Omaha daily bee., 1909-10-27
PRINCE ITO is
ASSASSINATED
Japanese Statesman is Shot to Death
in Railroad Station at Harbin
by Korean.
REVENGE Is THE MOTIVE
Slayer Says He Had Personal Account
with His Victim.
THREE COMPANIONS WOUNDED
Body Will Be Taken to Japan
on a Warship.
FRAMER OF MODERN SYSTEM
He Was Recognised ms Japan's Lead
ing Public Man and One of
Worlds Greatest COnstruc-
tive Statesmen.
Slayer Says He Had Personal Account
with His Victim.
THREE COMPANIONS WOUNDED
Body Will Be Taken to Japan
on Warship.
FRAMER OF MODERN SYSTEM


bumi Ito, former Japanese resident general
of Korea and Japan's foremost statesman,
was assassinated here this afternoon
(Tuesday) by a Korean who had followed
him here for the express purpose OF killing
him. The motive of the assassination was
revenge. The assassin was arrested
Almost Immediately on his arrival here,
and just Prince Ito left the railroad car
at the station the attack was made upon
him. The venerable statesman, accom-
panied by Russian Minister of Finance
Kokovsoff, was starting to inspect the
guard of honor drawn up along the plat
form when a pistol shot was heard. Sew
eral more shots were fired in quick sue
cession, the bullets striking the prince in
the back. Prince Ito fell mortally wounded.
Three of the princes companions also
were wounded, bullets striking Japanese
Consul General Hawaiian, General Manager
Tannaka of the South Manchurian railway
and Prince Ito's private secretary. Consul
General HAWAIIAN is badly. but not fatally
injured, 1t is believed.
The assassin was promptly seized. On
being questioned he said he was a
Korean.
Revenge Motive of Crime.
II came to Hardin for the sole purpose
Va dhSdSSlAdAlOu IIlliCS Ito TO aNeTBe my
country" the slayer told his captors. He
also said he had a personal account with
the great Japanese statesman, who during
his stay in Korea had ordered the execu-
tion of several persons closely connected
with the assassin.
Prince Ito was recognized as the lead
ing statesman of Japan and it was he who
after his study of the great nations of
Europe and the United States compiled
one of the best constitutions in the world"
The assassination of Prince Ito appears
to have been the outcome OF an organized
plot. The local authorities, who anticipat-
ing the arrival OF Prince Ito were on the
lookout for suspicious characters and ar
rested three Koreans who were at the
station and found to be armed with re-
volvers. .s-
However. the task of guarding the prince
was rendered difficult by reason of jap
anese Consul General Kawakan's request
that the railway officials permit all Jap
anese to enter the railroad station to greet
the prince The police point out that it
was quite impossible to distinguish Coreans
from Japanese by their appearance.
The body of the statesman has already
been removed homeward. The casket be-
fore 1t was placed upon the train was
covered with flowers by NJ. Kovosoff and
the Russian and Japanese officials. The
Russian ambassador to Peking is accom-
panying the body to Kwanchingtsu.
All Japan MOurns.
TOXIC, Oct. 26.-Hirobumi Ito, a prince
of Japan, but the greatest commoner in
the empire, and for two years the un-
crowned ruler ofKorea, who above all stood
between Korea and the degradation of I'M
mediate annexation, hoping to build up
that country anew, was assassinated by
Koreans today just as he allghted from a
! special train at Harbin, Manchuria, to
which he went from Toxic In his capacity
as president of the privy counsel, on a
mission OF peace.
Prior to his departure Prince Ito said
| to the Associated Press: II am going on
my own initiative, with the approval of
my emperor, with the hope of securing a
! better understanding with China and of
assuring the world that Japan's intentions
in Manchurla are emicable to China and
friendly to the commerce of all nations.
When return hope to give positive evil
dence of this"
Undoubtedly Price Ito intended to in
augurate and enforce distict policy in
Manchuria, but the exact nature Of this
was not disclosed. Marquis Katsura. the
premier and minister OF finance, after the
| assassination, said in an interview:
"The death of Prince Ito will not change
the policy of Japan. The specific motives
Of Prince Ito Will ever be maintained and
the traditions left by him will always be
followed"
The entire nation is mourning; the flags
| on the foreign embassies have been placed
at half mast, while all public and many
private functions have been abandoned.
The japanese and foreign newspapers ap-
pear with black borders Only the death
of the emperor could arouse similar DEM
onstratons of sympathy. Perhaps Prince
Ito's death causes more universal SINGER
| ity and grief because he was idolized by
the masses as the great councillor OF the
| elder statesmen, the creator of the cabinet
and the friend of the emperor himself.
The boy crown prince of Korea is re-
ported to have been inconsolable when the
news OF the assassination of his aged
grand tutor by Koreans was broken to
him. For the last two years the crown
prince has been a resident Of Japan and
the frequent companion OF Prince Ito, who
formed an affection for him which was
warmly reciprocated. The fact that he
was assassinated by Koreans was espe-
cially shocking to the youth. who was
well informed to Prince Ito's plans
regarding Korea.
The posthumOus honors have not yet
been announced, but 1t is certain that they
VIII be the highest in the gift OF the en-
peror and that the funeral VIII equal that
OF a prince OF the blood. A warship will
bear the body to Yokohama from Dairen.
probably arriving a week hence. The
grand chamberlain will accompany the
body with a naval and military guard OF
honor. No details Of the funeral have YET
been arranged.
ItO'a Mission Political.
WASHINGTON. Oct. 26.-Official Wash
ington was shocked at the news OF tn,
assassination OF Prince Ito. The
japanese embassy here was plunged into
mourning at the tidings. Officials OF the
Continued on Second Pass)