The Hawaiian gazette., 1912-01-02
Korean Association Much Ex-
cited Over the Affair in It's
Annual Session.
LAWYERS FEES INVOLVED
Young Editor Sought Death After
Being Accused Of Crime
by COmrade.

What is described by one of the lead
ing Koreans of the city as "facts too
dangerous to make public" but which
rs believed to have been a row in the
Korean National Association over law
yers' commissions, with n liberal
sprinkling of Korean politics, is now
taken as the reason for the mysterious
suicide of Nhee Harng Wo, better
known as Victor Hung Nhee, the gifted
Young Korean editor, who shot him
self through the head on Wednesday
night. Investigation of the affair yes
terday by The Advertiser led into
maze of Korean reasonings and un-
earthed n series of tales about Jap
anese spies and various other things
which haunt the Korean mind.
1t is now known that Nhee went
straight to his death from one of the
sessions of the fifteenth annual con-
vention Of the Korean National Associ-
alton, now meeting in its hall at 1913
Miller street, at which are in attend
ance Korean delegates from all over
the Territory. At this meeting on We'd
nesday night, letters were read accus-
ing Nhee of having bartered with GER
tain Honolulu lawyers for commission
ON retaining fee, to be given to some
lawyer to represent the Koreans of Ha-
waii before the department of the treas
nry in an effort to obtain permission to
bring here number of Yucatan Kor-
cans, particulars of which plan have
been given in these columns.
The Korean Union News brought
out an extra yesterday with the min
utes of this Wednesday night meeting,
in which the names of Joseph Light
foot and Lorrin A. Andrews appear fire.
duently. The minutes also contain ref
erences to the fact that many Koreans
had been contributing to the fund for
the bringing here of the Yucatan Kor-
cans, contributions given freely from
their little earnings, and scathing ref
erences were made to men who would
ask for themselves any share of this
money in commissions. The denuncl-
ations and the cross.examination he was
put through at the hands of his fellow
delegates are supposed to have affected
Nhee to the lengths of suicide, al
though 1t was not shown by the minutes
that he had actually asked for rakeoff
from the LAWYERS. Mr.. Lightfoot, in
fact, is quoted as denying that Nhee
had demanded any percentage of what
ever fec be given him If retained.
Very Mysterious.
The Koreans questioned yesterday
about the Nhee case exhibited every
evidence of extreme caution in theii
answers, leading to the belief that there
may vet be a great deal back of the
whole affair. The very fact that it wal
not brought out at the inquest that Q
very important gathering of Korean'
was in session in the city and that
Nhee had last been with his comrades
at that meeting shows how reluctant
the Koreans are to throw the least light
on the mystery of the EDITORS deatf
by violence.
The Korean associates of Nhee re
late how he was called upon at his of
fee on the day of his death and ac
cuaed by comrade of can unpardon
able crime" the accuser giving the
name of C. II. Young, formerly detec
tive and now an employment agency
manager on King street, as the one re
sponsible for the charge. Nhee called
upon Young and the two had lonI
conversation, the substance of whicl
Young now refuses to tell as beinI
"too dangerous
'sToo dangerous for whomi For yo
or for met" reporter of The AdveT
tiser asked him.
"Too dangerous for anyone sal
Young, who declined to be questione
further.
The several other Koreans questione
yesterday professed to be anxious
know what the conversation was abou
No AnimOsity They Say.
A committee f,om the convention
headed by Rev. Chin Hong Kyun, cal
ed on The Advertiser yesterday morl
ing, inquiring for the sources of ii
information used in the story publishe
yesterday morning, and stating thl
IL was incorrect insofar that IL told
animOsity held BY the association tor
ards Mice. It's own paper ycsteTdl
confirmed the story VI trouble but j
dieaied thai Il sAs between faction
rather than diTected against Nh
al0ne
A. proof that there Nus no IN fei
ing held towards Ahee, lhe eommitt
stated that thf association bad raid
~ the fnnffal eAprntfri Amoupilpg
f2ll 10 so. and thai che huria h
been held undrf thr putprm ~ Z
association ltaelf Nearly one hundf
pefaonH erf Hrsrni ihHftlaf afl
nnnn IA three 0'rlQfh when ihr hfrsli
neff fapapflad, Hng iannil $50 Il
fiaHfH Hffr frQHire4 fn flrn fhf rn
mliisFf nf fhf HasnfsiIna lp fha q
efal eanRgs
70 suRl A cOL0 II OHt DAY
gTaLr Iaratigs H,.4a. l.','.i.