THE SANTIAGO AFFAIR.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXIX, Issue 7728, 23 February 1909, Page 2

THE SANTIAGO AFFAIR.

EXTRAORDINARY REVELATIONS.

Per Press Association —Copyright, LONDON, February 22, Renter's Santiago correspondent reports that investigation has led to extraordinary revelations. The Public Prosecutor came to the conclusion that Beckert invited Bodman to the Chancellory to sign documents. The fact that Herr Weleeak accompanied Bodman saved Bodman's life. It is alleged that Beckert intended to shoot Bodman and leave a revolver beside the body, suggesting suicide, owing to defalcations amounting to £15,000. It is also alleged that with a view to compelling tho conclusion that the porter's body was his own, Beckert extracted two teeth from tho mouth of the mouth of the corpse. [The'first report received from Santiago stated that the German Chancellor, Baron Bodman, was murdered m his office- at Santiago, Chili, after having received threatening letters. The Chancellory was then set on fire. A later message stated that it was Chancellor Beckert, and not- the German Minister Bodman, who was murdered. The outrage was attributed' to the same gang which burned the German-Consulate-General at Valparaiso, and the Consulate at Santiago, Argentine. A third report said it was the porter whose body had been found, and" that Beckert declared that he killed the* : man m self-defence.]