KIDNAPED FOR RANSOM.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13750, 12 September 1908, Page 6

KIDNAPED FOR RANSOM.

MISTAKEN FOR MILLIONAIRE

Seldom can a brigand's captive, have .xpeni a more pleasant tune than did Mr. Clarke* Kennedy, who, after being held prison»-r tor some tii>ie by Hadu Sarjuni. the notorious Moroccan brigand, has been set at liberty.

"1 hi; Moors .seized him, thinking to extort a large ransom, but when they tound that the British Government jef used to pay anything, and tiiat Mr. Kennedy would not, lh«v released him.

Sarjuni thus decribcd the affiar to the Ceuta correspondent of the Telegraph: — "As we kneiv that Mr. Ken-

nedy was searching for mines, and desired to buy ground, we thought his capture might fill our purses, and we decided to attack him. IV offered no resistance, and ho w: 1 -.. imprisoned in the mountains, and confined to the care oi' nine guards. The following morning all the Arabs of Kuf held a meeting in Zoco, and, despite the opinion of many who voted his release, the final decision was taken to retain the Englishman. Those who \ oted for his freedom desired us to pro\ ide him w ith victuals from Ceuta market, risking being belli up. My opinion was decisive, as I thought that 1 could obtain £'20, 000 for the Englishman's freedom.]

"As Kuf is in daily communication with Ceuta, and we are* neither barbarian, nn # >r assa->s.ins, we never thought to ha nil Mr. Kennedy, and we treated him with every < on-iderat ion, depriving him 01 nothing. \'\\ en a violin which he desired was brought from

Tetuan to plea him. Mr. Kennedy, vho i- a humourist ha-, himself to blame for h,s capture -:iud ior his tardy release, as he always spoke of buying our lands f: 1 " millions, and we concluded that he was a millionaire. The captive lived our lifo very well, and to help him kill time shooting parties were organised, and even a bath and soap, wbith are lnxuijcs among us, were provided for him every day. Several times wo threatened to chop oft his head if he persisted in refusing to write home for money, but Mr. Kennedy is the type of man born to be a Moroccan, a-", ho never missed a humorous situation, and m reply to our demands he simply shrugged his shoulders, and smilingly said we would gain nothing by killing him.

"At the end of the second week of his captivity our prisoner was our friend, and we decided to releaso him, but only waited for an opportune moment to show him the value of freedom. Mr. Kennedy never offered us more than 180 dollars for his freedom . and when we asked him 1:10,000 at least, he laughed and said that for that sum he could become a pasha. Convinced that we should not receive one penny, and that captivity for the Englishman was but a new .sport, we decided to release him, and took advantage of the proclamation of Mulai Hafid, at Tetuan, and the entry of his Mehalla to get into negotiation with the new Pasha. At the same timo, General Aldave, Governor of Ceuta, sent an emissary to us with orders to release Mr. Kennedy, and with threats that he would close tho gates of Ceuta to the sellers of eggs, fruits, vegetables, meat,, and poultry, who carry on a daily trade. On the Monday Zoco was tho scene of discussion on the convenience of taking the prisoner to Ceuta or Tetuan, and the decision was taken to hand him over to the Arab authorities rt tl\e latter place, as by this means wp should receive the sympathy of the Pasha, and probably be freed from the burden of certain taxes.

"Mr. Kennedy was released, and at five o'clock in the afternoon took the roiite to Tetuan, accompanied by a Cadi and five horsemen and the guide Kayani. He left us several presents as souvenirs, and told us that he would come back with money to buy lands."

Hadu Sarjuni adds that the detention of Mr. Kennedy was a bad business, and w ith true Arab irony, says that Raisuli Mas more fortunate in tho capture of Kaid Maclean, who v as worth a million Kennedys. "I have spent half mv existence in trying to find one. Maclean." snid the brigand When 1 informed him Ihal such sayings were unjust, he replied. "One muf=t live, and if Europeans take our territory jiuav from 11s by means of cannons, one must not be surprised that we poor Vrabs shonid sometimes endeavour 10 take their money away from then hv bold nr(,s."

Hadu Karjuni quietly returned to lii*town, betraying no sj^iis of concern, and after making purchases of Europeans' provisions-.