The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-03-24
VENGEANCE OF
KOREAN EXILES
American Adviser to Japanese
at Seoul Shot in San
Francisco.
HIS CONDITION is SERIOUS
WOUNDED MAN HAS CHANCE
~ FOR RECOVERY.

San Francisco, March 2S.-With the
revolver of the would-be assassin con-
eealed in a handkerchief, d. w. Ste
vens. formerly counsellor to the Japa-
nese embassy at Washington, but Tor
several years diplomatic adviser TO the
Korean government at Seoul, was shot
and seriously wounded this morning
as he was about to leave for Washing
ton. Three shots were fired at MT
Stevens from A 80 calibfe revolver pN
l. w Chang, diminutiYe Korean Inc
first bullet missed the diplomat and
accidentally struck and perhaps fatal
IN wounded NJ w. Chung, one OF the
three or four Koreans who were lying
in wair for Mr.. Stevens, with the in
tention OF killing him, and who mo-
ment before had struck him vicious
blow in the face The other two shots
took effect in Mr.. Stevens back. one
bullet striking him under the right
shoulder blade. near the spinal col
umn, and the second few inches low
er. While the wounds are serious, it
is said that the chances for Mr.. Ste
vens' recovery are good
Deliberately Planned.
The attempted assassination. which
rad evidently been we'll planned. took
place at the ferry station at $3.50 o'clock
this morning, just as Mr.. Stevens, who
was accompanied by Mr.. ChoZo koike,
the japanese consul general was about
to take the ferry connecting with the
overland train for the east, where he
expected to spend an extended vacation
with his sisters i'm Washington and At
lantic City.
The motive for the murderous at
tack apparently arises out of the re-
sentiment of d small group of local
Koreans. 10 the Japanese protectorate
over Korea, who sought to aVenge their
country for the important part played
in the reorganiza ton of its government
by Mr.. Stevens.
First Attacked in Hotel.
Mr.. stevens arrived from the orient
last Friday on the Japanese steamer
Nippon Maru. Last night he was at
tackled at the Paramount hotel by
2 delegation of four OF five Koreans, who
HAD called to see him with reference to
an interview in which he had praised
the work OF the japanese in Korea.
This morning as he and Consul Cen
eral Koil1e stepped from an auto bus
at the ferry station, three or four
Koreans were waiting for him. AS the
consul general stepped to the front of
the bus to look after some baggage,
sS.sne Of the Koreans, later identified as
thun stepped up and struck Mr.. Ste
veus a vicious blow in the face. The
diplomatist Immediately started in pur
suit of his assailant, when Chang
drew from his pocket what TO several
witnesses appeared 10 be merely
handkerchief. but who were quickly
undeceived as three shots in rapid sue
cession came from il and directed at
Mr. Stevens. The would-be assassin in
the excitement of the moment appar-
emily forgot that one of his companions
was in line with the aim he was taking.
The first shot missed the diplomatist
and brought Chun down with bullet
through the right lung. The other two
were better directed and struck Mr..
Stevens Consul General Koike imme-
diately ran TO the latters assistance
and helped him to an automobile,
Ibich rushed him to the Harbor Elmer
Srncy hospital only a block away.
WouId-Be Murderer Captured.
Dropping his revolver with the hand
kerchief still wrapped around it,
Chang and his third companion started
to flee The other Korean escaped. but
the would-be murderer was quickly sur
rounded by a mob of more than 500