SENT TO GAOL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 262, 5 November 1931, Page 7

SENT TO GAOL.

CHINESE COLONEL.

Young Britisher Shot Dead in

Fit of Temper.

NATIONAL APOLOGY.

(British Official Wireless.)

RUGBY, November 4.

The mystery surrounding the fate of the Englishman, John Thorburn, aged 19, who disappeared from Shanghai in June and whose fate has been the subject of protracted diplomatic exchanges, is dealt with in a Note now issued which the British Minister received from the Chinese Government.

After explaining the difficulties which delayed earlier investigations, the Note says:—"lt' is with the utmost regret that the Chinese Government has to inform your Excellency that Mr. Thorburn, after he had shot and' wounded two gendarmes, who subsequently died, was arrested on June 2 and met his death at Suchow at the hands of Colonel Huang Chen-wu on June 8.

"The Chinese Government further regrets that it is now clear that Colonel Huang Chen-wu sought to suppress the truth as to what had occurred, even from the Government itself. As a result of a trial by court-martial the officer named was sentenced to 14 years' imprisonment."

The Note reaffirms the determination of the Chinese Government to uphold the modern conception of justice and to se© that it is administered within Chinese territory, and expresses the hope that the action taken in this case will convince the British Government that the Chinese profession in this respect is sincere.

A report of Chinese inquiries into the case states that Thorbum was - arrested in suspicious circumstances and concealed his identity. Afterwards, when he was being interrogated, Colonel Huang Chen-wu lost his temper and shot him dead. Realising what he had done the officer destroyed all the evidence, including the corpse, and ordered his men not to divulge anything. The facts were obtained subsequently from a subordinate officer.