Tokyo nichinichi shinbun Story translationShobu Yokichi, a hereditary mochi (rice cake) merchant in the Nishi Rokkenbori district of Fukagawa in Tokyo, had been in a sickbed for some time. Ito, his 25-year-old wife, was promiscuous and conducted a secret affair with the shop's apprentice, Shiota Kenkichi. To get rid of Shobu, his wife and her lover brazenly conspired to put poison in his medicine bottle in the hope he would ingest it. He drank the potion and blood poured from his nose, ears, mouth and eyes, resulting almost immediately in death. Claiming he had died from his illness, she arranged for his burial, making a show of grief while secretly happy. Her feigned weeping, however, did not escape notice and eventually she was summoned by the police. She underwent intense interrogation and gradually admitted her crime. On the 9th of this month she will face charges in the Tokyo Court. By Sansantei Arindo. [Translated (freely) by Mark Schreiber] |
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