The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-03-24
Diplomat Is Shot Down .FQE
 Giving Aid To Japan as
MURDEROU5 IN RESENTst'"'.s
Coreans of San Francisco Have Been Aroused Because American Gave galAdvicc to Japanese in
 Affairs In Corea.


 San Francisco, March 23.-With the re- volver of the would be assassin conceal ed in a handkerchief, D. w. Stevens. formerly counselor to the Japanese em- passy at Washington, but for several years diplomatic advisor to the Corean government at Seoul, was shot and se- riously wounded this morning as he was about to leave for Washington. Three shots were fired at MT. Stevens from a 32 ealibre revolver by l. w. Chang. d. diminutive Corean. The first Juliet miss ed the diplomat and accidentally struck and perhaps fatally wounded w. w. Chun, one of the three or four Coreans who were lying in wait for Mir Stevens The other two shots took effect in Mr. Stevens back, one bullet str.Ning him un- der the right shoulder blade, near the spinal column and the secon. few inches lower.
 While the wounds are serious it is stated that the chances for Mr. Stevens recovery are good.
 The motive for the murderous attack apparently arises out of the resentment of a small group of local Coreans to the Japanese protectorate over Corea, who sought to avenge their country for the important part played in the reorganiza- ton of it's government by MT. Stevens. Last night he was attacked at the Fair mont hotel by a delegation of four or five Coreans who had called to see him Uit fn int ,, xxrl,i oh, he had praised the work of the Japanese in Corea.
 Attack By Koreans.
 This morning as he and Consul General Koiko stepped from an automobile at t..e ferry station three or four Coreans were waiting for him. As the consul general stepped to the front of the auto mobile to look after some baggage, one of the Coreans, later identified as Chun, stepped up and struck Mr. Stevens a vicious blow in the face. The diplomatist immediately started in pursuit of his as- saiant when Chang drew from his pocket what to several witnesses appeared to be merely a handkerchief, but who were quickly undeceived as three shots in rapid succession came from 1t and di- rected at MT. Stevens. The first shot missed the diplomatist and brought Chun down with bullet through his right lung. The other two were better directed and struck MT. Stevens.
 Chang, who is diminutive type of the Corean and apout as large as 12-year- o.d boy, says he is 30 years old, and has been in this country for two years, coming from Hawaii He freely admitted shooting MT. Stevens
 .Yes, me shoot him. said he to the Associated Press reporter. Me sorry, no; him no good. Him help Japan. Bime- bye, .orea alice same Japan"
 Chang in Prison.
 Chang is in cell at the city prison No charge will be placed against him pending the outcome of Mr. Stevens in- juries.
 The attack on MT. Stevens at the Fair mont hotel last night was the result of a mass meeting of the Corean societies of San Francisco, which appointed four prominent members. Earl Lee. c. K. Chung, Y. M. Moon and U. s. Choy all young men, committee to interview stevens to ascertain his views as ex- pressed in the press after his arrival. The opinions expressed by him. were decidedly favorable to the Japanese in Corea. The COreanS night.
 Lee. who speaks English f1uently asked Stevens if he had made the statements attributed to him in the press, and the latter replied in the affirmative. The vounp men wanted to know if the Japa- nese were not killing off the Coreans. Stevens said no. The spokesman then wanted to know if all the Corean officials had not been eliminated, and Stevens ad fn contrary. that the young men had probably been too long away from their country to know the exact movement. sThe attack began. and Stevens was knocked down ana heaten with chairs His head struck the marble flooring. but he quickly rose and, seizing a chair, placed ms pack against the wall and held his assailants at hav until help arrived. After the as- sault Lee said:
 Lees Statement.
 .I called him a liar when was heid' but they would not let us fight 50 we left. We are all very sorry that we did not do more to him.
 Lee said that Stevens is paid by the Go, rean government but Is doing what the Corean people do not want him to do.
 "That is." said Lee, ''he Is talking falsely about US and the Japanese. In reality, he is in the service of the Japa- nese.
 ..Since the Japanese began to protect Corea, thousands of my countrymen have been killed. The Japanese soldiers hold up peasants for their property and kill If refused. About 800 villages in my country have been destroyed by the Japanese troops in little more than year since the trouble began. The Japanese want to open schools in Corea to teach their own language and letters, but no school unless 1t be Japanese.
 ..They disbanded the Corean troops be- cause they were loyal and so long as the Coreans had soldiers Japan could not do much in my country.
 "They are sending into Corea thous- ands of Japanese every month and put ting them in the place of my country men. If Japan controls my country two or three years then Corea will be Japan or a part of it. Stevens statement that