ALLEGED IRISH OUTRAGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18170, 16 August 1922, Page 9

ALLEGED IRISH OUTRAGE.

OFFICER'S STORY DOUBTED. POLICE DROP THE CASE. (Received 8.5 p.m.) United Servioe. LONDON. Aug. 14. There is an element of mystery surrounding the wounding of Major Neilson, former chief intelligence* officer in the Royal Irish Constabulary, who is still in hospital suffering from wounds in the arm and chest. The first reports were obtained from the police at the hospital. Major Neilson has since retold his story to a reporter. He states that he was attacked by three men in a lane near Ashburton, Devonshire, and bound hand and foot. The men then scratched letters I.R.A. with a penknife on his chest. He was then unbound, and the men fired twice, one bullet lodging in his arm.

The Devon constabulary report that the attack is not thought to be the work of the Irish Republican Army, and not much attention must be attached to Major Neilson's statement. It is understood that Major Neilson has been in ill-health for some time.

The Home Office states that an examination of the letters scratched on r Majoi Neilson's body shows them to be A.R.1., which is I.R.A. inverted. They are thrice repeated on his chest. There is also a wound on the forearm, apparently caused by a sharp instrument. A bloodstained razor was found at Major Neilson's lodgings. Though Major Neilson adheres to his story the local police have dropped the case;