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Letter from Colonel Sir Lewis Pelly, Baroda to His Lordship Lord Northbrook, Viceroy of India [12r] (13/14)
The record is made up of 7 folios. It was created in 28 Dec 1874. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
Transcription
This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.
( 13 )
Eowjee's statement was taken on 24th, 25tli, and 26th instant. On the 26th
fne Jemadar was brought up for examination before the Governor General's
Agent, and warned that he would make his confession at his own peril, and
without any prospect of pardon. The statement, as described above, was
given by him on these terms. After the recording of his statement he was
allowed to go to dinner in 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.
garden in the custody of two police
men. The garden well being immediately near the spot, he seized an oppor
tunity for springing through a narrow opening in the parapet of the well, and
would have been drowned had not the constables promptly jumped in and
rescued him. He was at once questioned as to his motive by the Governor
General's Agent, and as to whether he had received any ill-usage. He empha
tically denied any bad treatment, and attributed his attempted suicide to shame
and remorse.
On the 25th instant the belt of the
peon
A low-ranking infantryman, orderly or assistant (South Asian context).
Howjee was carefully examined,
and in it, in a pocket made by a slit in the cloth concealed under the loop of
the cross belt, was found a packet containing a white powder, which Ilowjee
indentifies as above stated.
The late Eesident, Colonel Phayre, had, immediately after the attempt to
poison him, arrested Rowjee, and his belt had then been given to another man,
who has worn it ever since. The packet of powder is very small, and would
not have been discovered by any one who was not informed of the secret
pocket.
Yeshwuntrao and Salum have both been apprehended. Both say they
know nothing of any of the facts deposed to. On the statements being read
to them, each evinced intense nervous distress.
J. B. RICHEY,
Assistant Resident.
28M December 1874.
About this item
- Content
Letter regarding the confession of the Jemadar to the attempted poisoning of Colonel Robert Phayre and enclosing a résumé (ff 9v-12) of the corroborative evidence that has come to light following the confession, as well as reporting that the Commissioner of Police (Frank Henry Souter) is proceeding to Bombay with the evidence to seek the opinion of Andrew Scoble, Advocate-General on whether the evidence could be the result of a conspiracy.
The letter goes on to provide a further summary of the general state of affairs in Baroda under the headings Change of Ministry; The Sirdars Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. ; the Question of Alienation; Revenue; and Finance, and to conclude that the financial situation is now manageable and that all outstanding questions can be resolved with good administration.
The résumé on the evidence of the attempted poisoning was written by James Bellett Richey, Assistant Resident, and also dated 28 December 1874. The résumé describes the police enquiry into the attempted poisoning, the evidence acquired from witnesses and interviews with those alleged to be involved in conspiracies, and the discovery of the packet containing the poison in a belt belonging to the servant who had placed the poison in Colonel Phayre's glass.
The verso The back of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'v'. of the last folio of the letter contains a 'statement of arrears of the revenue of all the Mahals from Kartik Sudh 1st Sumvut 1930 to Asso Vud 30th Sumvut 1930' ( c .1873-4) .
- Extent and format
- 7 folios
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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Letter from Colonel Sir Lewis Pelly, Baroda to His Lordship Lord Northbrook, Viceroy of India [12r] (13/14), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, Mss Eur F126/83, ff 6-12, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023467455.0x000018> [accessed 11 July 2026]
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Copyright: How to use this content
- Reference
- Mss Eur F126/83, ff 6-12
- Title
- Letter from Colonel Sir Lewis Pelly, Baroda to His Lordship Lord Northbrook, Viceroy of India
- Pages
- 6r:12v
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence