The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-01-19
One of Condemned Prisoners Is
Woman Who Conspired Against
Mikado's Life.
ALL CHEER THE RED FLAG
Dramatic Scene in Court Room
When Conspirators Are Told
They Must Die.

TOXIC, Jan. 1s,-Twenty-ive men
and one woman charged with conspiracy
against the throne and with plotting to
assassinate the crown prince and high
officials of the empire were publicly SEN
fenced by the supreme court today.
Twenty-four Of the prisoners, includ-
ing Denjiro Kotoku, who lived in
America, and his wife were condemned
to death. The other two were sent to
prison. one for eleven years and the
other for eight years. The trial had
been secret, but the final dramatic
scene was witnessed by the diplomats
and many prominent Japanese. When
sentence had been pronounced one of
the doomed men rose and shouted:
"BanzaL'
At this all of the prisoners sprang
to their feet and Kotoku, raising his
hands above his head. cried:
"Long live anarchy
There were no further demonstrations
and the prisoners turned quietly to
their guardians and were again hand
cuffed and led away.
Charge Against Accused
In pronouncing sentence the chief JUS
tice read long statement outlining
the conspiracy and said the course OF
the investigation leading to the arrest
of the anarchists and the subsequent
trial which had been exhaustive and in
every detail absolutely fair and consti-
tutional, had proved beyond doubt that
" Kotoku and his associates plotted q
violent revolution by means of explo-
sives and deadly weapons. They in
tended to plunder the wealthy, burn the
government offices, assassinate The high
officials, attack the imperial palace and
attempt the life Of the crown prince,
whose place is less securely guarded"
The prisoners accepted their fate
smilingly. In leaving the court Nine.
Kotoku bowed to the spectators and
said:
N'We beg the pardon of all of you. ="
1t is impossible to obtain reliable
opinion as TO the probability of the
death sentence being commuted, but it
is thought possible exile for life may be
substituted.
Kotoku. who was formerly connected
with a Toxic newspaper and at one time
lived in San Francisco, where he is
said to have been associated with po-
iitical organization. was the alleged
leader Of the plot discovered last Sep
tember.
All the prisoners were first arraigned
before special court, the duties of
which are similar to those of a grand
jury IN America. On November 9 this
court announced that the prisoners had
been found guilty and recommended
that they be punished under clause 73
of the criminal statutes, which provides
capital punishment for plottcrs against
the imperial family.
The wife of Kotoku was the only
woman in the band. The trial proper
opened in the supreme court on Decem'
Der 10. The public was excluded on the
ground that publicity in connection
with the proceeding might by preju-
dicial to peace and the maintenance of
public morals.
Review of Case.
Deniiro Kotoku and his associates
were arrested last fall, following the
discovery by the police Of an alleged
plot to assassinate the emperor. The
facts of the arrest were kept secret un-
til September 81, when they were an
nounced by the Hochi Shimbun. The
publication caused a sensation, as it
was the first time in the history of the
empire that a conspiracy against his
majesty had been discovered among his
subjects.
According to the paper the anarchists
planned to accomplish their end while
the emperor was visiting the military
school just outside the capital.
Two days later the Japanese govern.
ment issued an official and positive de
NAL Of the Hochi Shimbun s statement
that the prisoners were plotting to as
sassinate the emperor. The police ex-
n1ainod that a numher of anarchists
had been arrested on suspicion of hav-
ing been engaged In the manufacture of
bombs
Nevertheless the special court was
soon organized and examined the pris-
oners on the allegations upon which
they were subsequently convicted and