PEKING INCIDENT

Evening Star, Issue 22382, 4 July 1936, Page 15

PEKING INCIDENT

SHOOTING OF OFFICER JAPAN STILL NOT SATISFIED Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. “PEKING, July 3. (Received July 4, at 11.5 a.m.) The Consular Court of Inquiry decided that there was no case against the British soldiers alleged to have killed a Japanese officer. The secretary of the Japanese Embassy called on the British Ambassador, expressing Japan’s dissatisfaction. A high official stated: “We still believe that the soldiers murdered Lieutenant Sasaki.’’

BARMAID’S EVIDENCE REFUTED. LONDON, July 3. (Received July at 1.5 p.m.) The Peking correspondent of ‘ The Times ’ says that#. Mr Fitzmaurice (British Consul), after announcing that there was insufficient evidence against Privates Cooke and Hunt, of the Military Police, as regards the death of Lieutenant Sasaki, said a prima facie case existed against Cooke regarding an assault on a Japanese named Onishi, whom he is alleged to have assaulted about midnight, while Sasaki was assaulted half an hour later. Cooke pleaded not guilty. The defence pointed out that two Korean barmaids in the bar where Onishi was assaulted gave evidence that Cooke and Hunt were there together on the' night of the assaults, whereas Hunt was on duty at the barracks. Cooke was out 1 with Corporal Heal, whom none of the witnesses mentioned. The barmaids knew all the military police. There was no doubt that some of the witnesses were accusing certain men of assault in consequence of ill-feeling duo to the police searching for absentees. Several soldiers of the Embassy Guard gave evidence that Cooke and Heal were in a cafe half a mile from the Korean bar at 11.50. A sentry said in evidence that they returned to barracks at 12.10. The defence emphasised that it intended not only to prove an alibi, but was anxious to satisfy everyone that British soldiers were not involved.

[A message received on June 6 stated :—The diplomatic correspondent of ‘ The Times ’ says the officer commanding the British troops in Poking lias completed a formal inquiry into the alleged murder of the Japanese officer Sasaki. Evidence was taken on oath, resulting in establishing without question that British troops were not in the vicinity of the occurrence, thus confirming the # preliminary inquiry. An inquest was impossible, as Sasaki’s body had bead promptly buxaqd^