Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-10-26
Shot Down as He Alights
From Train at Harbin,
Manchuria.
KOREAN DOES The DEED
Boasts That He Has AVENGED
Country-Dead Man Mourn
ed as World Leader.

Harbin ManChuria, Oct. 26.-Prince
Hirobumi Ito, former Japanese resi-
dent-general of Korea and probably
Japan's foremost statesman, was as
sassinated here this afternoon by a Ko-
rean who had followed him here for
the express purpose of killing him.
The motive was revenge. The as
sassin was arrested.
Ito had stepped from train and
was acknowledging noisy welcome
by the people when suddenly several
shots rang out and Ito fell pierced
by three bullets and died within 20
minutes without regaining conscious
ness.
AVenger of Country.
The assassin stood defiantly in the
crowd, revolver in hand, and with
two Korean companions was arrest
ed. AS the police pounced upon the
three Koreans, the one who did the
shooting proclaimed himself as the
avenger of his country. Very soon
after death, the body of Ito was made
ready for removal home and placed
upon railroad train.
Had just Arrived.
AluibSI luliilttlidlClN Oll HIS d1tlNdi
here and just as Ito left the railroad
car at the station the attack was made
upon him. The venerable statesman,
accompanied by Russian Minister of
Finance Kokovsoff, was starting to in
spect the guard of honor drawn Up
along the platform when a pistol shot
was heard. Several more shots were
fired in quick succession. the bullets
striking the prince in the back. Ito
fell mortaiy wounded.
Three Others Are Hit.
Three of the princes companions
were also wounded, the bullets strik-
ing Japanese Consul General Kawa-
kan. General Manager Tannaka of the
South Manchurian railway and Prince
Ito's private secretary. Hawaiian was
badly but not fally injured it is be-
lieYed.
Admits Intent.
The assassin was promptly seized
On being questioned he said he was
Korean. Il came to Harbin for the
sole purpose of assassinating Ito to
avenge my country" the slayer told
his captors. He also said he had
personal account to settle with the
great Japanese statesman who. during
his stay in Korea, had ordered the
execution of several persons closely
connected with the assassin.
Three Others Arrested.
The assassination of Ito appears to
have been the outcome of an organ
lied plot. Local authorities who. an
ticirating the arrival of Ito. were on
the lookout for suspicious characters.
yesterday arrested three Koreans who
were at the station and were found
to be armed with revolvers. However,
the task of guarding the prince was
rendered difficult by reason of Kawa-
kan's request that the railway officials
permit all Japanese to enter the sta
tion and greet the prince The police
point out it was quite impossible 20
distinguish Koreans from Japanese Gy
their appearance.
Others Exposed to Danger,
Russian Minister of Finance Kokov-
soft and the Russian military authori-
ties accompanying Ito were expos ed
to the same danger from flying bullets
as was the prince. Indeed, Kokoysoff
was nearer the japanese envoy at the
time of tire shooting than were those
who were wounded. Had the assassin
delayed shooting for a moment the
foreign consuls would have been in
danger, as Ito was approaching them
and they would have been directly in
the line of fire.
The body of the slain statesman has