and
there murdered by emissary from the
COrean court named Hong. who IS now
colonel in the imperial bOdyguard and vice
minister of home affairs. lie has double
ObjeCt-tO revenge the death OF ms friend
as we'll as 10 put the prince out OF the
way. The other wOuld-be assassin was at
one time cabinet minister OF the Corean
court. The prince is in mortal dread Of
the minister He knows he is followed,
but he does not know who is following
him. He never leaves of his coat of mail,
which is made Of the very finest Corean
steel wire except when In bathing. II
will not Withstand the force Of a bullet,
bu. there is no knife that can pierce il,
and it is only a knife that the prince is
afraid of.
The cause OF this desire 10 end the ca
reer of the prince lies in the idea of the
Progressive party in Corea that the king
and his son are too far behind the times.
UudoubtedIy the king will be assassinated |
before long and the design is to have the |
young man out OF the way when this comes
II pass