Capt. Amakasu Charged With a Triple Murder Tokio, Oct. 8.
Amid the stress and turmoil of the last six weeks no incident has created as much sensation—which was considerably enhanced by the ban of secrecy hitherto imposed—as the act of Captain Amakasu in killing the Socialist, Osugi Sakaye, and his wife and nephew. The trial by public court-martial opened this morning.
Tokio. Oct. 8.
The hearing of the charge was opened to-day at 9 a.m. at the Military Court of the First Division. Those people who wanted to he admitted into the Court had gathered in such a large force since 9 o'clock on the previous night that by 5 ium, to-day, admission tickets had been. exhausted. At the commencement of the trial, Capt. Amakasu, in reply to questions pat to him by the judicial officer, admitted the charge.
When the examination entered into full particulars at 3 p.m. with reference to the point when ther or not Captain Amakasu actually murdered Soichi, a child of seven years, the accused obsecured his attitude by his state-mont that he murdered the child unconsciously. The trial at this juncture presented an unexpected scene and strain.
Mr. Tsukasaki. the lawyer. of the defendant, stood up and gave the following admonition to the accused:—"T have made my appearance here in this court at the request of your mother. What I say is therefore your mother's words. If you really murdered the child, it can't be helped, but if it is not the case, pray you confess it. The Court is held in the name of the Emperor, and it is not within the bounds of possibility that you should tell a lie to the Emperor."
No sooner had these words been spoken than tears began to come into the eyes of Captain Amakasu. who had thus far been holding -his composure, remaining stand-the audience in astonishment by
ing erect and covering all the while his face with a handkerchief. The judge at length, by the request from the lawyer of the accused, announced 10 minutes' suspension of court in' order to give the accused time for mature consideration.
When court was resumed, Captain Amakasu stated:—'"I do not desire to alter my statement for the sake of my mother nor for my family but when I think of the honour of the Imperial soldiers.
With the above words, he abruptly stopped his statement but soon recovered and continu—ed:—'It_is I that has murdered Sakaye Osugi and Nove Ito but have riot murdered the child. 1 have seen neither the face of the
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.