Salt Lake Telegram | 1937-02-16 | Page 12 | Torture's Part in Confessions Protested by Japanese Peer

Torture's Part in Confessions Protested by Japanese Peer TOKIO. Feb. IS (AP An aged member of the house of peers drew from his own experience today in bitterly attacking the gov-ernment gov-ernment for allowing police to use "medieval" tortures to force ' confessions. . Amid th hushed sllenc of th surprised upper house of th Japa- no parliament, Klelchl Kokubo, Ti, graphically described hi own tortur some years ago for an alleged al-leged political crime and demanded the new government of Senjuro Hayashl banish such practice and dismiss responsible officials. Kokubo citsd ease la which he said police hung their victims up by their heals, poured water down their nostril, burned them on the forehead and flogged them unmercifully unmer-cifully to fore confession to violation viola-tion of election law. Choar Beeeeuid When Kokubo returned to his seat I the house broke Into cheers, according accord-ing th aged member an ovation. ' Th minister for horn affair assured as-sured Kokubo th cases mentioned already had been dealt with, and promised that such method would be abolished in the future. "Th method of tortur resembled resem-bled thoee employed In medieval day," th peer exclaimed, in hi accusation. "The prisoners first would have smoke and water forced up their nostrils. "Then they were subjected to an unmerciful kicking and finally would be branded with a red hot Iron." The peer's attack oa ths lees than two-weeks-old cabinet of General Hayashi was the second sine ths diet reconvened yeeterday. Going May Be Bough - Political observers forecast hard slsdding for the compromise government gov-ernment formed by Hayashi to end Japan's constitutional crista Opposition from th Seiyuksi party, of which Kokubo la a member, mem-ber, and th Minseito party. It was believed, endangered any hop of continuing success for th new government.