ENGLISHMAN SHOT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22191, 19 August 1935, Page 9

ENGLISHMAN SHOT

RIDDLED WITH BULLETS CHINESE BANDITS' VICTIM MR. G. JONES FOUND DEAD By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received August 18. 5.5 p.m.) PEKING, Aus. 17 The report that Mr. Gareth Jones, formerly secretary to Mr. Lloyd George, had been released by the bandits who captured him on August 8, has turned out to be untrue, like another rumour that he had escaped and was going to Mukden. Now it appears that the captors transferred Mr. Jones to a second gang of bandits whom Chinese troops pursued yesterday. Tho troops found Mr. Jones' body riddled with bullets, near Paorhang where he was originally captured. The British Embassy is making strong representations to the Nanking Government regarding the murder of Mr. Jones. It is believed to have been due to a misunderstanding. Chinese magistrates were negotiating a ransom and tho magistrate in Paochang did not inform his colleague in tho adjoining district that he was offering a ransom. When the bandits entered the colleague's district ho sent troops against them, which action, with the non-arrival of tho ransom, caused tho bandits to suspect tho negotiators' sincerity. Accordingly thoy murdered Mr. Jones in revenge. Tho late Mr. Gareth Jones, formerly was lecturer in languages at Cambridge University. Ho was motoring with Dr. Herbert Mueller, a German journalist, about tho end of July when bandits held up the car, took captive tho travellers and sent the Russian chauffeur to Kalgan with a demand for £BOOO ransom. Later Dr. Mueller was released. Mr. Lloyd George, whoso secretary Mr. Jones was at one time, on learning of the capture of the two men, took action through diplomatic channels, and 500 gendarmes were despatched to search Inner Mongolia for tho bandits.