CHINA’S DISCLOSURE

Hokitika Guardian, 5 November 1931, Page 5

CHINA’S DISCLOSURE

SHOOTINGS ON BOTH SIDES.

(British Official Wireless.)

RUGBY, November 4

The mystery surrounding the fate of a young Englishman, John Thorburn, who , disappeared from Shanghai in June, and whose fate has been a subject of protracted diplomatic exchanges, is dealt with in a Note now issued, which the British Minister lias received from the Chinese Governrhent. After explaining the difficulties which delayed its earlier investigation, the Chinese Government says: It is with the utmost regret that the Chinese Government have to inform Your Excellency that .Tiorbuvn bad shot and wounded two gendarmes (who subsequently died), after which Thorburn was arrested at Quinslan on June 2nd. He met bis death at Suchow at the hands of Colonel Huang Chen Wu on June Bth. Whilst the Government further regrets ’that it is now clear that Colonel Huang Chen Wu .sought to suppress the truth as to what occurred even from the Government itserf. As the result of a court-martial, Colonel Huang Often Wu has been sentenced to fourteen years' imprisonment. The Note reaffirms the determination of the Chinese Government to uphold the modern conception of justice, and to see that -it is administered within Chinese territory, and to express the hope that the action taken in this case will convince the British Government of the Chinese profession in this respect.

The report of the Chinese inquiries into the case states : Thorburn was arrested, in suspicious circumstances, and he concealed his identity while he was afterwards being interrogated. Colonel (Huang Chen Wu lost his temper and shot him dead. Realising what he had done, Colonel Huang Chen Wu destroyed all evidence, including 'the corpse, and ordered his men not to divulge anything. The facts were afterwards got from a subordinate officer.