JAPANESE EDITOR ARRESTED FOR LIBEL

C.H. Yoshimura, Publisher of The Seattle Asahi Shin Bun, Is Held in the County Jail in Default of $2,000 Bail.

YOUNG WOMAN OBJECT OF ALLEGED ATTACK

Name of Yamahiko Used, but It Is Declared It Is Synonimous [Synonymous] With Kodama, a Clergyman's Charge.

C.H. YOSHIMURA, editor and publisher of Asahi Shin Bun (Rising Sun Newspaper), a daily newspaper published in the Japanese language in this city, was arrested shortly before noon today at Sixth Avenue South and Dearborn Street, by Deuty [Deputy] Sheriff Fred Hilt. He is held at the county jail in default of $2,000 bail bond, on a charge of criminal libel, preferred in an information filed in the superior court yesterday by Prosecuting Attorney Kenneth Mackintosh.

The person who is alleged to have been slandered in Yoshimura's newspaper is Sei Kodama, a Japanese girl who has been making her home for some time with Rev. S. Yoshioka, pastor of the Japanese Methodist Episcopal Church. The latter appears as prosecuting witness in the proceedings.

According to H.J. Kato, an associate editor of the Asahi Shin Bun, if Sei Kodama is Sei Yamahiko then she has been libeled, but if Sei Kodama is not Sei Yamahiko then Sei Kodama has not been libeled.

If this is the contention of the Japanese editor, declares the prosecuting attorney, then he will be convicted out of his own mouth, for Kodama and Yamahiko are synonymous words.

According to a translation furnished by Rev. Yoshioka, obtained from the Genkai, the standard dictionary of Japan, "Kodama" is a noun, meaning "a spirit that dwells in the mountains." It also means "Yamahiko." The same dictionary says the "Yamahiko" is a noun, meaning "a god of the mountains." A second meaning is "Kodoma," or "an echo."

In the issues of April 15, 16 and 17, a story was run in serial form under the title of "A Rotten Egg." one Sei Yamahiko's alleged life was laid bare in a manner that has since caused the federal authorities to declare they will prosecute the publishers for sending obscene literature through the mails.

Rev. Mr. Yoshioka, guardian of Sei Kodama, declaring that his charge was the subject of the alleged libelous articles in question, laid the matter before the prosecuting attorney. Although the name of Yamahiko was used as the family name, the clergyman says it is synonymous with Kodama.

When the information was filed, Judge A.W. Frater fixed the bail at $2,000 for the alleged offending editor and publisher. Up to a late hour this afternoon he had not obtained a bond for his release.