JAPANESE JUSTICE,

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3383, 25 November 1911, Page 4

JAPANESE JUSTICE,

!) V. V EX DING AN ENGLISHMAX. Yang Ki-Tak has discovered that it is an expensive matter to defend a Britisher. It has cost him three years oi constant persecution, and now a sentence of two years’ penal servitude. In June. 1908, Mr. Bothell, the editor of a Korean paper, was charged with inciting the natives there against the Japanese. Koreans were afraid io give evidence in Bethell’s favor, but finally one—Yang Ki-Tak —spoke out. The representative of the Japanese Government said ini court that lie would not be penalised for anything lie said. In the following month, however, Yang was enticed from the house where he was living under British protection, and arrested by the Japanese on a charge of fraud. When the British Consul intervened, Yang’s health had already been broken down by the horrible treatment received in prison. British extra-territoriality ceased in Korea. Then Yang was promptly arrested again by the Japanese, this time on a charge of conspiring against the Governor-General. There was absolutely ro evidence so after further imprisonment lie was again released. This summer lie was once more arrested, th : s time for planning a .scheme to enable some of his fellow-countrymen to emigrate to China territory. For this he lias been sentenced to two years’ penal servitude. Yang is an educated, gentle, and peaceful man, the very reverse of a firebrand. His* only crime, in short, is that he stood ui> for an Englishman. Possibly the Foreign Office may bo induced t > make some friendly representations to Tokyo in Yang’s favor.— /‘Everybody's Weekly.”