The San Francisco call., 1909-10-27
Tragic Fate of Japan's Great
est COmmOner Plunges the
Nation Into Mourning
Prince Ito Was the Idol of the
Masses and the Friend of
Ehe Emperor
Motive for His Assassination
Was Political and Also
Personal Revenge
All the World Pays Tribute TO
the Man Who Founded the
Mighty Empire

7 TARBIN. Manchuria, Oct 20
RI The assassination OF Prince
= Hirobumi Ito, former Japanese
resident general OF Korea. this after
noon was the act OF Korean who
had followed him here for the express
purpose OF killing him.
The motive OF the assassination was
in part political and in part for per
sonal revenge, the assassin asserting
that he had a personal grievance be-
cause several of his friends had been
executed by Ito's orders
Almost on his arrival here and just
as Prince Ito LETT the railroad car at
the station the attack was made upon
him. The venerable statesman, ac-
compauied b. Russian Minister OF
Finance Kokoysoff. was starting to in
spect the guard OF honor drawn up
along the platform when d pistol shot
was heard
Several more shots were fired in
quick succession. the bullets striking
see prince in the back.
FPrince Ito feil, mortally wounded.
Three Of the princes companions
were wounded. bullets striking Japan
csc Consul General HAWAIIAN. General
Manager Tanska of the South Man
churian railway. and Prince lto's pri-
vate secretary. consul General Kawa-
kan is badly but not fatally hurt, it is
believed.
Assassin Is Seized
The assassin wssN Npromptly seized.
1'n being questioned, he said ne was
Korean.
Il came to Hardin for the sole pur-
pose OF assassinating Prince Ito to
avenge my country. the slayer told
mis- oaptors. lie also said he had
a personal account 10 settle with the
great japanese statesman. who during
his stay in Korea had ordered the
execution OF several persons closely
Connected with the assassin.
The assassination of Prince Ito ap
fears TO have been the outcome Of an
oreauized plot The local authorities.
vino. expecting the arrival OF Prince
Ito. were on the lookout for sus-
picious characters, yesterday arrested
three Koreans who were at the station
and found to be armed with revolvers.
However. the task OF guarding the
prince was rendered difieult by reason
Of japanese Consul General Kawakan's
request that the railway officials per-
NIT all Japanese TO enter the railroad
station 10 greet the prince. The police
point out that it was quite impossible
10 distinguish Koreans from Japanese
by their appearance.
Russian Officials in Danger
The Russian minister of finance, NJ.
Xokovson. and the Russian military
) utiforsties accompanying Prince Ito
were exposed to the same danger from
flying bullets as was the prince In
deed, Kokovson was nearer to the
japanese envoy. at the time Of the
shooting than were those who were
wounded. Had the assassin delayed
shooting for a moment the foreign
consuls would have been I'm much dan
ger as Ito was approaching them and
they would have been directly in the
line Of fire.
The perpetrator Of the outrage was
not hard TO locate, as he stood def
antly in the crowd, revolver in. hand.
He proved TO be a Korean, and with
two companions OF the same national
itv boasted Of a conspiracy TO take
the life Of the former resident general
Of Korea in satisfaction for the alleged
rvrAnny Of the prince over Koreans.
The body Of Prince Ito was made
ready for removal home and placed
on a railroad train. The casket was
covered with flowers and in other ways
the sorrow OF the Official and public
life was manifested.
Purpose of Visit
Prince Ito had come TO Harbin to
meet N. Kokovsoff, the Russian minis
Ter Of fnance. for what was believed to
he an important conference. The con-
ference was suggested by Prince Ito in
his capacity as president of the privy
council Of Japan.
@-he subjects TO be discussed were
~ definitely known to the public, but
they were supposed 10 concern affairs
~ administration in Manchuria. Ko-
,-...soer HAD before declined an fnvf-