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SHIMAZAKI, 1st Lieutenant Statement of Murata - 6 Jan 1947 (420) Shimazaki was the warden of the detention barracks. Murata believes that Wako ordered Shimazaki or Sgt. Major Nemura to to bring out the 8 or 9 prisoners for the 20 June execution. Shimazaki, a member of the Legal Administration Section, was present at the 20 June execution. Murata believes that Shimazaki beheaded one or two prisoners at the 20 June execution. After watching the first two, Murata turned to get rid of the women present and when he returned to the scene of the execution he saw four or five prisoners in the pit (he believes Ohmishi killed one. Two or three days after the execution, Murata overheard Shimazaki discuss with the NCOs of the Legal Section kendo arid beheading, at which time he said that the sword was short, but that it cut very well. He also overheard him shy that he had frequently killed persons with the sword in China. |