The daily monitor leader. [volume] (Mount Clemens, Mich.) 1942-19??, 1945-09-11
TOTO SHOOTS SELF TO AVOID ARREST
Infamous Jap
Premier Near
Death in Tokyo
Declares War
Was Justified
as Life Ebbs
TOKYO, Sept. II II

TOKYO, Sept. IL tAP
- hideki TOTO, who melted
the Jsponese sneak ottaek On
PeorI HORROR. today shot and
erovely wounded himself a.
he wos about TO be taken into
custody for questioning.
Tonight American Army doc
tors were endeavoring to save
the life of the 61year-Old former
premier, and said he had an even
chance to survive.
Il want to die" TOTO exclaim-
ed shortly after firing = shot in
his chest from a .32 caliber auto
matte pistol at ais p. m.
Il am sorry for the peoples Of
Greater East ASIA" the Japanese
Domei news agency later quoted
him. II will shoulder the whole
responsibility. l hope they will
not go amiss in dealing with the
situation.
A JUST WAR
The war Of Greater East
Asia was a just war. With all
our strength gone, we finally fell.
Il did not want to stand be-
fore the victor to be tried as the
vanquished. This is my own
case. I wanted to kill myself At
one stroke.
Il first thought Of using my
sword to kill myself, but instead
| used the revolver for fear !
might fail and survive"
General Macarthur had issued
a pickup order for TOTO, who
merely was wanted at head
quarters for questioning.
The little Japanese-he is only
feet, inches and weighs about
100 pounds - apparently had
heard that American officers
were about to take him into Gus
tody.
PLANNED HARA KIRI
He had planned suicide in the
traditional hara kiri style, and
two ceremonial knives and two
automatic pistols were prepared.
The American counter-intelli.
gence officers and party of cor.
respondents approached Tojo's
home.
TOTO twice opened one Of the
large sliding windows Of his
house. An officer attempted to
show his credentials through the
window.
Il am Tojo!" the little Japan
csc cried, then he slammed the
window down SO hard he almost
broke it.
1t seemed he wanted to make
certain the officers knew he was
the man they wanted. Charles
CORY. (P) photographer, snap
ped his picture as he glowered.
The officers and correspond.
ents started for the front door,
and a moment later q shot was
heard.
Servants and Japanese police
gathered excitedly but the AM
erlcan officers kicked down q
door, only to find another locked
door II also was broken open,
ana TOTO was found on the floor.
A japanese doctor, who was
called promptly, said that Toto
was dying-that nothing would
save his life.
$3.50 CHANCE
Then two American doctors
were summoned, promptly gave
him a pint of American blood
plasma, and said he had a $3.50
chance for life, which he num-
oled he did not want.
The American doctor in
charge of the battle to save the
suicidal former premier was
Capt. James Johnson Of New.
ark, Ohio.
TOTO shot himself through the
chest with a .32 caliber pistol
after identifying himself through
a window to the officers and q
group Of correspondents who
went TO his home 20 miles from
downtown Tokyo.
JAPS REFUSE AID
The japanese doctor who was
summoned refused TO treat TOTO.
saying he had no, instruments
with him and asking why 10
was called. TOTO. IN Z stupor. sl-
SO refused treatment iron the
doctor. The Americas
doctor then w1s called n.
TOTO has bsea portrayed @
the most hsted msn In Japon
since the loss q he VA, ~
though he once ~ ihmseDolv
popular. - ~
Captain Johnssns s13d tl.Gt -
See TOTO Haee 3