KIDNAPPED.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXII, Issue 8964, 5 November 1907, Page 1

KIDNAPPED.

I A story similar to that of the pur- } suit of the moonstone in 'Wilkie Collin’s famous novel, is reported in the English papers. According to the story told hy Bombardier Warren, of the Royal Garrison Artillery, he and some companions removed a valuable stone from a Hindoo temple in Hyderabad twelve year:, ago and sold it. As lie was cycling from Aldershot to Gosport recently he was stopped by some men in a motor car and asked whether they were on the road to Portsmouth. One of the men was a Hindu. As lie was looking ovei“ a map to direct them, he was struck on the head, and he remembered no more until lie woke in the cabin of a vessel. A Hindu entered presently and asked him to produce the stone he had stolen at Hyderabad. Warren said he had sold it, on which the Indian became angry and told him he was a liar. When the Indian had gone, Warren found that thes3 was with him in the cabin one of his companions in the temple adventure. The men were well treated. They found a hammer, removed the frame of the port hole, managed to get through the opening, and were picked up by a picket boat. But before the picket boat could get to the vessel, the alarm was given, and the vessel steamed away. Such is the story. The police deny it, but the denial only deepens the mystery. Warren’s death and funeral were reported in a local paper. It was stated that his body had been found on the <road, and that he had evidently been knocked down by a motor car. It is also stated that the deathof his companion' in captivity was reported in a Camberwell paper, that both reports were in the same writing, and that copies of the papers were sent to friends of the men. On his return Warren was charged with desertion, but it is stated that on tolling his story, he was releasd. An officer under whom lie was working gives him a splendid character, and says that his story was unshaken by cross-examination. A comrade says that Warren had a curious habit of looking behind him quickly,|as if in fearing attack. When chaffed Warren said; “I do fear it; and once I was followed in -Jamaica by Hindus, who tried to knife me. ” It would bo interesting to know whether Warren’s recent reading included either “The Moonstone” or The “Mystery of Colomber,” that gruesome story of Indian revenge.