Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-18
Twenty-Five laps Sentenced
to Pay Death Penalty.
PLANNED TO KILL EMPEROR
Conspiracy Discovered Just Prior to
Time for Its Execution.
ONE WOMAN IN THE BAND
Prisoners Given Secret Trial, as Gov.
ernment Feared Public Would
Be Prejudiced.

TOXIC. January I'D Kotoku, has
wife and twenty-three fellow anarchists
were today sentenced to death for having
conspired against the life Of the emperor
AND other members OF the imperial fam
ily- Two other men similarly accused
were released.
IN pronouncfng sentence the chief Jus.
tice read long statement outlining the
conspiracy. and said that the course of
the investigation leading to the arrest OF
the anarchists and the subsequent trial,
which has been exhaustive and in every
detail absolutely fair, impartial and con-
stftutional, had proved beyond doubt that
"kotoku and his associates plotted a
violent revolution by means OF explosives
and deadly weapons. They intended to
plunder the wealthy, burn the government
offices, assassinate the high officials. At
tack the imperial palace and attempt the
life Of the crown prince. whose palace
is less securely guarded"
The prisoners accepted their fate smil-
ingly. In leaving the court Nine. kotoku
bowed to the spectators and said:
I'VE beg the pardon of all of you."
Once Lived in America.
Kotoku. who was formerly connected
with Toxic newspaper and had At one
time lived In San Francisco. where he
Is said to have been associated with
political organization. was the alleged
leader OF the plot discovered last Sep
tember. All Of the prisoners were frst
arraigned before q special court. the du-
ties Of which are similar to those ot .
grand jury In America
November 3 this court announced that
the prisoners had been found guilty. ana
recommended that they be punished un-
der clause 70 OF the criminal statutes.
which provides capital punishment tor
plotters against the imperial family.
/. The wife Of kotOku was the only Wom-
an in the band.
Public Excluded From Trial.
The trial proper opened December 10 IN
the supreme court. The public was az
cluded on the ground that publicity in
connection with the proceedings might bs
prejudicial to peace and the maintenance
OF public morality.
Denjire Kotoxu and his associates were
quietly arrested last fall following the
discovery by the police Of q plot to as-
sassinate the emperor. The facts Of the
arrest were kept secret until September
21. when they were ANNOUNCED by tho
The publication caused q sensation. %
1t was the first time in the history Of
the empire that q conspiracy against his
majesty had been discovered among his
subjects.
Plan to Assassinate Emperor.
According to the paper the assassins
planned to accomplish their end while the
emperor was visiting the military school
just outside the capital. Two days later
the japanese government issued an Off
cial and positive denial OF the Hochi
Shimbun's statement that the prisoners
were accused of plotting to assassnate
the emperor.
The police at the time explained that
number Of anarchists bad been ar
rested on suspicion of having been en-
gagged in the manufacture of bombs.
Nevertheless, the special court was
soon organized and examined the prison
ers on the allegations upon which they
were subsequently, convicted and SEN
fenced.