A Gentleman in Prison: The story of Tokichi Ishii; Written in Tokyo Prison

by Tokichi Ishii, Caroline MacDonald (translator), John Kelman (Preface)

. "A man confesses to a crime, later denies it, but is sentenced to death on circumstantial evidence. Another man appears, confesses to the same crime, but is acquitted despite his confession. During the appeal trial, however, evidence was adduced which confirmed Ishii's confession to its minutest detail, and he was sentenced to death. As he says himself in his writing, he was thus able to make some amends for his sins and at the same time to save an innocent man from death."

An autobiographical study with excellent insight in to Japanese prison conditions of the time. Caroline Macdonald carried out missionary work in Tokyo prisons, and this is the true story of the convicted murderer Tokichi Ishii who spent 27 years incarcerated for his crime. Mrs Macdonald befriended Ishii and enjoyed many discussions about Christianity and Buddhism with him prior to his death. .

164 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1922

About the author

(1871? - 1915)