Evening star., 1925-08-14
BLUFF BY PALMER
COST HIM HIS LIFE
American Slain by Chinese
Bandits Killed While Trying
to Frighten Outlaws.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
HARDIN, Manchuria. August IA
Morgan Palmer. the American who
was killed by Chinese bandits at his
ranch on the Sungari River last
month met death while staging a
warlike demonstration intended 10
frighten away the bandits.
This news was brought To Harbin
yesterday by Palmer's mother and
the son Of DR.. Harvey J. Howard of
the Rockefeller Hospital in Peking
who were at the ranch at the time
DR.. Howard, who also was visiting
Palmer, was captured by the bandits
and still is held for ransom.
Mrs. Palmer. relating the details of
the fight, said that her son. rising
early on the morning of July 20. de
clared his intention To take guns and
go by automobile TO show the bandits
he was prepared for them if they
should attack his ranch. DR.. Howard
had intended to take a river steamer
for Harbin that day. but joined
Palmer's party with his son. The
others were Russian chauffeur.
Palmer's Chinese servant and a Rus
sian boy.
Send Back for Help.
Arriving at the village adjacent TO
the bandits stronghold, the party
got out and sent the car back for
reinforcementS, but the Chinese guard
in the village refused to accompany
the party. Harold Baldwin, Palmer's 5
ranch manager. returned with the
chauffeur and tried to prevent further
advance. knowing the bandits were
well armed and mounted.
Palmer, however. insisted on going
on, He led his party 10 a ruined tenn
pie. miles from his ranch and mid
way between two villages. Baldwin
climbed to the top of the temple to
recOnnoiter. Palmer. DR.. Howard and
the Chinese and Russian boys entered
nearby cornfield. while young How
ard remained alone in the car.
From the top of the temple Baldwin
saw the bandits mount and prepare to
make a sortie. He descended and
started the car in pursuit of Palmey
and his group and at the same time
the bandits made a move to cut off
their retreat, whereupon Baldwin
swerved TO pick up others of the
party, who from the running board
of the automobile carried on a run
ming fire while making a dash for the
ranch.
Palmer Fights to Last.
Meanwhile Palmer and those with
him were encircled by another group
of bandit horsemen. DR.. Howard and
the Russian boy threw down their
rifles and made signs of surrender, but
Palmer and his Chinese servant con
tinued firing
According TO the Russian youth.
the bandits dismounted and crept up
behind Palmer. Indian fashion, shoot
ing him through the head at close
range, and then killed the Chinese boy
in a similar way.
Later the outlaws sent messengers
to the Palmer ranch demanding money
and ammunition. The defenders there
who had gathered around Palmer's
mether collected all the available
funds and cartridges and went to
make terms for the release of the
prisoners who had surrendered, but
found the bandits had decamped
The Russian boy was found in the
village where he had been carried,
suffering from gunshot wounds IN
both thighs. The captors had per-
mitted DR.. Howard to apply first aid
Morgan Palmer's body was re-
covered and buried under a great oak
near the ranch house together with
that of the Chinese boy, whom Palmer
held in great affection. Howard
baldwin read the Episcopal service at
the funeral
DR.. Howard's captors crossed the
Sungari River, foiling the efforts Of
Chinese troops to encircle them. and
now are believed to be in the Kirin
Mountain district.
Samuel Sokobin. American consul
at nukden; Howard Baldwin and
Roger Greene. business director of
the Rockefeller Hospital, are remain
ing at Funchin pending efforts to To-
cate DR.. Howard and bring about his
release, Funchin is $50 miles from
Harbin and 20 miles from the Palmer
ranch.