The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1904-08-03

| was caDtivated by the gentle teachings
Of Christ and ! became convert TO
! Lutheranism.'
Colonel Jokoka spoke English, and
If was a subject of King Edward, an
employee Of the Russo-Chinese bank,
! who translated to the court the decla-
! rations of the prisoner. captain Jokkl
was Intercepted by means of Chi
nese interpreter The accused were
shown the explosive materials which
had been found upon them. They did
not attempt to defend themselves or TO
| DENY in any particular the statements
of tba Cossacks who had arrested them.
| The Interpreters translated to the prls-
on2rs the military prosecutors speech
! asking the punishment of death Dy
hanging.
81 watched the countenances of the
! two men. and | could not observe IN
| them the slightest indication of fear
The counsel of the two Japanese asked
that the sentence of death should be
committed to Imprisonment with hard
labor. the accused men having made
complete confession.
"The two officers remained unmoved
by their counsels warm appeal. Ihey
did not utter a word.
"Since the law allowed of lighter
) nunishment we all expected commu-
! tation of the sentence. The dell0era'
! tions lasted for half an hour and the
J court condemned the two officers to the
! maximum penalty-the scatfold. Col
I onel Jokolla and Captain Jokkl heard
! their sentence with as detached an air
as if it had concerned Indifferent per-
sons.
"The sentence was to be executed on
the following morning at l O'Clock
All that was waited for was a dispatch
| from General KurOpatkin confirming it.
| The telegram arrived promptly. The
generalissimo approved the condemna-
ZION, but spared the japanese officers
the humiliation of the scatfold and
granted them the grace of being shot
according them a soldiers death.
Il was present when the command
ant read to the prisoners General huTo-
patkin's order. 1t is WELL responded
Colonel Jokoka. 4 am ready The
captain said nothing. His expression,
that became every moment more dis
dainful, showed his Indifference to the
manner Of punishment reserved for
him. Colonel JokOka asked permission
to write to his family, then he en-
braced the captain.
az die more tranquil than you,
colonel said the latter.
why do you say thatT
"T have fulfilled my duty to my
country and to the deity. You have
done yours to your country only
"'What do you mean, captain?
az have reflected a good deal on
what you have said to me about Chris
tianity. You are always Wanting its
superiority. Well, l think you are not
in accord with Christ, while l have
nothing to reproach myself with
"'Perhaps you are right, captain.
And /, / have a favor to ask of you.
Give me your authorization to perform
the first truly Christian act which 1t
has been given me to perform during
my life You know l have a number
Of Chinese bank notes, to the value in
all of about a thousand Russian rubles.
Well, | desire to send this money to
the commandment, to be given to the
Russian Red Cross for the poor wound
ed among our enemies. Do you consent
to this gift? Jokki reflected for an in
slant.
az have always had a great affection
for you, colonel, and if it will give you
pleasure | am quite willing that you
should give this money to our enemies.
when the commandant came for the
prisoners Colonel JOkOka gave him q
bundle of white bank notes with red
/ signs saying:
"'There are here about a thousand
rubles, and we beg you to give them to
the Russian Red Cross
"'But would it not be better for me
to send this money to your familiesE
"'Oh, no" cried both the condemned
men together. The mikadO will not
forget our wives and children
""Do not refuse us this satisfaction,
said Jokoka. Distribute this money
among the Russian wounded
1.-THE commandant again urged the
officers to let all they should leave be
hind them be sent to Japan. Jokki ap'
peared to hesitate for a moment. He
looked at his companion in misfortune
who reiterated his desire to make this
compensation for the evil he had done
on this earth, and the captain bent bis
head in acquiescence with the wish OF
his brother in arms. The Russian com
mandant yielded and asked the two
Japanese if there was anything In
which he could be Of service to them.
"T should like to have batn, If II
were possible said the Buddhist. AT
ter that we shall be at your orders
"a bathroom being an object of lux
ury unknown at Hardin, the command
ant caused tubs of water to be brought
| opd ordered tho SpDtiDplS TO go one