The Hawaiian star., 1906-04-17
MERCY ASKED
FOR MURDERERS

THE ACTING GOVERNOR is ASKED
NOT TO ALLOW THE DEATH
SENTENCES.
The matter of granting executive
clemoncy to the five Koreans under
sentence of death in oahu prison was
discussed yesterday afternoon by Act
ing Governor Atkinson the Rev. John
w. Wadman, who presented a plea for
mercy, and the prosecuting attorney in
the case, Deputy Attorney General Mil
verton. The acting Japanese consul
Matsubara, was also present. A writ
ten plea was presented by Wadman,
containing the following
"The motive of the awful crome of
which these men are guilty is clearly
made known in the confession which
they made after the preparation of
the cruel deed. The victim was a no.
torious thief. He had stolen not only
a large sum of money-$7O in all-but
their passports as well. These pass
ports are certain papers the immi-
grants receive upon leaving their coun-
very precious value, with which
they could not return to Korea and
claim citizenship. Considerable use is
made of these passports among the
planters as pledges of security in buy
ing and selling borrowing and loan
ing money. 1t was, therefore, the loss
of these papers which cut such fig
ure in their awful deeds of violence
last December. Four or five times
these men had caught the thief, it
seems, and extorted his promise to re-
fund the money and return the pass
ports. Their anger against the fellow
was greatly incensed by his oft-repeat-
ed lies and misrepresentation At last
they capture the wretch and begin
their work of torture i'm true Korean
style, hoping thereby that he will yield
to such painful methods and surrender,
the stolen property especially the
| passports. The final scene is enacted
| at the Japanese cemetery, where the
victim claims to have buried the money
and papers. After digging for an
hour or more without avail. the muir
derers, having drunk to excess, proceed
to put the man to death. 1t is even
ing and the hour is late, but early the
next morning, as soon as they know
the manager of the plantation is i'm his
Office they go at once and make con-
fession fthe> crime, pointing out the
whereabouts of the dead mans body
and without any resistance, quietly
surrendering themselves to the officers
of the law. Each mans confession is
carefully taken down word for word
and agree in substance When ques-
toned as to their confession and sur
render, they answered as follows:
1--WE knew we had, of course, done
wrong, but the victim was a thief and
liar. by torturing him we hoped for
his repentance and confession. In this
We were disappointed and so greatly
nhamed with anger we thought it best
to kill him and save ourselves and the
plantation from such a vile wretch
Upon questioning them as to their
knowledge of our laws and customs,
they are found to be densely ignorant
Indeed, these poor fellows represent Il
class of Orientals not 50 desperate and
dangerous as is generally supposed, but
wrctchedly ignorant and depraved-
more to be pitied i'm Il way than to be
actually blamed.
"'I find also, that among these five
men the two first named in the above
list, namely Shin Myeng Ok and
| Kang Yong Box, We're in a sense the
ringleaders in the fearful tragedy and
committed most of the outrages on the
victim before they dealt him the fatal
blows on the head. The others, namely
Kim Yong Yee, Chang Chi Yuel and
Woo Myeng Sock, We're -accbmplices, to
be sure yet they We're more or less
Influenced by the first named and are
not guilty, to the same degree, at least,
as matter of strict justice. Indeead,
one of these men, namely Chang Chi
Yuel, at one time protested against the
torturing process anud endeavored to
dissuade the others to desist, but with
out avail.
II would like therefore, to plead that
some clemency be shown this man and,
indeed, the other two whose names are
mentioned above.
"All the men are at present exceed
ingly sorry for the bloody deed they
committed and praying earnestly AL
mighty God to forgive them. l have
never seen what appears more real and
genuine sorrow for sin and wrong
doing. Moreover, l am receiving for
the Koreans scattered all over these
islands most touching expressions of
the sincere regret they feel by reason
of this disgrace which they thinks falls
upon them as a whole. Delegations
from two or three plantation, con-
sisting of a dozen or more men, have
come to the city for the purpose Of ex-
hOrtng these poor criminals to truly
repent of their sin before God and man
The whole sad affair has made already
very deep impression upon these poor,
helpless, hopeless people and will tend