"NOBLE MOTIVE"

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 37, 14 February 1933, Page 7

"NOBLE MOTIVE"

MURDER IN JAPAN

GUILTY MAY ESCAPE

KOBE, 2nd February. The belief is gaining ground that the Army and Navy authorities are determined not to punish the nine young officers who murdered the late Prime Minister of Japan, Mr. Inukai, on 15th May. A Seiyukai member, Mr. Hamada, asked in the Diet why secrecy was still maintained about the murder, while the publication was now allowed of information regarding the Commun ist bank raids in October. The Minister of Justice, Mr. Koyama replied that Mr. Inukai'3 murderers were still under examination, as the circumstances of the incitement to the crime had not yet been fully revealed. A. secret aession of tbe House of Representatives was held for the purpose of discussing the Communist question. According to published reports of the proceedings, Mr. Koyama stated thar inquiries regarding the bank raiders' pistols had led to more than 2000 arrests, and the tracing of a pistolsmuggling gang at Kobe. Subsequently, in open session, in re ply to further questions regarding Mr. Inukai's murderers, the Minister of War, General Araki, said he could not make a statement during the judicial examination. The Minister of the Navy, Admiral Osumi, endorsing this attitude, declared tat one of the murderers, a naval man, had matlo a statement' expressing repentance which he could not read without shedding tears. While the law must punish crime, everybody sympathised with the iiobilitjr ot the motive in this case. .