The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-09-10
JAPANESE MURDERER IS
CAUGHT ON Berlin
CLEVER CAPTURE EFFECTED
BY INSPECTOR BoNHAM
AND OFFICER WILSON.

The arrival of the good ship Ber
lin from Alaska yesterday develope,
a passing tragedy, in which Inspecto
Bonham, OF the federal immigration
service in this city, and Police Office
Joseph B. Wilson, took conspiciou
and clever part IN the capture OF al
escaped japanese criminal, who i.
badly wanted in the courts OF Lo,
Angeles, Cal
On the 4th Of February last, in the
City OF the Angels, there was des.
perate row in the Japanese quarter
which resulted in the cold.blooded
murder OF one X. Okasaki by a
countryman who was known by the
distinguished eognomen OF Ito, but
just how he came to bear the name
OF the great admiral is OF small in
terest measured by that the Los An
geles police subsequently took in his
capture The murderer was traced to
San Francisco, where he was lost
for time, but when the Alaska fish
ing fleet sailed from there, an intima-
ton was given them that Ito had
sailed on the ship Columbia, for the
Nushagak river; and thereupon the
police OF the whole coast and the
federal departments were appriscd OF
the man and the crime. and constant
watch has been kept on the coast
from Southern California to North
ern Alaska. When it was found that
Ito did not attempt to return on any
Of the San Francisco feet from
Alaska, it was thought he might try
o get back on the Berlin, and warn,
ng and descriptions were sent broad
,ast.
Inspector Bonham. always on the
Ilert for just such contingencies, had
he description of the man and call
d in the service OF the Astoria po-
ice, Officer Wilson being assigned to /
he task, and both officers went to
he ship when she was towed in yes
erday afternoon. determined to get /
he fugitive if he were alive and on
'oard that particular ship.
In the due course OF the immigra-
ion inspection the l28 Japanese on
he Berlin were lined up and passed
nder rigid scrutiny by Mr. Bonham,
18th Officer Wilson sharply on guard
0 nab the man that tailed up with
he marks and signs registered
gainst Obasaki's murderer, and it
'as not until the one hundred and
venty-hfth man slouchingly and fall
.ringly approached the officers, that
ny CLEAN OF certainty appeared iii
lis ugly concern; but almost in
.antly Inspector Bonham passed the
uiet signal and Ito was in the hands
the law and its irons upon his
rists The strong element in the
ecriptive matter supplied the officers
as the fact that the murderer had
st the first joint of the left little
nger by ampuation, and his was the
lrdinal point on which the seizure /
as made. The man fitted the bal
ice Of the description closely
rough to justify the arrest; he was
the height declared within a frac-
on OF an inch; he wore soft tan
1t; he owned and had with him, but
1t on him, black sweater which
as said to be among his effects; he t
limited on the spot having been in
os Angeles about the time of the t
urder and that he had gone north
j the ship Columbia, all of which, a
conjunction with his intimate full i
ment of the physical traces set up v
the criminal circulars sent out, F
arranted the seizure, and he will be p
Id pending the action of the Los S
ngeles authorities in the matter of Il
tradition. Il
1t was cleverly done and there is b
doubt in the officers minds as to h
e identity Of the man who now lies
the city prison, and both are en-
led to credit for the expeditions
amer in which the work Of appre- I
nsion was carried out.