Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-03-05
CHINESE ROBBERS KILL
MEDICAL MISSIONARY
Rev. DIR, Albert Leroy Shell
ton, of Christian Church,
Murdered in Thibct.
HAD UNDERGONE AN OPERATION
Meets Death February II, but Near
est Telegraph station Fifteen Days
Journey Fr,m Bn;nnS, Thus the
Delay In Sending News.
EPv Associated Press. ]


Albert Leroy shelton. medical mis-
sionary of the Disciples OF Christ
Christian church,. who was tn.
first Christian missionary TO 10. al
kidnapped and held by Chinese bri-
gands sixty days, two years ago, was
murdered by Chinese robbers Feb
ruary - last, il was announced here
today.
The announcement vas by tn"
United Christian Missionary Society.
which received a cablcgram from
the Rev mr.. W. NJ Hardy. also =
medical missionary in China. which
read
Robbers killed shelton near Ra-
tang. February Il. Notify girls"
Daughter, I'm California.
The Eirls referred TO are Or Shel-
tons daughters. Dorothy. II, ana
Doris. IL. who are attending school
In Pomona. Cal.
Or. Sheltons headquarters were mt
SatanG. near Thibet. and Dr. HnrdyS
blcgram was from I.ikauE the
nearest telegraph station. fifteen
day journey, and this. IL was cx-
planned, is responsible for The delay
in news Of the murder
Although Thihet has not been open
TO missionaries, pr. shelton de-
parted from Vancouver last August
TO open hospital al LlIasa. Ho
had received written invitation
from the Dalai Lama. the suprem"
power OF the MohRmmedan Church
in tho province to establish tho hos
pital. in recognition Of his work
among Thihetan soldiers
The last word received from DR.
Shelton vas when he was hftcor
days journey ont OF Ratanc. whom
he said he expected to reach Ratarr
December q, The theory OF the mis-
sionary society hero is tina, he reach
cd BatanE on scheduled time.
35-Dny Trip by Caravan
Lliasa is thirty-hve-day trip ny
caravan from Ratang. and It IS not
believed tho time between Decomhor
% and February - was sufficient TO
allow him to organize the caravan.
Consequently II is believed II" was
killed while on side trip alon.
administering 70 the sick
The theory OF his safe arrival I'm
Ratang is the fact that no one else
is reported murdered. His wife ala
not accompany him TO Rntang. nu,
went to Calcutta To obtain transla-
lions OF tho Scripture In tho Thihe,an
tongue.
In his party were Mr. and Mrs. !
X, Morse and their small child. of
Tulsa. Okla, and Mr.. and Mrs NJ
II. Duncan. Of buffalo. who were en-
tcrinS the mission field
'Dr. Shelton was I'm ST. Louis in
October Of 1920 attending a convrn-
ton or the church and related his
experiences while a captive Of tho
brigands.
Ruler Granted Request.
He stated he had been endcavoriuc
for years TO get the ruler ~ Tribe,
10 lift the Kan on foreigners 90 H.
could enter and pursue his work. ana
hnaliN the Dalai Lama had EXPRESSED
Willingness TO grant the request.
~" prepared to make the tourney 10
hibet ana ne conducted his wife and
daughters on forty-seven-dny trim
to point near railroad station
where they were to 20 on 10 tho
coast whore living conditions were
better. while he was TO return to
Batang
The missionaries refused to sane
ton efforts to ransom him SAYING
''''''''' N'A'i Ift'i 40 ln'' kldna
or all mission~-ies Chinese troope
hnally routed tho .brigands. and IN.
hectne kidnapcrs abandoned ~.
shelton because he had become sick
He was found ny rescue marty
which Included Fred s. smith, :,
chicago newspaper man Or Sh.l
ton was born In Indianapolis Juno
p 1878. His parents moved to Kan
sas when he was years o'd. II.
attended the graded schools ana a
normal school and hogan teaching
when re was u years old During
the war with Spain he enlisted In
Company II OF tho Twenty second
Kansas Regiment but did not 500
active service. Aft.r the. war hc
married Miss Flo Seal a, Parsons.
Kan.
The year following his marriage
No obtained scholarship in III.
medical department Of the Cniver-
si'y OF Kentucky. i completed four
year course there. he received an
appointment from IN" United chris
uon MISSIONARY society as Md
cal missionary TO China n. Wa
FIRST stationed at THehicuiu. hut IN
-'os ne was transferred to Ba;anc