Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-24
WOUNDS VERY SERIOUS
Shock Is Too Severe to Allow an
Operation.
KOREAN AssAILANT TRANQUIL
Says He Shot for the Good of His
Country and Is Willing to Die.
Doctors Are Hopeful.

SAN FRANCISCO. March 24.-Dr. +. Fl.
Zunwalt. who made a very close exam
ination Of the wounds of d. W. Stevens,
the American diplomat whose assa assina
tion was attempted yesterday by two
Koreans, said last night that the patient
was in excellent condition considering
the seriousness of his injuries. He con-
tinued:
"One bullet entered just below the right
shoulder blade. and 1 am inclined to
think that II penetrated the lung. The
other entered near the pelvis and mar
rowly missed the spinal cord. We know
the spinal cavity is intact from the fact
that there have been no signs of paralysis.
Nor is there any evidence that the bullet
entered the abdomen.
I'VE shall wait few days till the pa
tient has recovered from the shock, when
We will locate the bullets with the X-ray
and operate for their removal. The dam
ger of operating at present, while the
patient is weak from shock is too great"
DIR. Zumwalt added that the patients
temperature was normal and that he was
resting comfortably. his pulse being 80
and his respiration "a.
Chang Is Satisfied.
l. W. Chang, Korean. who did the
shooting. last night made a written state
ment from which the following extracts
are taken:
T0,g
because he was the main factor in the
Japanese reign of bloodshed and oppres-
sion in Korea and because he, as the head
and adviser of the regime. was RESPONSE
bic for deaths of our fathers, mothers
and brothers in Korea.
Stevens Is the adviser OF the Korean
government. paid by the Korean govern
ment. but who is working for the inter
ests of Japan and against those of the ma
tion who looked to him as an American
for justice and good rule. He has en-
deavored 10 make the people of the
United States of America believe that
japanese protection of Korea was the
best thing for that nation in the present
and would be in the future. He lied
Nhen he said that the Korean people
were happy, under japanese rule so for
his falsehoods l shot Stevens.
If j kill him and l die. 1t will be a
warning to others who take his place to
rule justly and deal with the people I'm
his care with kindness and humanity. |
viii make no complaint TO the punishment
that will be meted out to me: and. should
my act aid my country in struggles for
freedom. l shall die nobly and we'll /
shot Stevens and I wish to die
Chang Proud of His Deed.
Chang. who is thirty years old, looks
Headquarters he frankly admitted that
the murder of Stevens was carefully
planned by himself and Chun, who de-
cided 10 sacrifice themselves to what
they felt was their country's necessity.
They resolved to do away with the Ameri-
can diplomat at any cost. and secretly
hatched the conspiracy. The fact that
stevens was recently decorated by the
mikado. that the automobile which car
ried him on his fatal journey was also
occupied by koike. the Japanese consul
general and that he was his way to
Washington to meet Ambassador Taxa
hira. all served motives for the crime
Local Koreans here declare that they
have become convinced that Stevens is q
traitor 10 Korea and is subsidized by
Japan, and this charge was repeated yes
terday by two Koreans
Chun was equally bitter against Ste
English.
certain low cunning, he at first de-
MED that he knew Chang. He also al
legged that Stevens shot him Chang was
taken before Stevens at the hospital to
be Identified as the assassin Chang.
when brought into the presence of his
victim took opportunity to address him
He said
Mr.. Stevens. i think YOU want to Kill
All Koreans You're a Jap spy. and YOU
want TO see Korea just like Japan. That
j. why | shot YOU
Poor Little Man"
Mr., Stevens moved painfully on his
cot and replied:
You poor. ignorant little man. | have
worked for three years among your peo-
pie and l have among them many dear
and close friends. / cannot blame you
for shooting me. because you are fool
and do not understand l hope the time
will come when you VIII realize what
a great mistake you have made
Mr.. Koike. the japanese consul general
said:
II do not believe the attack has any
political significance. The assassins act
ed as individuals. not agents of po-
l.tcal leaders. They were probably ex
cited by fancied wrongs. for which there
is foundation
Chang and Chun belong to small
club OF Korean patriots who have rooms
here and issue a weekly newspaper de-
voted 10 the interests of their country.
Chang was one OF the four Koreans who
assaulted Mr.. Stevens at his hotel.
Ladd Defends Stevens.
NEW HAVEN. Conn. March 24.-Prof.
George Trumbull Ladd of Yale, until re-
Gently advisor of Count Ito i'm Korea. to-
day attacked the Koreans as incapable
OF self-government and defended Japans
policy there. In speaking OF the attack
on D. ". Stevens in San Francisco he
said
"Mr. Stevens services TO Korea have
been AS honest. painstaking and kindly a :
have been his services to ia pan. The at
tack Of these Korean assa ssIns upon this
American gentleman and distinguished o..
hcer of their own government is on a par
with the attacks which the same low
lived ASA ssins were making upon their
own ministry. of whom they mur-
dered during my visit 10 Korea in the
spring year ago. These Koreans have
demonstrated anew what the whole his
CONTINUED ON Fourth Page.)