New-York tribune., 1921-01-18
Slayer
Admits Firing!
The First Shot
Japanese Sentry Changes
Story About Killing u. S.
Lieutenant to Conform
to Victims Statement
Ordered Court-Martialed
Other Americans Halted at
Vladivostok Since Shoot
ing, Washington Hears

Fro,, The Tribune's Washington Bureow
WASHINGTON, Jan. 17.-Additional
Americans have been halted by Japan
ese sentries in Vladivostok since the
killing Of Naval Lieutenant w. H. Lang
don, the State Department was advised
to-day. Advices from Vladivostok said,
however, that there existed no anti
American sentiment in that port, and
that no tension between Americans
and the Japanese military was notice
able. The information that the Japan
ese troops continued to halt Americans
was believed to refer to the period be-
fore General OF, Japanese commander
at Vladivostok. had given directions
that foreigners be no longer halted by
sentries.
Both the State and Navy Depart
ments we're advised to-day that Lang
don's slayer had changed his story
and had now admitted firing at the
American officer first. The sentry had
originally insisted that Langdon was
the aggressor.
Admiral Gleaves, who is proceeding
to Vladivostok to investigate the inci-
dent, reported that the Japanese court
of inquiry had recommended trial by
court martial for the sentry.
According to official advises" the
State Departm ment announced, "thc
Board of Investigation and Court Of
Inquiry convened by the Japanese gov
ernment seems to establish that the
sentry who fired upon and killed Lieu.
tenant Langdon had left his post and
n,olested an officer in uniform who
was proceeding in an orderly manner
| along the street.
Sentry's Story of Shooting
'The final story, and the full admis-
sion of the sentry, made after thor
ough Interrogation by the Japanese
Board of Investigation, was that the
sentry left his post, ran across the
that Lieutenant Langdon did not halt.
The sentry said that he then took a
position three PAGES in front Of Lieu
tenant Langdon with his rifle held at
| the position charge bayonet.'
! Lieutenant Langdon then stopped,
according to the sentry's story, and
shifted his electric pocket flash lamp
! to his left hand, cropping with his
( right hand into the pocket Of his over
coat. The sentry asserted that he HIM
| self then took the position for action
!
| the words Russian or American? The
| sentry admitted that he was very ex-
cited. He protested that he did not in
| tend to shoot Lieutenant Langdon, but
that his purpose was to seize Lang
| don's electric flash lamp and compel
him to accompany him to the guard fin
order that he might ascertain who the
Lieutenant was. He declared that he
then discharged his rifle accidentally.
| He added that after he had discharged
his rifle by accident, and wounded
Langdon in the breast, Lieutenant
Langdon fred two or three revolver
! shots at him."
Langdon Total Abstainer
The State Departm report said
that, the surgeons examination of
Langdon disclosed that the ball had
ranged upward emerging above the
heart. This was confirmed also by a
large rent in the front of Lieutenant
Langdon's overcoat just Qbove the
heart.
At the time Langdon made his ante
morten statement he was fully con-
scious, the report said, and added
that the naval officer twas total ab-
stainer and was not under the infiu-
ence Of alcohol at any time
Secretary Of the Navy Daniels IN
iCenelnued on psce nvei