Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-21


efforts to suppress the news of the af-
fair had partly failed, Viscount Miura
and others were tried at Hiroshima and
acquitted under decision of the court.
which constituted a warm approval of
the murder as the proper diplomatic
eXpedient in the existing circumstances.
Viscount Miura, who had been recalled
when Japan was being grilled for haV-
ing allowed the murder to occur. or
having ordered it done, was restored
to his titles and honors and became n
popular idol.
The decision of the Japanese court
says that the palace was daily growing
more arbitrary and attempting wanton
interference with state affairs. Disor-
der and confusion were in this way in
troduced into the system of admins
tration that had just been reorganized
by Korea under the advice and guild
ance of the Japanese government. I'm
der these circumstances the Japanese
minister was greatly perturbed, as he
thought the attitude of the court
showed remarkable ingratitude toward
Japan, (which had spent much labor
and money for the sake of Korea"
and was also calculated to thwart the
work of internal reform and jeopardize
the independence Of the kingdom. The
accused felt 1t to be important to apply
an effective remedy to secure 1.-THE in
dependence of the kingdom and at the
same time to maintain the prestige Of
this empire in that country"
Continuing, the court says that while
his mind was agitated by these
thoughts Viscount Miura was an
preached by the Taiwonkun with a re
quest for assistance" he having de-
cided to undertake to reform the cabi-
net and advise the king. The accused
then held conference at the Japanese
legation, and it was decided that as
sistance be rendered to the Taiwon-
kun's entrance to the palace" It was.
in the language of the court at Hiro-
shima, further resolved that this op-
portunity should be avalled for the
taking Of the life of the queen, who
was exercising overwhelming influence
at the court"
The court recites at great length the
details of the plot, and says that Wis
count Miura and his subordinates upon
the day set for the murder telegraphed
to the commander of the Japanese
troops to return to Seoul, delivered to
Horiguehi Kumaaichi a detailed pro-
gram of the enterprise summoned GER
tain "soshi" told them to collect their
friends to act as bodyguard to the
Taiwonkun and dispatch the queen
when they should enter the palace.
After giving a detailed account of the
entrance of the party into the palace.
where they "at once proceeded to the
inner chambers" the court finds that,
Notwithstanding these facts, there is
no sufficient proof that any of the ac-
cused actually committed the crime
originally meditated by them, and for
these reasons each and all are hereby
discharged"
The Japanese authorities suppressed
the first kilograms in which corre-
spondents at Seoul sought to inform
the outside world of the outrage, but
afterward more or less of what really
occurred got into print. In the in
terim Seoul seethed. The horror
stricken foreigners in the capital voiced
their indignation without mincing
words. The Talwonkun hit upon plan
of allaying the anger of the Americans
and Europeans in Korea-a plan In
every way worthy of it's originator. He
caused a spurious royal decree to be
Issued in which the late queen was de-
nounced for unmeasured wickedness
and degraded to the level of the low
est prostitute. Viscount Mlura off,
clally accepted the decree as genuine,
but other foreign representatives de-
clined to do so. Japan was compelled
by the upheaval of public opinion to
recall Viscount Mlura.
Americans and Europeans who Wis
tied the king found him in a state of
terror, expecting assassination daily
and afraid to eat lest he should be
poisoned. Afterward one missionary
would remain in the palace all night,
near the person of the king, in the hope
that the presence of foreigners might
prevent a second murder within the
palace compound, and another would
send him food in locked boxes that he
might eat without fear of being poi
soned.
Japan, now anxious to placate pub
lie opinion, returned Count Inouye to
Seoul In the capacity of envoy extraor-
dinary to effect an improvement In the
relati between Koreans and Jap
anese. There resulted a decree restor-
ing the dead queen to full rank and be-
slowing upon her the title of "guileless
and revered." A temple was dedicated
to her memory and orders were issued
that her biography should be written
in laudatory vein. A tomb was built
and beneath 1t was inferred the little
finger of the right hand of the muir
dered woman. This was all of the body
that was found In the ashes where the
body was burned.
In the meantime the king was kept
under rigid surveillance, and from the
time of the murder of the queen to the
present moment he has been prfs-
oner, although he was subsequently
forced to abdicate and now occupies
no official position in Korea,
Tomorrow--The Fate Of Korea-IV; King