BAND TRAGEDIES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 141, 7 November 1914, Page 6

BAND TRAGEDIES.

JdiOTOii ttAN'DITS' VICTQIB. SHOOTiNU OF BK J.A RJEY,

Johannesburg, says tins Star of 18th September, mis been stunned by the ncv,» of another murder to add to the biaek account of Un; motor bandits and by two shock >:i|» sequels—the fatal shooting by ponce p;U:'i)is of two innocunt citizens,, Dr. (iraee, of .Spring, and Seimtor General l)e J.a Key .The appalhng list of tragedies now comprise livu victims —Police-Sergeant Xcil McLood, Police-Sergeant Robert Alanshold, Detective Mynott, f.1.D.; Dr Grace, of Springs, Senator General Do La Key. The harrowing story, which reached Buth a heart-rending climax last night, commenced with the cold-blooded murders of Sergeants McLeod and Mansfield, in this i'airview district on Saturday night. In the execution of their duty they had disturbed fh.s operations of a notorious gang of criminals who were out for the plunder of battle stores. The men, too, were these who are suspected of having been responsible for tho attempted Lank iol> bery and the murder of the man who disturbed them 'at Boksburg North a few weeks ago. The murderous gang escaped from Fairview early on Sunday morning on a motor cycle. At tile ivoee-a c! the police photographs wore published in th.- newspapers oi the tiivee. men wanted—ltoliei t Ward Jack-, on, aims Foster; John Ma\:m, ajias Maxwell; and Carl Mezar, alius George. S::iit. Armed detectives and police seouii -i suspccleil districts in \ain search, hat yesterday afternoon information was received' at MarshallKi|i!are police station to the idled that the motor hiuidits were believed to 1)0 in a home at Regent';; P;irk Acting on this report, Detcethe Mynott, one of the most able and trusted members of the detect.ve force, was sent out to investigate, and lie took out with him Detectives .Yiu.phy and Layde. Apparently, alter enquiries in the district, uetvetive Mynott located the house where the men were supposed to be. Mynott and Murphy, it is stated, after knocking lit the door, walked through tho uoiise, but could not see anyone. They went round (he hack ol the house, and it win after ibis that they encountered the motor car and it* oteupanU. Foster was at the aide, -of the car, and either m the car of getting in were Mrs Foster and child and the other two wanted men, Maxim and Mezar. Mynott went |,ii.-migli all the regular formula with Foster, following his order of '"Hands up." Foster had his back to him, and while thus conie:eu by Mynott asked who he was. .'.ljiiott had hardly got out his reply ihat lie was L). tective. iluiott when Foster tinned ro'iiid suddenly and fired .ni.o the oi'liccr's stomach. Mynott dropped to the ground, and expired within a few minutes. A duel piocieih-u ■;.■,.>•. ecu Murphy an i Foster, withe ila.vm started up the ear. Layde. who had got over a back fiiuv., also joined in. The exchange of shots however, «ns . Ivuit.ess. Itoth police ollicers emptied their revolvers;, j'.nd then whiie .'..urp.'iv ran fur assistance the. cur dashed forwaul, and the deperadocs, with ihe woman and child, made away. The siio;.-king i tcqiielH of I)r Grace and General Do' J.a Key resulted from the, orders given to the. police in all districts to hold up cars, and if they did not atop at the challenge u> lire. Dr Grace, who was accompanied by his » wife, was returning from Johannesburg ,[ to (Springs after 'nightfall, and was j travel ing along the dip which leads to -' the Simmer and Jack p'u illation, when . he was challenged by two mounted men. .lie was called en by a police patrol to . stop, but either misunderstood the sig- : mil or did not hear it. owing to the '■ high wind prevailing. The .patrol fired, ; the ear stopped, and the terrible dis- i coverv was made that the innocent vie. " tim of one of the police bullets was Dv ■ Grace.

The second appalling tragedy—the shooting of General IV La Key—took place i" the Langsaatc district. In this ease also the challenges of police patrols were either not heard or were disregarded. General Re La Roy was travelling in a ear driven by a chauffeur, and aeeonrrianicd bv Tirigadic: General IVycrs. When tin- police challenge-! wore "of. ansv.ercd. despite repeated warnings, she • -.cov liivd. and then it wan disi-ovon-.: Ihal General lie La Rev had been kilted. The motor-ear m which Generals 1)--T.» Rev and Beyers w.-v.- being driven when Ccnoral ])o La Ley was fn'.elishot was in charge of General Beyers" order!',-. Trooper I a men Andrew Wagner of tile RWI Mounted Riih-s. 'l'll, pari,\ left Pretoria about 7 j>.m.. arid at about !i p.m. llle.y passed through Kordsbarg anil along the Langslaato-'oa'.!. The two generals were sitting i;i the bac~ scat.'

When near Langsltiate rdntin:; tin vc was u severe sand storm Mowing. Two foot policemen at the point' he!;! -.>.; i their rifles and shouted •■-ho;;." The car was travelling at about thirty miles an hour, and neither the chauffeur nor his passengers could understand what was happening, and no heed s"ems to nave been paid to the police ehalletise There was a report of a shot, and at the same moment another policeman put his Imyonot into the spokes of tho wheel. Tiie bullet int. the ground. rit'Oelietted and rent its way throuiih. the steel framework and the I'nintt and bit General Do Lay Key low down in the buck. General Reyors s><id smrneihia-r to the effect that General ))u La Key had been shot, and when the car was pulled'up the body of the unfortunate general was twitchimr and eras b- ! -i?

supported by his companion. The chauffeur, at the Mijrovstion of some people who had eonerctratcd. drove to the. fountain llV'iel. but by Hip time it. was reached the unfortunate .:;i'r.eral had expired. The bodv was taken to Fordshur" .police station. Dr Mcintosh was sent for, but. the sjenernl wan thru past all human aid. The body was then taken to the mortuary.

KAM)ITS IM'V TO EAKTIT.. The m<'.mb;>r.s of the Jackson nanp' of criminals, who were, indirect!-, i,lie cause of f!i« tragic de;;th of General IX' !.a Key, were brought to bay in a cave in the Mast Rand by the poli'ee. o:i tile ISih foptcn-.bcr. The police called on the outlaw!; io surrender, and they olfered to deliver their arms to .fac!--Jin's wife. The! woman then entered the cave, and w.'Ls shot dead by her husband. •(auburn and 'his Uvu accomplices thereupon eoaimJttcd suicide .