JAPANESE CRIME

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21717, 5 February 1934, Page 9

JAPANESE CRIME

| PREMIER'S ASSASSINATION PRISON FOR CIVILIANS (Received February 4, 5.5 p.m.) TOKIO. Feb. 3 In the Tokio District Court to-day the civilians who were involved in the assassination of the former Prime Minister of Japan, Mr. Inukai, were convicted. Kosaburo Tachivana, head of the Agrarians' Welfare and Study Association, was sentenced to imprisonment for life. Four teachers, 10 youths, two farmers and three heads of patriotic societies were sentenced to terms varying from three and a-half to 15 years. Two naval officers who were concerned in the murder of the former Prime Minister of Japan, Mr. Inukai, were sentenced on November 9 to 15 years' imprisonment. Eight others implicated in the plot were sentenced to shorter terms. Mr. Inukai was assassinated in Tokio on May 15, 1932, by a band of young naval and military officers who immeditely surrendered to the police. Tho Minister of War, General Araki, narrowly escaped the same fate. At the sania time bombs were thrown at five of the principal buildings in tho capital, and officers in 'the streets distributed handbills denouncing the Government's financial administration, the alleged corruption of politicians, the conduct of the nation's diplomacy and various high officials in the Army and Navy.