393.1111 Stam, John C./26: Telegram
The Consul General at Nanking (Peck) to the Secretary of State
Nanking, January 3,
1935—noon.
[Received January 3—9:50 a.m.]
[Received January 3—9:50 a.m.]
1. My December 24, 5 p.m. [to the Legation.]96
- (1)
- Atcheson returned from Wuhu last night after Stam funeral which was attended by Wuhu administrative superintendent (on own volition) and by secretary of Kuangson Young. Young was not present but sent wreath. Japanese Consul and Japanese gunboat commander attended.
- (2)
- Stam’s two servants, a cook-boy and amah, had arrived at Wuhu and were questioned on January [1?] for 7 hours by Atcheson who took sworn statements. Amah testified that Tsingteh magistrate sent chairman [of] Tsingteh Chamber of Commerce at 8 a.m. December 6 to warn Stams to leave at once but Stam refused to believe danger near and, against servants urging, delayed preparation for departure until too late, communist bandits entering city shortly after 10 a.m. She said she heard others of household say that meantime two further messengers came from magistrate’s yamen to warn them but she did not see those messengers. Cook testified that Chamber of Commerce chairman arrived at Stam residence 8 a.m. at behest of magistrate and merely warned Stam to be on guard because Reds had been only some 15 or 20 miles distant night before and to leave “if rumors should become alarming”, but Stam replied “wait a while”; that although cook urged Stam to leave at once no preparations for departure were made until about 10:30 a.m. when city gates were closed following return to Tsingteh of yamen spy who reported Reds 3 miles away; that meantime at 10 magistrate sent soldiers to warn Stams to leave at once and 20 minutes after sent member of personal bodyguard on same errand; that no Chinese forces were now available and that at 11 a.m. Reds entered city without real resistance as there being only some 60 paoantui and 30 local militia in Tsingteh.
- (3)
- Although magistrate himself escaped, China Inland Mission at Wuhu feels that he did his best in way of warning Stams.
- (4)
- Examination of bodies by Methodist Hospital American physician and Atcheson revealed that although both had been practically decapitated reports of further mutilation made by evangelist Lo were incorrect, supposition being Lo mistook blood stains and operation scar for wounds (see paragraph 4 of my December 24, 5 p.m.). Mrs. Stam’s body showed few small bruises on chest and thigh which might have been caused by falling; wrists of both bodies were bruised as if [Page 490] by having been bound; but there was no mutilation of either body other than decapitation.
- (5)
- Full report, including sworn statements of servants, affidavits of identification and coroner’s verdict follows.
Peck