The bakufu was concerned that Kiyokawa would use the Roshigumi as a card for the Sonno and anti-shogunate movement, and sent assassins, including Tadasaburo SASAKI, in April of that year to murder Kiyokawa at Ichinohashi, Azabu.
同年4月、清河が、浪士組を尊王・倒幕運動の切札に使うと危惧した幕府は、佐々木只三郎ら刺客を差向け麻布一ノ橋にて清河を暗殺。