Three Men, One Interpreter, and a Murder They All Deny

Three Japanese men are in the county jail charged with the murder of their fellow countryman, Mayeda. At last they have been enabled to tell their side of the case, an interpreter, C. Carrothers, having had an interview with them yesterday. They all deny their guilt, and one of them throws suspicion on another Japanese named Tomita, who has not been arrested. Mr. Carrothers is well equipped to serve as interpreter, having lived twenty years in Japan as a teacher and speaking Japanese like a native; the three prisoners were much cheered to find a white man who could fluently converse with them in their own tongue. Carrothers said the prisoners' names had been badly reported. The man who attempted suicide is Nakamura. He was found in bed, gloomy and despondent. He protested that he knew nothing of the murder. He had but a slight acquaintance with the dead man and had never quarreled with him. The only business between them was a small loan, all of which Nakamura had returned except 15 cents. On his attempted suicide, he said shame, disgrace, and utter despondency were the only causes. He had never been in prison before, did not know English, felt deserted by his countrymen, and feared he was being taken to Auburn to be hanged. When told that his countrymen had employed a first-class lawyer to protect his interests, he cheered up. “If they give me a fair trial,” he said, “I am not afraid of the results, for I am an innocent man.” The other two, Satow and Aoki, were brought out in the jailer's room. Both are laborers, somewhat older than Nakamura, but able to write. Both ridiculed the idea of their connection with the murder and gave fair accounts of themselves. Aoki said he had worked for Mayeda since coming to this country last April and remained until about two weeks before the murder, when he left because there was no more work. He said he had never quarreled with Mayeda, although Mayeda failed to pay three months' salary, something like $30. Mayeda was running a ranch and had a large potato crop; the understanding was that he would pay wages from the proceeds. Satow said he had never worked for Mayeda, though he had visited the house frequently and once stayed overnight. One of the five men who had worked for Mayeda told Satow after the murder that a Japanese named Tomita, who had once worked for Mayeda, had quarreled about wages after being discharged. Tomita was now at work for another Japanese some two and a half miles from the dead man's ranch, and Satow hinted that Tomita might be the murderer. Neither Satow nor Aoki had heard of Nakamura's attempted suicide. When told, they admitted it looked serious but could reconcile it with despair. They too felt bad, confined and, as they thought, friendless. They were relieved to hear of the action of their friends and countrymen in providing a lawyer. Carrothers added that suicide is a characteristic of the Japanese people when a man feels he has disgraced his family; it is not by hara-kiri, but by the readiest method at hand. The three men, Nakamura, Satow and Aoki, will be taken to Auburn at 6 o'clock this morning, where Nakamura will be given a preliminary hearing. Carrothers has been secured as interpreter and will accompany the officers.