BRIGAND’S CAPTIVE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8848, 26 June 1907, Page 4

BRIGAND’S CAPTIVE.

The following additional particulars regarding the recent kidnapping of Mir Robert Abbott are furnished by Reuter’s Uskub correspondent:— When returning homo at'about 10 o’clock on the evening of March 21st Mr Abbott had just_ entered the garden and was within a few' steps of his father’s door when In was attacked by live or six men. One of these ho partially stunned with a blow on the side of the head another he put hors de combat by a kick in the abdomen while a third had one of his fingers severely bitten while trying to force a gag into Mr Abbott’s mouth. But the victim was speedily overpowered; one of the brigands sat upon his head and at this moment they seem to have administered chloroform as Mr Abbott lost consciousness and continued in a half dazed condition soufforiug from nausea for two days afterwards. He was half carried gagged and blindfolded for some distance and thrown into a house where he immediately fell into a deep sleep. The following night; he was removed to another house apparently at a considerable distance as the walk was a long one, thougli there is nothing to prove that the walk was in a straight line or that he was far from Salonika. Here he was kept confined for 36 days and nights in a room from iwhich daylight was excluded," hut which was lighted by a Ijmp, which was kept burning day and night. Communication was opened by the band by a letter which was found on April - 6th in Mr Abbott’s garden at Salonika. In this letter Mr"] Robert Abbott informed his father that the band demanded a ransom of £.33,600. A postscript, which the brigand chief added, threatened that the death or mutilation of the prisoner would follow a refusal to pay or any attempt to play false with the baud. Negotiations were begun, and reached a stage at which it became clear that any further delay would he dangerous for the prisoner, as- well as_ for the messenger employed by Mr" Abbott, whose life had been threatened unless he returned with a categorical acceptance of the demands made by the brigands. The Turkish authorities declining to pay even the reduced sum of £13,600, at which the ransom had ultimately been fixed, the sum was furnished by the British Consul-General, who had been duly authorised to that effect. The money, was sent from Salonika on the evening of April 35th, under an escort of four armed men, and was handed over to the brigands at a point among the hills four or five miles from Salonika, More than 20 brigands were seen on this occasion. In conversation witli Mr Abbott’s messenger, the brigand chief said that the money would iu no sense he thrown away, as it would ensure l : fj-loug happiness to a score of honest families. The hand insisted on detaining their prisoner for two days after the moneys was paid, iu order to have time to get the money out of the wry, and as a guarantee again.' t pursi it. "On the evening of April 36th they informed Mr Abbott tint ho would he set at liberty. They gave him hack his boots and a few valuables that had been taken from him at the time of his capture at the same time they made him a present of £2O Turkish. This was according to brigand use and "wont. That night they made a long march and rested the following day, on the evening of which they again started, and walked till about 11 o’clock, when they finally removed the bandage from their prisoner’s eyes, saying that he was at liberty, arid not far from Salonika. The brigands then departed, each of them kissing Mr Abbott’s hand by way of farewell. On gaining the summit of the nearest ridge he could see the lights of Salonika; he stumbled on in the moonlight, and reached home about half-past three iu the morning.