MURDER IN NAZARETH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23335, 29 October 1937, Page 13

MURDER IN NAZARETH

DISTRICT COMMISSIONER AND ENGAGED CONSTABLE FIANCE IN NEW ZEALAND (From Our Own Correspondent) (By Air Mail) LONDON, Sept. 29. Constable Peter Robertson McEwan, who, with Mr Lewis Yelland Andrews, district commissioner of Galilee, was shot dead in Nazareth, was to have sailed a day or two later for New Zealand to be married. He had only a short time to go before the completion of his contract. Mr Andrews had been attending the Anglican Church at Nazareth, in which it. was his custom to read the lessons on Sunday evenings. He had been No 1 on the terrorists' " black list" for many months owing to the strictness of his rule. His life had been threatened frequently during the last two year 3. For this reason he had been provided with a bodyguard. Shots were fired at Mr Andrews at almost point-blank range by three assailants, described as Arabs. Two v/ere in European clothes and tarbushes. The other was in peasant dress. Mr Andrews was hit in the chest, stomach, and head. He was killed instantly. The murdered policeman, Mr McEwan, was in plain clothes. He was hit in the shoulder and head. Mr Firie Gordon, the assistant district commissioner, who was leaving the church at the same time, owes his life to an accident. As Mr Andrews shouted out, "Run for it, Pirie Gordon, they've got usl" he pushed

Mr Pirie Gordon, who stumbled over a bucket of water and fell to the ground. Mr Andrews fell on top of his friend, and the murderers fired into his body as he lay on the ground. The two men wore buried with full military honours. A company of the Royal Sussex Regiment and members of the British Police Force took part in the ceremony. The two coffins, draped with Union Jacks and borne one in an army and the other in a police lorry, passed through crowded, silent streets to the cemetery. The numerous mourners, including the majority of the British community, were led by the Acting High Commissioner.

More than 100 Arabs suspected of terrorist activities were arrested afterwards in the Nazareth and Galilee area. Among notable Arabs detained were three judges and two lawyers, Although a wide police net has been spread all over Palestine, the actual assassins have not been traced. Police dogs picked up a good scent from the scene of the crime and followed it along the by-ways of Nazareth to the main highway. It is believed that a motor car was waiting there to take the murderers away. There is much speculation in Jerusalem as to what the Government will do. One report states that a heavy collective fine on the Galilee district is likely. Most shops were closed in Nazareth on the day after the murders for fear of disturbances, and the curfew was maintained. Reinforcements of British troops arrived to preserve order.

The death of Mr Andrews is a great loss to the Palestine Administration. He knew every inch of the- country and thoroughly understood the people. His services to the Royal Commission had been invaluable. He admitted to a friend a fortnight previously that he was a marked man, but, while taking every precaution, he made no change in his tours of inspection and other duties.