Several Believed To Have Been Detained

Chronicle (Levin), 17 June 1946, Page 5

Several Believed To Have Been Detained

Press Assn

NEW RUMOURS CIRCULATE

By Telegraph

-Copyright

Received Monday, 10.40 a.m. LONDON, June 16. The Siamese police are ' believed to have detained several persons for questioning In connection with the death of King Ananda Mahidol, savs Reuter's Bangkok eorrespondent. ; The Siamese Parliament has elected a permanent Regency Council, which is subject to approval by the new King, Phumiphon Aduldet, and will ' replace the interim Regency formed on June 9. The new Regency consists of the former President of the l^ational Assemhly, j Prince Chainat, and the former ! Speaker, Phy Minavaraj Seviv 1 A diselosure that the Jate King of Siam, Ananda Alahidol, was lying down when he met death, . and experiments with pistols by Allied officers and police, have given l'ise to new ruinours of- fatal eourt intrigues, says the AsS sociated Press eorrespondent at BangExperiments showed the pistol might have been fired elose to the flesh without leaving powder burns. j ,The Siamese have been deeplv concerned about strange events surrounding the Iving's death, throughout tlie ■seven days' preparations for today 's ! funeral. The Police General, Plira Ramindra, told the Siamese Parliament that a bullet pierced the King's liead "and pillow and buried itself deei) in the mattress. i A statement from the Siamese Embassy in London reaffirms that the ! King's death was accidental. The 1 statement gives the substance of a police communique issued after a eonfer ' ence of the Royal Family, tlie Premier j and Afinisters, a firearms' expert and ! medical expert. It examines tlie possi- | bilities, firstly of assassinat ion, second i ly of suieide, and thirdlv of an accideui. I Assassination is ruled out because t ln- ! King was closeiy guarded. There is no , evidence of anv penetration of the j sentry lines. Suieide is rejei-ted because of the King's constantly serene atut happy disposition and the nature of the wounds. The aceident theory is su [> - ported. The statement explains that tlie King was seen previously examining tjie automatic from which the fatal shot was lired. It would seem he onee more inspected the automatic with out che.ekiug whether it was loaded. While i doing so he must have touehed the } trigger and thereby shot himself.