NEWS BY MAIL.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 August 1926, Page 1

NEWS BY MAIL.

KIDNAPPED BY BOOTLEGGERS.

NEW YORK, June 14. The British Government, through Sir Esme Howard, the Ambassador at Washington, lias moved to extradite the crew of an American rum runner charged with “shanghai-ing” George Pindar, a Negro constable from Nassau, Bahamas, and with failure to pay Customs duties and clear the vessel properly and otherwise observe port regulations. The unusual story of Pindar’s kidnapping was revealed when the crew of the vessel, which was seized, while attempting to land an illicit cargo in New York Harbour, were arraigned yesterday. ' Pindar, who had returned from Nassau to confront his kidnappers, after identifying the captain and 12 of the crew, explained that he had been ordered aboard tlie vessel to see that she was detained until tlie duty on her 38,000 cases of liquor, containing 12,000 gallons of alcohol was paid. As he climbed aboard lie was clubbed into unconsciousness and when he recovered liis senses the vessel was at sea. He was repeatedly threatened with death if lie interfered with the liootleggers’ plans, and when the vessel landed part of its cargA at Edgewater. New Jersey, he was given money to pay liis return passage to Nassau. Although the Federal Attorney, on behalf of the British Ambassador, asked that high bail should be fixed because of the gravity of the charges, Commissioner O’Neill sustained the contention of tlie counsel for the crew that since extradition papers were xt formally presented, nominal bail should be continued until tlie men are brought to trial next week.

LOVE AND BOLSHEVISM. RIGA, July 1. The Estonian Government is concerned over the disappearance of M. Birk, its diplomatic representative in Moscow. He is reported to have left Moscow for Paris after banding over many important documents to the Soviet Government. The Estonians noticed that liis reports about the Bolsheviks were very kind in tone, land decided to recall him for investigation. NT. Birk refused to return to Reval and disappeared shortly before his successor arrived in Moscow. The secret archives of the Estonian Legation have now l>een returned to Reval for examination. M. Birk was recently involved in a love affair with a beautiful girl connected with the Cheka, who enticed him over to the Communist side. Because 'of further developments Estonia proposes to change the entire staff of its Moscow Legation.