RAND TRAGEDIES

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 106, 31 October 1914, Page 3

RAND TRAGEDIES

MOTOR BANDITS' VICTIMS SHOOTING, OF DELAREY. Johannesburg, says the Star of 16th September, has been stunned by the news of another murder to add to the black account of the motor bandits and by two shocking sequels — the fatal shooting by police- patrols of two innocent citizens, Dr. Gmce, of Springs, and Senator Gen eral Delarey. The appalling list of tragedies now comprise five victims— Police-Sergeant Neil M'Leod, PoliceSerg»s,nt Robert Mansfield, Detective ! Mynott, C.1.D. ; Dr. Grace, of Springe,' Senator General Delarey. The harrowing story, which reached such a heart-rending climax last night, commenced with the cold-blooded murders of Sergeants M'Leod and Mansfield in the Fairview district on Saturday night. In the execution of their duty they had disturbed the operations of a. notorious gang of criminals who were out for the plunder of bottle stores. The men, too, were those who are 6trongly suspected of having been responsible lor the attempted bank robbery and the murder of the man who disturbed them at Boksburg North a few weeks ago. The murderous gang escaped from frairview early on Sunday morning on a motor cycle. At the request of the police photographs were published in the newspapers of the three men wanted — Robert Ward Jackson, alias Foster ; John Maxim, alias Maxwell ; and Carl Mezar, alias George Smit. Armed detectives and polico scoured suspected districts in ,vain search, but yesterday afternoon informa tiqti was received at Marshall-square police station to the effect that the motor bandits were believed to be in a house at Regent's Park. Acting on this leport, Detective Mynott, one of the most able and trusted members of the deteC' tive force, was sent out to investigate, and he took out with him Detective Murphy and Layde. Apparently, after making enquiries in the district, Detective Mynott located the house where the men were supposed to be. Mynott and Murphy, it is stated, after knocking at the door, walked through the house, but could not see anyone. They went round the back of the house, and it was after this that they encountered the motor car and it* occupants. Boster was at the 6ide of the car, and either in the car or getting in were Mrs. Foster and child and the cfther two wanted men, Maxim and Mezar. Mynott went through all the regular formula with Foster, following his order of "Hands up" with the an« nouncement that he was going to arrest him. Foster had his back to him, and while thus cornered by Mynott ask«d who he was. Mynott had' hardly got out his reply that he was Detective Mynott when Foster turned round suddenly and fired into the officer's stomach. Mynott dropped to the ground, and expired within a few minutes. A duel proceeded between Mupphy andi Foster^ while Maxim 6tartcd up the car. Layde f who had got over a back fence, also joined in. The exchange of shot*, however, was fruitless. Both police officers emptied their revolvers, and then while Murphy ran for assistance the car da-shed for* warti, and the desperadoes, with the .voman and child, made away. The shocking sequels of the shooting of Dr. Grace and General Delarey resulted from tho orders given to the police in all districts to hold up cars, and if they did not stop at the challenge to fire. Dr. Grace, who was accompanied by his wife, was returning from Johannesburg to Springs after nightfall, and was travelling along the dip which leads to the Simmer and Jack plantation, when he was challenged by two mounted men. He was called on by a police patrol to stop, but either misunderstood the signal or did not hear it, owing to the high wind prevailing. The patrol fired, the cjr stopped, and the terrible discovery was made that the innocent victim of one of the police bullets was Dr. Grace. The second appalling tragedy — the j shooting of General^ Delarey— took place in the Langslaate district. In this case also the challenges of police patrols were either not heard or were disregarded. General Delarey was travelling in a car i driven by a chauffeur, and accompanied ] by Brigadier-General Beyers. When the police challenges were not answered, despite repeated warnings, shots were fired, and then it was discovered that General Delarey had been killed. The motor-car in which Generals Beyers and Delarey were being driven when General Delarey was fatally shot was in charge of General Beyers's orderly, Trooper James Andrew Wagner, of the 13th Mounted Rifles. The party left' Pretoria about 7 p.m., and at about 9 p.m. they passed through Fordsburg and along the Langslaate-road. The two generals were titting in the back seat. When near Langslaate station there was a severe sand storm blowing. Two foot policemen at the point held up their rifles and ( shouted "Stop." The_ car was travelling at about thirty miles an hour, and neither the chauffeur nor his passengers could understand what was happening, and no heed seems to have been paid to the police challenge. There was a report of a shot, and at the same moment another policeman put his bayonet into the spokes of the wheel. Tlie bullet hit the ground, ricochetted and rent its way through the steel framework and the lining and hit General Delarey low down in the back. General Beyers said something to the effect that General Delarey had been shot, and when the car was pulled up the body of the unfortunate general was twitching and was being supoorted by his companion. The chauffeur, at the suggestion of some people who had congregated, drove to the Fountain Hotel, but by the time it was reached the unfortunate general had expired. The body was taken to Fordsburg police station. Dr. M'lntosh was sent for, but 'the general was then past all human aid. The body was then taken to the mortuary. BANDITS RUN TO EARTH. The members of the Jackson gang of 'criminals, who were indirectly the cause of the tragic death of General Delarey, were brought to bay in a cave in the East Rand by the police on 18th September. The police called on the outlaws to surrender, and they offered to deliver their arms to Jackson's wife. The woman then entered the cave, and was shot dead by her husband. Jackson and his two accomplices thereupon committed suicide.