Hidekichi "Sam" Komura (-1910)

 

 A small grey headstone lays toward the back of the Orting Cemetery that marks the final resting place of Hidekichi "Sam" Komura. The name Hidekichi is Japanese in origin and combines the elements "hide," meaning "excellent" or "noble," and "kichi," meaning "luck" or "fortune". 

  

Though little is known about his life, newspaper accounts revealed the unfortunate circumstances surrounding his death at a wedding feast just outside Orting, Washington.

On the evening of November 13, 1910, Komura attended the wedding of Fuji and Tada Tane at the home of Sokichi Sujitani. During the celebration, tensions erupted between Komura and fellow guest Toyoji Morimoto, a former business partner with whom he had once worked with on extracting shingle bolts for a lumber company. Reports suggested their dissolved partnership had left lingering animosity, intensified by the heavy consumption of sake that flowed freely throughout the feast. The quarrel escalated swiftly—Komura struck Morimoto several times with a bottle, inflicting a deep gash above his left eye. Morimoto exited the gathering, though accounts differ: some witnesses claimed he was asked to leave, while others insisted he fled in anger. The festivities resumed until gunfire shattered the night. Morimoto had retrieved a shotgun, returned to the feast, and fired a single round through a window. The shot struck Komura in the back of the head, killing him instantly.

    According to several newspapers, Komura was 36 years old and left behind a wife and several children. Komura was listed as living in Orting, Washington in the 1910 census as the head of a house with a Japanese lodger by the name of K. Yoskimi. The record indicated that he had immigrated to the United States in 1900 and had not yet started the citizenship process. No information on his wife or children could be located. It is likely that if he had a wife and children, they were still living in Japan at the time of his death.

    Morimoto fled into the nearby woods immediately after the shooting. While on the run, he came upon the home of Mr. and Mrs. Maruto. Confronting Mrs. Maruto, he demanded $100, threatening, “I’ve just killed Komura and I want money so I can get away from here. Give it to me quick or I will kill you too.” Terrified, she gathered what cash she could—approximately $35—and handed it over. Morimoto took the money and disappeared once again.

    Morimoto was arrested at a Japanese lodging house in Portland, Oregon on November 23. He was returned to Tacoma two days later by Deputy Sheriff H.J. Doten to stand trial for Komura’s murder.  Morimoto recounted how he had wandered through the woods for days without food, eventually discarding the murder weapon into a nearby river. He later convinced a passerby to transport him to Spanaway, where he finally found something to eat. From there, he made his way to a train station and purchased a one-way ticket to Portland. Upon arrival, he sought refuge at a Japanese lodging house, but his presence did not go unnoticed—several individuals working with police recognized him and swiftly alerted authorities.

    On November 27, Morimoto stood before Judge Chapman and entered a plea of guilty to first-degree murder, assisted by an interpreter from the local Japanese Association. However, the court could not accept the plea, as state law prohibited guilty pleas in cases where the death penalty was a possible sentence. Unable to afford legal representation, Morimoto was assigned attorney Myron Cramer to defend him.

    Morimoto's trial commenced on December 8. Proceedings opened with testimony from the coroner, who described the fatal injuries sustained by Komura. Sokichi Sujitani, the host of the wedding, along with numerous other guests, testified through Almira Dean—a missionary with experience in Japan who served as interpreter. Morimoto also took the stand, claiming he had attempted to act as a peacemaker between Komura and Sujitani prior to the confrontation. The defense did not dispute that Morimoto had shot Komura but argued the act stemmed from a state of intoxication and confusion, urging the court to reduce the charge to manslaughter. 

    After four hours of deliberation, the jury returned a verdict: guilty of first-degree murder. Morimoto’s attorney petitioned for a retrial, but the request was denied. On December 15, Judge Chapman handed down a life sentence, and Morimoto was transferred from Tacoma to the Walla Walla Penitentiary. There, he was assigned prisoner number 5937. His intake records listed him as 42 years old, single, and a resident of Port Townsend at the time of the crime.

Source:  Washington, U.S., State Corrections and Jail Records, 1877-1970. Ancestry.com

    Morimoto, through interpreters, wrote to the Governor to ask for clemency several times. In a letter dated September 21, 1916, he wrote:

"I am Japanese + have not friends on the outside to help me. I am here on a charge of murder, having killed another Japanese. I wish to assure your Honour, however, that I did not commit murder. The other man beat me over the head with a beer bottle a number of times... I was no match for him and only shot him as a last resort...I am convinced that it was either my life or his... He started the fight. I had to defend myself and I believe I should been allowed self defense at the trail"

    Beginning in 1916, Morimoto's case was regularly reviewed by the Penitentiary Parole Board, which consistently denied his requests for release. However, during a review held on September 12, 1921, the board reversed course and recommended he be granted executive parole. After a thorough examination of the circumstances surrounding the crime, the board concluded the following:

 "The Board is of the opinion, from information at hand, that had this inmate been a white man and been able to fully explain his participation in the crime charged, he would have received a sentence for the crime of manslaughter."

    Governor Lous F. Hart approved the Board's recommendation and Morimoto was officially paroled on September 24, 1921 on the grounds that he would return to Japan.  He was officially released from Walla Walla Penitentiary on October 6, 1921. 

Sources:
Newspapers

"Japanese Kills at Wedding Feast." The New Tribune, November 14, 1910, p.1

"Shot to Death at Jap Wedding." Tacoma Daily Ledger, November 15, 1910, p.2

"Unable to Locate Japanese Murderer." The News Tribune, November 16, 1910, p.3

"Morimoto Gives Self Up At Portland."  The News Tribune, November 24, 1910, p.1

"Charge Japanese with Murder."  The Tacoma Times, November 25, 1910, p.1

"Frankly Admits Killing Komura."  Tacoma Daily Ledger, November 26, 1910, p.4

"Japanese Pleads Guilty to Murder." Tacoma Daily Ledger, November 27, 1910, p. 13

"Jap Murdered Tells Weird Story."  The News Tribune, December 10, 1910, p.1
"Japanese Being Tried For Life."  Tacoma Daily Ledger, December 10, 1910, p.2

"Guilty, Verdict of the Jurymen." Tacoma Daily Ledger, December 11, 1910, p. 25

"Japanese Gets Life Sentence." Tacoma Daily Ledger, December 15, 1910, p.5

Records

Komura, Sam. Year: 1910; Census Place: Orting, Pierce, Washington; Roll: T624_1665; Page: 11a; Enumeration District: 0205; Ancestry.com

Komura, Samuel.  Department of Health, Death Certificates, Washington State Archives, Digital Archives, http://digitalarchives.wa.gov,

Morimoto, Toyoji . Clemency and Pardon Case Files. Washington, U.S., State Corrections and Jail Records, 1877-1970 .Ancestry.com 

Morimoto, Toyoji . Commitment Registers. Washington, U.S., State Corrections and Jail Records, 1877-1970 .Ancestry.com 

Morimoto, Toyoji . Inmate Mug Shots. Washington, U.S., State Corrections and Jail Records, 1877-1970 .Ancestry.com