LORD NUFFIELD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23047, 26 May 1938, Page 13

LORD NUFFIELD

HOLD-UP IN OFFICE ORDERED TO ENTER CAR FRIEND SAVES SITUATION POLICE CALLED BY TELEPHONE By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received May 25, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, May 25 While Viscount Nuffield was working late in his private office at Oxford a saloon ca,r drove up and two men entered the office. It is reported they ordered him to enter the car. J\lr. K. Kennerley Rumford, who was husband of the late Dame Clara Butt, and who is a friend of Lord Nuffield, was in an adjoining room. Hearing the voices he telephoned for the police, who surrounded the building. The two men were later taken to the police station. As a sequel to the incident, John Bruce Thornton was charged at a special Court held at the police station with being in possession of firearms with intent to endanger life, and was remanded until to-morrow. The police refused to divulge anything beyond his name. Owing to Lord Nuffiekl's reticence it is difficult to ascertain exactly what happened. The police stopped a car in the main street of Oxford and arrested Thornton, who was its only occupant. He had not entered the works and had not even seen Lord Nuffield. It is learned that Lord Nuffield recently received a number of threatening letters.