The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-07-30
BY M. Pravdine to Nouvelliste Vau-
aoir nf Lausanne SWitZarland.

by M. 3TaVQ1I19 u 4NOuNclllolC Ndu-
dois Of Lausanne, Switzerland.
Hardin, Manchuria, June 5.-This
is the story of the last two hours of
two Japanese spies who were caught
by Russian Cossacl<s just as they were
about to shatter with dynamite a
bridge on the line of the Manchurian
railway. They had made their way to
the bridge thru the Cossack lines, and
were about to shatter 1t to pieces, in
view of a company of the czars men.
but at the last moment were not quick
enough.
When the accused We're led into the
little room of the Chinese fansa, =
which had been turned into a court
martial hall by the military authors
ties Of Hardin, the judges and specta-
tors, consisting almost wholly of Off
GERS, could not conceal their feelings
of admiration for the doomed men.
The formalities of the courtmartial
were Of the simplest order, and the
hearing Of the trial offered little of
interest, seeing that the accused open
~, and not without a certain patri-
otto pride, accepted the responsibility
Of the crime weighing upon them.
They gave their names and rank with
out tt. the slightest tremor of voice.
colonel Of the staff, passed out first
from the Military Academy of Yeddo,"
said the elder Of the prisoners, a
short, thtck-set man of strong and
energetic countenance-
"Teisko Jokki, 3 years old, captain
Of the staff" said the other, taller and
slighter in build than his comrade,
with a thin and deeply bronzed face.
dainful look on those in court. "A
moment later he added:
Buddhist" ~
sand you, colonel?" asked the
president Of the tribunal, ARE you of
the same religion as your co-ac-
cuaed ?"
Seeing the looks Of establishment
produced by this declaration, he added
quickly:
II am all the same a true Japanese,
born Of Japanese parents. But in my
youth T was won over by the soft
words OF Christ and was converted
from Buddhism" -.
Colonel ,Jokoka spoke in English
and It was an Englishman employed
in the Russo Chinese bank who trans
lated his testimony. A Chinese acted
as interpreter to Captain Jokkt.
The explosive substances found or
their persons were now shown to the
prisoners; but they did not seek to ex.
culpate themselves, nor did they deny
In any particular the declarations OF
the Cossacks who had arrested them
The interpreter next translated to
the officers the military public prose
cutor's charge, demanding Tor then
death by hanging.
watched the faces Of the two m er
when this was read out. Not a sinslE
muscle did they move. Impassive az
statues, they betrayed by no outward
sign the painful workings OF thell
Their advocate pleaded for a re-
mission Of the death sentence to one
of hard labor, in consideration of the
full avowal they had made. Th1
speech for the defense made no i'm
preston on the two prisoners, and no
a word did they utter.
Knowing that the law admitted o!
reduction of the extreme penalty
we all expected a lighter sentence
after a elaboration of half hou1
the tribunal condemned the two Of
ficers to the maximum punishment
namely, hanging.
Jokoka and Jokki heard the sen
tence with as unconcerned an air a.
If it had fallen upon strangers t.
them, Indeed, had the verdict beer
a lighter one, they would probabl,
have shown surprise.
Only confirmation by General Ku
ropatkin was awaited.
I was present when the comman
dant read out General Kuropatkin'
order changing the mode of death t.
q shoo ting.
ut Is WELL" was Jokoka's reply. g
4 am ready" -.
His conrade said nothing, his mos
& disdainful look expressing indiffer
{ ence as to the deaths that awaited
them.
Jokoka asked leave to write to hi
family and embraced Jokki. The lat
ter now opened his lips.
IT die more tranquil than you
colonel"
''TIow SC? ?" asked the other.
sfI have done my duty to nv coun