16th CENTURY KING

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28490, 21 January 1958, Page 11

16th CENTURY KING

Coffin To Be Reopened

(Rec. 12.5 a.m.)

STOCKHOLM, January 20. The sarcophagus of King Erik XIV, a suitor to Queen Elizabeth I of England, will be opened in the Cathedral of Vaesteraas, central Sweden today, to ascertain whether he was murdered or died of natural causes. Several historians have claimed that King Erik who, at the time of his death in 1577, was imprisoned by his brother Johan, died after consuming soup poisoned on Johan’s orders. Johan had usurped the throne. Other historians have declared that King Erik died of a stomach ulcer. More than a dozen historical and medical experts and a number of high officials including the Minister of Church Affairs - (Mr Ragnar Edenmann), will be present at the opening of the coffin today. The king, who was 44 when he died, was embalmed, but when the coffin was last opened, in 1797, only the skeleton remained. The experts will now investigate the bones for traces of poison and also X-ray the cranium.

N.Z.-Bound Tanker Disabled

(Rec. 11.45 p.m.) BRISBANE, January 20

The 10,712-ton tanker, Stanvac Bangkok, bound for Auckland, is lying disabled in the Arafura Sea. 240 miles west of Thursday Island.

A spokesman for the owners, the Standard Vacuum Transportation Company, of London, said in Mebourne today that a relief tanker was heading for the stranded ship to transfer the fuel.

The Stanvac Bangkok, which has a crew of 65, is anchored in 20 fathoms of water after losing a propeller six days ago. The spokesman said the tanker was in no danger.