Los Angeles herald., 1906-03-27
RETURNS SWORD
TO ITS OWNER
JUDGE TAKES COGNlZANcE OF
SAMURAi TRADITIONS
Precious Relic of Japanese Figures in
Attachment Proceedings and the
Sheriff Is Party to the
Proceedings

With it's long, keen blade stained with
the blood of the mightiest warriors OF
Japan, it's ivory scabbard, yellow with
the exposure of long and hard usage
and the black royal characters standing
out as though chiseled from marble, Il
mighty sword of the Samurai of Japan,
occupied a prominent place in Justice
Young's court room yesterday, while H.
Ikido, last of long line of swordsmen,
begged the court to take the relic from
the custody of Sheriff White and re-
turn it to him.
The sword has a history, and long
one. Back in the old days of the orient
when the armor-clad warriors from the
ranks of the Samurai knights fought
with their two mighty swords for the
glory and honor of the empire, the
weapon of the Ikido rested proudly
crossed with it's mate from the waist
band of it's owner.
Where the fight was thickest and keen
steel bit deep through tough armor the
same ivory handled blade grasped by
the hand of warrior of the 1kido
household flashed to victory.
When the royal edict went forth that
hence forth the Samurai should dis
band and the "two sword men" be
forgotten, Ikido was among that gal
liant little band of deperate warriors,
who, disregarding the orders of a new
king and fighting desperately against
the advance of the firearm into the
provinces, cut their way to the noun
tain Businesses and there upheld the
honor of the old swords until betrayed
they went to their death with the same
sword song on their lips and their
blades grasped in their hands.
Out of the wreck of Japanese chivairy
the Ikido sword was taken and re-
stored to a descendent. From father to
son down through generations the
bright blade was handed as a legacy
and every man kept 1t dear to his soul.
The mate to the weapon was never
found, but the keen, true blade of the
remaining sword graced the walls or
hung within the shozl of the Ikido
homes.
Their most honorable and desperate
grandsires had preferred the harl kari
to dishonor and with the same long
blade had ripped open their bodies and
died like gentlemen and the decendents
bowed to the weapon as though it bore
some spirit within it.
But evil days came to the Ikido. H.
Ikido, the last of the great household,
received the weapon from his grand,
father, the swordsman. With proper
respect he cared for 1t, keeping it Sc
cured in it's ivory sCabbard and wrapped
in a heavy embroidered sword bag.
The weapon came TO the United States
with Ikido and his little wife. 1t was
exhibited as one of the wonders of the
Japanese section at st. Louis and again
at Portland, Following in the line Of
the exposition Ikido came to Los An
geles and went to board at the Oriental
hotel.
There he met S. Tanaka, his friend.
When M. Ito, Los Angeles merchant
pressed Ikido too closely for money,
Ikido loaned the sword to Tanaka for
the required sum.
Then they moved to Venice and while
there Ito brought an attachment
against Ikido. The silks and embroid-
cries, the fine wares and silver were un-
sought for by Ito.
He simply asked an attachment
against Ikido for a certain sword and
any money that might be found
Deputy Sheriff Goodman served the
attachment and found the weapon
Ikido's trunk. He attached it and gave
1t over to the sheriff.
Yesterday Tanaka brought suit
against the sheriff, alleging that the
sword had been given to him. The case
was tried before Justice Young and
Ikido, chief witness, told the story of
his grandsires' sword which mofstened
eyes and set lips.
And the traditions of the Samurai,
swept aside the intricate details Of the
modern laws and Judge Young decided
that the sheriffs office was no fit place
for a Samurai's sword.
Henceforth the blade will occupy its
same comfortable bed of silk, the dear
est treasure of Ikido's household, but
it will not be used as security for debt
again.