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Teacher Slain in Palestine: Police Officer Convicted in Smuggling Plot

June 23, 1939
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An official communique today blamed “unknown Jewish assassins” for the fatal shooting of Valentine Bach, Haifa English teacher and army translator, whose bullet-riddled body was found this morning near his home in the Haifa Bayside district.

The communique said Bach, who was believed to have been an immigrant from the United States, was slain in connection with the arrest and sentencing of Abraham Kotik last October on charges of carrying a satchel leaded with dynamite and ammunition. Bach had participated in the arrest but had testified for the defense. Kotik was sentenced by a military court to death, but the sentence later was commuted to life imprisonment. Bach was 30 years old. He leaves a widow and one child.

British Police Inspector Harry Goddard was found guilty today of charges that he had helped smuggle Jews into Palestine and was sentenced to probation of two years on a bond of £200. In sentencing him, District Judge Bernard V. Shaw explained that he had taken into account his previous good record and the police methods used in uncovering the smuggling conspiracy.

Near Ramleh, 22 miles from Jerusalem, a Jewish automobile was assailed with a volley of stones. Two occupants were injured, including the violinist Andreas Weissgerber.

Vice-Admiral Sir Andrew Cunningham, Commander-in-Chief of the Mediterranean fleet, landed at Haifa this morning from the battleship Warspite and immediately left by plane. for Jerusalem.

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