LORD NUFFIELD

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 May 1938, Page 5

LORD NUFFIELD

ALLEGED KIDNAPPING INCIDENT. SOME DETAILS REGARDING ARRESTED MAN. LONDON. May 26. Despite police reticence, the Press Association learns that John Bruce Thornton, who was arrested in connection with an alleged threat to Lord Nuffield, is aged 50. His address is Yacht Pierette, Pinmil, Ipswich. A cablegram from London on May 25 read: — While Lord Nuffield was working late in his private office at Oxford, a saloon car drove up and two men entered the office and are reported to have ordered him to enter the car. Mr R. Kennerley Rumford, the singer, a friend of Lord Nuffield who lives near Oxford, was in an adjoining room. Hearing voices, he telephoned for the police, who surrounded the building. Two men were later taken to the police station. Subsequently John Bruce Thornton was charged by a special court at Oxford police station with being in possession of firearms with intent to endanger life. The police refused to divulge anything beyond his name. Owing to Lord Nuffield's silence, it is difficult to ascertain exactly what happened to the two men who entered Lord Nuffield’s office. It is believed that the police stopped a car in the main street of Oxford and arrested Thornton, who was the only occupant. Thornton apparently had not entered the works and had not even seen Lord Nuffield. It was learned that Lord Nuffield had recently received a number of threatening letters. ANOTHER gift. LONDON HOSPITAL BENEFITS. LONDON, May 26. Lord Nuffield has given £lO,OOO to the London Hospital to be used in the X-ray diagnosis department.