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Brithish Widen Search for Escaped Officer Charged with Murdering Palestine Youth

June 24, 1947
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Five high-ranking British police officers left today for Baghdad following a report that Maj. Roy Farran, who escaped from a Jerusalem detention barracks last week, had fled to Iraq.

Meanwhile, intensive searches are being continued in Palestine. Major H.H. Ferguson, who commanded the barracks from which Farran escaped, has been placed under house arrest for not ordering an immediate search when he was informed of the escape of the former commando officer and acting assistant superintendent of police, who is charged with directing and participating in the abduction and probable murder of 17-year-old Alexander Rubovitz, alleged Sternist.

Police squads today questioned a group of Bedouins who were camped last month at Wadi Kelt, midway between Jerusalem and the Dead Sea, to whom Farran is rumored to have turned over Rubovitz’ body for burial, after the youth died from mistreatment at the hands of Farran.

As the authorities probe deeper into the Farran case, they are uncovering more information concerning the fascist “British Military Organization,” a Mosleyite outfit which has apparently secured a strong foothold in the Palestine police and military forces. The group distributes anti-Jewish leaflets and pamphlets and has threatened to blow up the offices of the Jewish Agency and the Palestine Post. It is believed to be responsible for the blasting of the Agency’s information office several months ago. Some of its leaflets have urged troops to take individual action against the Jews, particularly terrorists.

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