Foreigner Held in Custody on Trifling Charge: Released when Legation Notified Peking, Aug. 17.
The arrest by Chinese police on Thursday evening of Mr. Eric Thunder, son of Mr. Charles Thunder, architect, has aroused no little comment among foreigners in the Capital. The circumstances are as under As the young man was cycling to his home at Paomachang and turning from Wall Street into Shunchihmen Ta Chieh, a boy dashed across the street, with the result that he and the bicycle met. The boy was more shaken than hurt and the policeman on duty did not take a serious view of the incident, for he did not attempt to detain Mr. Thunder. Before the latter moved off a military officer in a motor car, with the usual guard on the footboard, stopped, and insisted upon the policeman arresting the young foreigner. This was done, and Mr. Eric Thunder was taken to the police station near by.
He was not allowed to telephone to his parents, and was badgered by the officer to admit his guilt. The threat was added that if he did not do so he would be detained for 24 hours. Finally he succeeded in getting through on the telephone to his father, who communicated with the British Legation. The latter in turn telephoned the police station, but by that time the authorities were apprised of what had been done and had apparently hastened to release their prisoner.—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.