CHINESE TROUBLE

Hokitika Guardian, 7 February 1930, Page 5

CHINESE TROUBLE

BANDITS’ ALLEGED MURDER

United Press Association—By Electric 1 eiog rapii—Copy ngh tj.

(Received ’this day at 10 a.m.)

SHANGHAI, Feb. 6

What is regai ded as conclusive evidence of murder at the bands of uantlils, of D. F. Pike, Australian missionary attached to the China-Ifi-lancl Mission since 1902, was discovered iiv anothcji- missionary, Crofts, who conducted a lengthy search in the territory in tlie vicinity of Kweichow, which is infested bv robbers.

The search resulted in the finding of Pike’s horse and saddle in the possession of 'a bandit gang, who were arrested by tlie authorities. Crofts reported that the same gang confessed to participating in the. capture of Fixe, but denied knowledge of his whereabouts. The search led Crofts to a village in precipitous gorges where a Moslem woman reported seeing; a foreigner standing in the midst of a band of robbers in the market place of Chingsban, with his hands tied, bareheaded and preaching the gospel in fluent Chinese. The people wished, to assist the stranger but were afraid of the bandits who later earied their victim off. Croft continued the search which resulted in finding villagers, iyho described Pike’s death. Still, preaching the gospel he was taken to a lonely rock overlooking a rushing current and shot through the heart, his body Tailing into the river. The authorities, deny the story.