The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1908-03-25
TRY TO MURDER
JAPANESE AMBASSADOR
SHOT BY A KOREAN
Trouble of Two Countries Leads TO 4
Villainous Attack on ID. w.
Stevens In san Francisco.

SAN FRANCISCO, March 90
With the revolver of a wouldbe as
sassin concealed in a handkerchief,
ID. w. Stevens, former counselor to
the japanese embassy at Washington
but for several years diplomatic adj
visor to the Korean government at
Seoul, was shot and seriously wound
ed this morning as he was about 10
leave for Washington.
Three shots were fired at Stevens
by !. w. Chang. diminutive Korean.
The first missed the diplomatist, and
perhaps fatally wounded NJ. W..
Shun. one of the three or four Ko-
reans who were laying in wait for
Stevens. and who a moment before
had struck Stevens a vicious blow In
the face.
The other shots took effect in
Stevens back, one bullet striking
him under the right shoulder, near
the spinal column and the second a
few inches lower. While the
wounds are serious, it is said the
chances for Stevens recovery are
good.
The attempted assassination was
evidently we'll planned. IT took place
at the ferry station at $50 this
morning just as Stevens, accom-
panied by Chozo Koille, the Japanese
consul general. was about to take the
ferry connecting with the Overland
train for the east
The motive for the murderous at
tack apparently arises out of resent
ment of a small group of local Kore-
ans to the Japanese protectorate
over Korea, who sought to avenge
their country for the important part
played in the reorganization of its
government by Stevens.
Stevens arrived from the Orient
Friday Last night he was attacked
at the Paramount hotel by four or 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.
Shun, the wounded Korean. is at
the Central Emergency hospital, and
his recovery is not expected He de-
MED he knew Chang and declared
Stevens fired the shot that wounded
him. AS the latter was not armed
and Chang's weapon showed that
three shots had been fired, which he
admits, it is evident that one of them
struck the Korean.
Stevens wounds were temporarily
dressed at the Harbor emergency hos
pital, where he and the wounded 10
rean had been hastily taken. Later
they were taken to the Central Emer-
gency hospital in the same ambu-
lance. After the examination sur
geons stated there were no indica-
lions that any of Stevens organs had
been penetrated nor that he lower
bullet had entered the abdomen. In
the afternoon Stevens was taken 70
st. Francis hospital.
Chang is about as large as an aver
age 12-year-old boy. He says he is
80 years old and has been in this
country for two years. He freely ad-
mitted shooting Stevens.
yes, me shoot, en- he said to an
Associated Press representative. ME
sorrow? No. Him no good Him
help Japan. Bimeby Korea allie same
Japan
He said he read about Stevens in
the Japanese newspapers and had
recognized him from the pictures. 1t
was learned that a small band of Ko-
reans has been on Stevens trail ever
since he landed.
Chang is at the city prison No
charge will be placed against him
pending the outcome of Stevens in
juries.
Stevens recovered sufficiently this
afternoon to speak to an Associated
Press representative. He said that
the work had been done by a small
band of fanatical students ignorant
of the good work done by the Japa-
nese in Korea. He said he had no
idea that they had worked themselves
up to such a murderous pitch. He
said he thought SO little of an attack
in the hotel last night that he took
no precautions whatever to carry a
weapon. Stevens was resting easy
tonight and is hopeful of a quick re-
eoyery.