JUSTICE CHEATED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26028, 17 December 1945, Page 5

JUSTICE CHEATED

PRINCE KONOYE DEAD SUICIDE BY POISONING DUE TO ENTER PRISON (Rec. 11 p.m.) TOKIO, Dec. 16. General MacArthur’s headquarters announced that Prince Fumimaro Konoye, the former Prime Minister, committed suicide. The Japanese reported that Konoye poisoned himself on Friday night. He was due to enter Sugamo prison at midnight on Saturday night as a suspected war criminal. Princess Konoye found the body. Prince Konoye entertained relatives and close friends, including many high in social and political life, at his lavish modern residence on Saturday evening. He retired to his bedi'&om at 2 a.m. Friends safd he seemed normal and gave no indications of his intention. An American physician examined the body and confiscated a vial. A crowd of Japanese watching war criminal suspects surrendering at the gates of Sugamo prison appeared to be shocked when told that Konoye was reported to have committed suicide. ' War criminal suspects who surrendered to-day included Viscount Okachi, the former head of Riken Industries and adviser to Tojo’s Cabinet. Count Saki, Minister of Agriculture in the 1940 Cabinet, also director of the Imperial Rule Assistance Association. Mr Shigeo o date, 'the first mayor of occupied Singapore. Vice-admiral Godo, a member of two Japanese war Cabinets. Mr Hiroshi Oshima, the war-time Japanese Ambassador to Berlin. - . . All arrived at the prison with a retinue of servants and members of their families carrying heavy bundles of bedding and personal belongings.