BRITISH OFFICER ATTACKED

Evening Star, Issue 21905, 17 December 1934, Page 13

BRITISH OFFICER ATTACKED

UNFORTUNATE INCIDENT IN SAARBRUCKEN DRAWS REVOLVER IN SELF-DEFENCE Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright SAARBRUCKEN, December 16. (Received December 17, at 10 a.m.) Captain James Justice, a British special police officer, after spending an evening at a cafe in civilian clothes with other officers, was driving home at 3 o’clock in the morning, accompanied by two friends, including the Earl of Aylesford, when a tyre burst. The car skidded and mounted the pavement and injured a woman. An angry crowd attacked Captain Justice and the Earl of Aylesford, of whose identity they were unaware, with sticks and stones. Captain Justice fired his revolver # in self-defence, wounding a person in the stomach, although not seriously. The victim was sent to the hospital. The crowd retaliated, beating and kicking Captain Justice, who was admitted to hospital in a serious condition. It is believed that he is suffering, from a fractured skull.

The Earl of Aylesford stated: “ I don’t know how it started. I saw a crowd beating Captain Justice, and went to help him. The next thing I knew was that I received a blow on the face.” The chauffeur of another car said: “ I saw a crowd set about Captain Justice. They were merciless. Captain Justice was hit and kicked on the head, and his face was covered with blood.” The incident has caused intense excitement throughout the Saar. DETAILED ACCOUNT OF AFFAIR WOMAN ONLY SLIGHTLY HURT. LONDON, December 16. (Received December 17, at 12.40 p.m.) The British United Press Association’s Saarbrucken correspondent says that Ivaty Braun, a local girl, has given the Saar Commission a detailed report of the Justice affair. She says: “ Captain Justice was driving me home from a night club. The Earl of Aylesford occupied the back seat. Captain Justice was sober and was capable of managing the car, but not noticing the number he drove past my house. In turning round he backed the car on to the pavement, knocking down a woman, who screamed. A number of men leaving a cafe advanced on Captain Justice menacingly. Captain Justice apologised for knocking down the woman.- They only threatened Captain Justice, whereupon ho explained that he was a police officer and drew his revolver. This infuriated the crowd, and somebody hit Captain Justice a terrific blow on the head, shouting ‘ What do you mean, you dirty pig of an Englishman?’ I grabbed Captain Justice’s revolver hand, or more people ‘might have been shot. I think the attackers were Nazis. lam a Nazi myself. and a member of the German Front.” Latest information says that the wonfan who was knocked down was only slightly hurt.

The incident has caused the commission much perturbation. ' Mr Knox spent the day soothing the ugly feelings which unfortunately arose on the eve of the arrival of the British contingent/ JUSTICE NOT SERIOUSLY HURT CIRCUMSTANCES EXPLAINED. SAARBRUCKEN, December 16. (Received December 17, at 1.20 p.m.) It is now learned that the injuries to Captain Justice, who is an ex-mem-ber of the South African police force, were confined to cuts and bruises. The car struck Madame Steig, who was walking with her husband, necessitating first aid. The bystanders, including members of the Deutsch Front, became hostile, and called others from an adjacent restaurant, until forty menacing Nazis surrounded Captain Justice, who produced papers establishing his identity as a police officer. He asked the crowd to disperse. They refused, manhandling Lord Aylesford. Captain Justice threatened them with a revolver, which several persons attempted to seize. Two shots were fired. One superficially hit an electrician (Neumeistcrer) in the stomach.

Captain Justice, interviewed in hospital, admitted that the car ran over a woman’s foot, and it also knocked a man over without hurting him. He added: “ When the crowd became menacing I drew a gun. Somebody socked me on the head, upon which I fired into the ground in order to frighten them. Someone then tried to seize the revolver, which went off again and just scratched somebody’s skin. The crowd then knocked me unconscious. . The police cleared up the show.” Herr Dietmanu, deputy leader of the Deutsch Front, while willing to regard the incident as accidental, requests the prevention of a recurrence.

STATEMENT BY COMMISSIONER COURT OF INQUIRY TO BE HELD. SAARBRUCKEN. December 16. (Received December 17, at 1.40 p.m.) Mr Knox officially’states: “A car driven by a x>olice officer, while attempting to-turn a corner, drove on to the pavement, injuring one person. A crowd assembled and threatened the three passengers, especially the officer who was driving. A free fight followed, and several shots were fired. One person was injured. The police officer was injured by blows, and admitted to hospital. The police will investigate and report, and a court of inquiry will be held. The aggressor will be dealt with with full severity and without consideration for his status. The police officer will be deprived *oi his rank until the matter is cleared up.” Officials consider that no political importance attaches to the incident, and emphasise that Captain Justice was not a member of the regular forces.