The World - News from Jan. 11, 1988

The Church of England said it is embarrassed about apparently having been duped by two British men who claimed they had access to the kidnapers of church envoy Terry Waite. But church spokesman John Lyttle said that paying $21,600 to the men was an acceptable risk. The two purportedly were to reach Lebanese contacts who supposedly knew the kidnapers, but the meeting never took place. Lyttle stopped short of admitting that the church had been defrauded but said: “It smells like a sting.” Lyttle reiterated that the money was for travel and other expenses--not for ransom. Waite disappeared in Beirut almost a year ago.