The Washington times., 1918-12-29
ISH|DA, # SANE,
MAY KILL SELF
tcOntinued from First Page.)


II DR.. Ishida is sane, TIE prediction is
that he also will attempt to be true
to the same tradition.
When the smoking revolver which
killed DR.. Wolff was wrested from his
hand It was found to be cooked for
fourth shot. Those familiar with the
man and the traditions of his race. be-
/ lieve he intended to turn the weapon
upon himself, once he had made GER
tain Of his victims death. Baked IN
another attempt rather than face the
disgrace OF a public trial.
Investigation shows that he had
made no plans for life except those
up to the point of the murder. He
had gone to Baltimore and complain
ed to the officials. He had bought
the revolver. He committed the MUIR
der. Beyond that he seems to have
made no arrangements and has not
made any since. His actions are those
of a man who believes life. as far as
he himself is concerned. Is done.
Appeals Also To Women.
The custom Of committing hari-kari
is not confined to the men Of Japan.
Women OF good birth, finding them
selves dishonored for any reason. re-
sort to the same solution Tue story
is told Of a woman Of rank. who. dis
honored by a nobleman during her hus-
bands absence, awaited her husbands
return. gave a great banquet to which
were hidden all her closest frien1s.
relatives, and the offender. At the end
of the repast. she told her husband
and friends what had happened. de
nounced herself as unworthy to live.
and then. leaping from the parapet OF
the house, killed herself. When the
horror stricken guests rushed out to
pick up the devoted wife, they found
the noble dying at her side He had
fallen on his sword, the traditional
method OF suicide. .N
According to friends OF DE. Ishioa
he will seek the same sort OF death il
he Is in possession Of his mental
faculties. II he does not attempt
suicide. they insist tnst this failure
to atone for his crime. will be the
surest proof that he is hopelessly in
sane.
Friead Ia Surprised.
DR.. N. Kasekai, one of the three
physicians with whom DR.. Ishida
came to this country. now engaged In
research work in the Loomis labora-
tory at Cornell University. expresses
surprise that his friend did not fol-
low the murder with suicide.
IF DR.. Ishida was in his right
mind said DR.. Kaskai to a Times
reporter at his home. 331 West lOlst
street, New York city, "he would
have committed suicide, unless he
was prevented by the quick arrival
of other doctors at the institution
That was the only course open to
him under the customs of our Houn-
try. Even now. he will end his life
IL he is in his right mind. because
he knows there is no other course
open to him.
IHe was a man-of national reputa-
ton in Japan This mad act mas
ruined his whole career and nullified
everything upon which his reputa-
tion was built. In our county, II
the time comes when aSnan feels he
Is justified in killing another. he does
II only with the full intention OF
taking his own life at the same time
feel therefore. that Ishida must
have lost his reason
Wrote of HaIIueinatiOa-
DR.. Kasakai produced a letter ad- ,
dressed TO himself. dated December
is. five days before the shooting. in
which DR.. Ishida wrote:
"One Of oU; fellow-physicians Is
botherinE me n various ways. 1t |
can't be done. because he is insane |
Only ! am sorry that ! have been at !
tackled by an haIluciantion OF para !
noia. He will be discharged from this |
hospital in the near future, but 1t Will /!
be better for me to leave first"
This portion OF the letter seems to |
show that, as a mental expert. Ishtda
had at least a hazy realization that I,
he was suffering hallucinations. The !
prosecution is inclined to believe, on !
the other hand. that he may have |
been celebrating building up a de-
fense of temporary insanity in adj
vance OF the commission of the crime.
DR.. Kasakai declared DR.. lshida had .
always impressed him as being very
eccentric.
''He would never listen to advice"
he explained. "He seemed TO be con- !,
yinced that he was always right, no |
matter what the question at issue /
was I considered him very head
strong and self-willed. believe he
was the type that goes insane under