Woolf Joel is killed due to his refusal to kidnap President Paul Kruger

Date: 14 Mar 1898
Updated: 14 Mar 2022

On 14 March 1898, 34 year old Woolf Joel, Barney Barnato's nephew, was shot and killed by Baron Von Veltheim because he refused to assist in kidnapping President Paul Kruger. It was alleged that Von Veltheim had visited Joel at the Brothers Barnato offices, and had suggested a plan to kill President Kruger. When Joel rejected his proposal, he was shot and killed. Von Veltheim was later arrested and jailed for this crime. Source: Crafford, F.S. (1943) Jan Smuts, New York: The Country Life Press Wallis, F. (2000). Nuusdagboek: feite en fratse oor 1000 jaar, Kaapstad: Human & Rousseau

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South African History Online. (2011, March 16). Woolf Joel is killed due to his refusal to kidnap President Paul Kruger. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011179

South African History Online (2011) 'Woolf Joel is killed due to his refusal to kidnap President Paul Kruger', South African History Online, 16 March. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011179 (Accessed: 18 September 2026).

South African History Online, Woolf Joel is killed due to his refusal to kidnap President Paul Kruger [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011179, (accessed 18 September 2026).

"Woolf Joel is killed due to his refusal to kidnap President Paul Kruger." South African History Online, 16 Mar. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011179. Accessed 18 Sept. 2026.

South African History Online. "Woolf Joel is killed due to his refusal to kidnap President Paul Kruger." South African History Online. March 16, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011179.