The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1909-10-27
BY Associated Press.


Hardin, Oct. 26.-Prince HiTobumt
Ito was assassinated at the Tsaitsagan
railway station here today, at the mo-
ment the Japanese diplomat was ac-
knowledging the noisy welcome that
had greeted him as he stepped down
from the coach that he had occupied
In the ranroad train. Smiling and
bowling, he turned to make his way
toward the Russian finance minister,
NJ. Kokovosoff, who was awaiting him
on the station platform a few PAGES
distant
Suddenly a half dozen revolver
shots fired in quick succession were
heard, followed by the cries of those
standing near the prince. who had
either been wounded or imagined
themselves to be.
At the second report Prince Ito
staggered and fell fainting. It was
subsequently found that he had re-
eeived three bullets, two of which
entered the abdomen. Prince Ito did
not recover consciousness, and died
twenty minutes later.
CROWD IN A PANIC.
The fusilade of shots threw the
crowd into a panic and it. was some
time before it could be determined
who, besides the prince, had suffered.
When the excitement had somewhat
subsidized, it was found that three
other members of the party on the
platform had been injured. Prince
fto's private secretary received a bull
let, as did Japanese Consul General
Hawaiian and General Manager Tansl
aka, of the South Manchurian Rail-
way. who had moved closer to the
prince as the firing began. 1t is
thought that these three are not NOR
tally wounded.
The perpetrator of the outrage was
not hard to locate, as he stood defiant
ly in the crowd, revolver in hand. He
proved to be a Korean, and with two
companions Of the same nationality
boosted of a conspiracy to take the
life of the former resident Of Korea
In satisfaction of the alleged tyranny
of the prince over Koreans. As the
police pounced upon the Koreans, the
one who did the shooting exclaimed
dramatically;
Il came to Hardin for the sole pur-
pose of assassinating Prince Ito, to
Ryenge my country"
NO ATTEMPT TO ESCAPE.
None of the three Koreans attempt
ed to escape. The assassin, while
claiming to have been inspired by a
patriotic motive and TO believe that
Japanese wrongs to Korea justified
his action, admitted under cross ex-
animation that he had a personal
grudge against the japanese states
man, who, while resident minister in
Korea, had caused the execution Of
several of the murderer's friends. 1t
had been supposed that the police
protection Tor the prince was ade-
quate, but the police stated later that
they were unable to Distinguish the
Koreans among the many Japanese
who had been admitted to the railway
station to welcome the prince. The
Russian police stated that Japanese |
Consul General Hawaiian had request |
ed them TO permit entrance to the |
station of all japanese who sought adj
mission, A great crowd gathered !
among them being the three Koreans
whose nationality passed mdetected. /
Very soon after death, the body of
Prince Ito was made ready for re-
moval home and placed upon a rail- |
road train. The caSket was covered |
with flowers and in other ways the |
sorrow of the official and public life !
was manifested.
TO ATTEND CONFERENCE.
Prince Ito had come to Hardin to |
meet NJ. Kokovosoff, the Russian min |
lister, of finance for what was believed ]
to be an important conference. Thel
conference was surrounded by Prince /
Ito in his capacity as president of l
the privy council of Japan. The sub 1
jects to be discussed were not def !
nitely known TO the public, but they /
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