ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION OF THE VICEROY OF INDIA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LIII, Issue 5905, 29 January 1880, Page 5

ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION OF THE VICEROY OF INDIA.

[From the Calcutta Englishman, S::. 13.) We regret to have to record that the arrival of His Excellency the Viceroy in Calcutta on Friday afternoon was signalised by a most dastardly and, to all appearances, wanton outrage. As His Excellency was on his way to Government house, and just as he had passed from the bridge on to the strand road, two shots were fired at his carriage in which, besides himself, were Lady Lytton and Captain Muir, and a third shot at the second carriage, which was occupied by Sir G. P. and Lady Colley, Captain Hose and Baron Bentinck. Happily no one was struck. Indeed, neither the occupants or the Y.ceroy’s carriage nor the guard accompanying it would seem to have been aware that any shot had been fired. At the third shot, however, Sir George Colley and Captain Rase alighted from their carriage, and seized the miscreant who had fired. A small five-chambered revolver pistol was found on his person, and he was forthwith made over to the police. It had been ascertained that he is an East Indian, by name George E. Dessa. He comes of respectable family. Owing to weakness of intellect he has beenoutof work far many months, and for the past six weeks has been supported in Calcutta by charitably friends. He was only lately discharged from the Allahabad Lunatic Asylum, and his mother, who is still alive, has been deranged for about 30 years. He is addicted to opium/ and when arrested was under the induencaof liquor. He was in the Calcutta Preventive service three years ago. He was then considered to bo of unsound mind, and on being discharged threatened to take the life of Mr Kilby, the superintendent c-f the urportment.

About four months since he petitioned the Government regarding some injustice which he imagined had been dens him in the Preventive Service, and the rejection of this petition may perhaps have led to the insane act which he committed on Friday.

(From the Sidtcsimns, IV;. 15.) The accused, George Edward Tes-a, was arraigned before Mr B. L. Gupta, Northern Division Magistrate, on charges of attempting to murder the Viceroy and his private secretary, Sir George Colley, by firing a leaded revolver pistol at ttiom. Captain Harcourt Rose stated—l am one of the aides-de-camp to His Excellency the Viceroy. I was one of the parly who accompanied him from Howrah. Hi- Excellency drove to Government-house. The Viceroy, Lady Lytton, and Captain Muir were in the first carriage. I was in the second carriage with Sir George and Lady Colley. After wo left the bridge and had proceeded about 200 yards ou this side, I heard a shot fired, and turned round. I saw a man coming through the crowd with a pistol in his hand. That (pointing to the prisoner) is the man. Ho fired straight into the carriage in which I was. I heard the bullet pass over my head. I stopped the carriage, and Sir George Colley and I got out. I ran after the defendant and caught him. I asked aim for his revolver. I felt, for it in his pocket and took it out. This (produced) is the revolver. At that time there were two chambers still loaded. I handed turnover tothe police. 1 asked him if he knew what he had done, 'ihc only information I could get from him was that his name was George Dessa, and that he came from the N.W. Provinces. Ho was certainly under the influence of drink, Ifc was about 10 yards off when ho fired into my carnage. His Worship after this read out the charge to the prisoner, and questioned him its * 0l ‘ lows:— , a Magistrate: Did you fire at tne » l - 1 u ‘.' • Prisoner: 1 fired in the air. Magistrate :IV lint arc y l,a •, , , l i2od Prisoner: I am the writer 1,1 J * u-1 “b , £sr’ r / <i;.i «« T i„.„/,crri,wo o.'“lliuSiUe. ! If I did, 1 meant it as a salute, and not with intent to take life. _ Magistrate : Whose revolver is this ? Prisoner : It is my property. Magistrate : Wore you in liquor ? Prisoner: I must have been in liquor whan I have no recollection of what I did. Magistrate: What were you doing with the revolver ? Prisoner: I took it out with a viow to take it to the gun-maker for repairs, but I went a littlo further. The cartridges don't lit two of .the chambers. Magistrate: I remand the prisoner till the 23rd iust. Lot him in the meanwhile be examined and reported upon by Mr Mackenzie.. , , , . On the way he told the officers that ho had purchased the revolver two mouths ago, that he paid Ssr» for it, and had bought it for his amusement.