KIDNAPPED IN MEXICO

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6542, 25 February 1928, Page 7

KIDNAPPED IN MEXICO

■ ' LURID TALE DENIED. STORY WORTHY OP MOVIES. ‘I always believed that only in Hollywood wore such interesting scenarios evolved as that of Lyman Barber, the engineer,” General Ortiz declared in an interview (says a message from Mexico). "But, unfortunately,” he continued, "such people as Barber always talk too much.” General Ortiz was referring to Barber's story of having escaped a few days ago from rebels after killing-four guards whom he had made drunk. He said he had killed the guards with a liquor bottle and rocks. General Ortiz, who is Chief of Military Operations in the State of Mexico, said that after hearing of the kidnapping he set out to investigate it and punish the guilty. In a few days Federal troops located the band and engaged them in fighting, taking several prisoners, who told an entirely different story of Barber’s escape. Steban Valenuela, one of the prisoners, corroborated General Ortiz’s story, and told how the rebels moved from place to place to avoid the Federal Soldiers. Regarding Barber’s escape he said—‘One day we arrived at San Caspar near Tenaaicingo. Wo had a little feast. Barber, known as the Gringo, was left with three soldiers, and disapepared with all of them.” General Ortiz, who made tho investigation to clear up the case, stated that, judged by the information supplied by Valenzuela and other prisoners, all that Barber did was to per--uade the guards to escape with him. te offered them money, which they cccpted with pleasure, and then quid cd Barber to safety, the General declared-