Enclosures of letter to Her Majesty's Secretary of State for India, No.11, dated 15 January 1875: Nos. 3 to 45 of Abstract of Contents, from the Officiating Under-Secretary to the Government of India, Fort William [‎89r] (77/100)

talking about him, the child, and if any objection was likely to be raised with
regard to his legitimacy. The Maharaja asked me to do what I could in the
matter ; but I told him that I could not help him. I was with the Maharaja
for about half an hour on this occasion, and returned to my home at the
Presidency The name given to each of the three divisions of the territory of the East India Company, and later the British Raj, on the Indian subcontinent. with my servant boy about 10 o'clock at night. About two or three
days after this visit Salim came to my house at the Hesidency and gave me
Ilupees 50. I am quite familiar with the Maharaja Gaekwar's appearance,
as I have often seen him during his visit to the Resident, and on one occasion
when the Gaekwar's family came to visit Mrs. Phayre, the Maharaja was in
the room when I happened to be called in and made my salaam. He was then
sitting quite close, and I saw him distinctly, and it w^as the same person before
whom I was taken and conversed with during each of my three visits to the
Hawalee.
The Kazee of Chandore, who was in the habit of frequenting the Resi
dency, particularly when the llevd. Mr. Taylor used to be on a visit, in
formed me about a month before the attempt to poison Colonel Phayre that the
Resident's butler, Pedroo, and Rowjee, havildar Custodian; police sergeant; jail or prison guard. of peons, were in great favor
with the Maharaja, and that they had agreed to administer poison, but they
did not say to whom.
Kurreem Naik also told me about a month before the attempt to poison the
Resident, that he had heard from a person in high position that Pedroo, butler,
and Rowjee, havildar Custodian; police sergeant; jail or prison guard. , had consented to administer poison.
Taken before me this day, 18th December 1874.
(Sd.) F. H. S outer,
Commissioner of Police, Bombay.
Amebna , wife of Shaik Abdoolla and ayali to Mrs. Boevey, is re-called at her own request,
and further states :—
W hen I gave my statement on the 18th, I was suffering from fever and
was not feeling well, and omitted to mention certain facts which I have now
remembered and wish to have recorded along with my first deposition.
On the occasion of my being taken before the Maharaja the third time
during the Ramzan, the Maharaja asked me, after other questions, whether it
would not be possible to administer something by which the Resident could be
brought round to his, the Maharaja's, will. The Gaekwar spoke in cautious
and hidden language, but I understood him to be throwing out a feeler to
ascertain whether I would consent to administer poison to my master. Colonel
Phayre. I indignantly refused, and objected, and told the Maharaja that if
he attempted anything of the sort, he would get into serious trouble and
, • ukmnrnaUHnhikapatn.. be ruined. I exclaimed—" It would* be better that
w alla nai inunia.—This is a very lakllS of people should die than that the Supporter
common Oriental idiomatic phrase. of should come by his ^
was standing close to the Maharaja at this time, endeavoured to persuade me
by kind words and by saying that if I would only do as the Maharaja wished,
I would have provision made for me for the rest of my life, and that my
husband should also be taken into service under the Raja King .
Taken before me this day the 21st December 1874.
(Sd.) P. H. S outer,
Commissioner of Police, Bombay.
69 18