'Baroda Enquiry Commission Report, 1874' [‎117r] (238/502)

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61
SCHEDULE No. III.— continued.
Memo.
Upon all this evidence, as also upon what
subsequently passed at an interview
which Ihad withbothH.H.the Gaekwar
and the Minister upon this case, I
formed the judgment that the object
of both of them was not only to repu
diate all State responsibility for certain
claims put forward by the firm, but by
attacking its valuable property to secure
a considerable sum of ready cash alleged
to be due to the State^ which sum the
head of the firm said he would pay if
on going thoroughly into the accounts
it was proved to be due by him.
This was often promised but never per
formed, and the attachment was con
tinned, because without a full settlement
of accounts and the recognition on the
part of the State of their bond fide re
sponsibilities, the firm would not have
had money enough to meet the demands
of their creditors, on resuming business,
16 G B
service to transact business of my own. I arrived at Baroda
last September as the Agent of Motilall Samul in the case
now under inquiry. We understood that Colonel Shorty the
then Resident, required an Agent in the case. I saw Colonel
Shortt on the day of my arrival, and he referred me to the
Durbar A public or private audience held by a high-ranking British colonial representative (e.g. Viceroy, Governor-General, or member of the British royal family). for the settlement of accounts. I went and saw His
Highness ; it was too late, and accounts were not settled then,
but His Highnesss told me that I must settle accounts with
the Furnees, and that the Sirkar would not forego their just
claims. Some Vakeels and others called out that Govern
ment should have their rights. I then said that in order to
settle the accounts I ought to have certain papers connected
with the accounts, and His Highness ordered the Fouzdar to
give such papers as I required after taking my receipt for
them. Next day, I got memoranda of the State Loan and
current accounts. The third day, I went to the Furnees, as
the Maharajah ordered me. I was accompanied by Motilall
Purshotum and Bhicajee Punt. I asked the Furnees what
account had to be settled. The Furnees asked what I had to
say about the Rs. 50,000. I said that he was not entitled
to the Rs. 60,000, and that he had no paper or document to
support his claim of Rs. 50,000 against us, and that the deci
sion had already been given in our favour by Khunderao
Maharajah. The Karkoon of the Furnees then asked me three
times whether I was going to give credit for Rs. 60,000 or
not ? I said that it was not legal, and therefore that I could
not do so. He then told me I must come to Wussuntram Bhow.
We went to him., and Wussuntram Bhow, without any refer
ence to the Rs, 50,000, said : " your master has agreed to
pass a note for Rs. 1,52,000, so you had better do so, other
wise your Shett will be ruined." I said that if my Shett had
agreed to that there was no reason for my coming. He then
told me that I ought to persuade the Shett to pass a note for
1| lacs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees when it would be good for him. I then said that my
master was not a child that I could prevail on him to pass
such an unjust note. I then took leave. On leaving he
desired me to think of the matter and to answer next day.
Early next day I was sent for by Wussantram, and I went with
Motilall Purshotum and Bhicajee. When we went we were
referred to the Furnees, and when we went to the Furnees we
were referred back to Wussuntram. That day passed in that
way. I always reported what happened to Colonel Shortt,
and he told me to go back and tell the Durbar A public or private audience held by a high-ranking British colonial representative (e.g. Viceroy, Governor-General, or member of the British royal family). to settle the
accounts. I was called on the third day and all three of us were
taken upstairs to His Highness' bed-room, where threats were
used by Wussuntram Bhow to induce us to persuade our Master
to sign for 11 lacs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees . I refused: at about 11 a.m. that day we then
were told not to go home ; that we were to be detained in
custody in the Court of the Senaputti under a guard of peons.
We said we were hungry at one o'clock when we were allowed
to go home with two peons to get our dinner. Whilst thus
engaged I managed to send a note to the Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. to inform
Colonel Shortt how I was situated. After this we had to
return to our place of confinement, and at 7 p.m. we were
allowed to go for our supper guarded by two peons.
After supper we were taken before the present Minister, Siva-
jeerao Khondelkur. We then learnt that he had received a
note from Colonel Shortt about us. The Minister asked us.
why we complained to Colonel Shortt ; that we were merely
detained for the settlement of accounts and were not confined.
I said that Wussuntram did confine us. He denied it.
We were then told to go,