THE POONA MURDERS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXVI, Issue 3321, 31 December 1897, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE POONA MURDERS.

. ;' ? ■ London Times:.'- '■ ’ ■ ?A Brahmin named Damodar Cbapekar Deceani, 28 years of age, has been arrested on the charge of being guilty of the murder of Mr Band and Lieutenant rAy erst at Poona bn June 22 last; ■'He'bas 'oonfessed to having committed the crime with the aid of. an accomplice. . He also confesses to having been the author of the tarring of the Queen's statue at Bombay, and to other offences. It appears that about two years ago Damodar established a,cluß'reading-room in Poona, and . after the'.oluh had been in existence for a.short timohe suggested to the ihombers-that they should as far as possible procure and collect all the anus they could.. Acting on this suggestion one member stole five swords, two guns, and a oonple of pistols, all of which bo took to the club-house. After the arms had been, procured Damodar ‘ started teaching the, members fencing. In consequence of a dispute the club was.broken up, and all the arms were Buried. ' " '

Shortly afterwards; Damouar applied to the military authorities at Simla to be enlisted as a soldier, but, his application could not be granted;; He then offered to raise a whole company’of Dccoini Brahmins provided he himself were given gome position of authority in the.company. The' authorities, declined this. offer, and their refussd seems to havein.'stilled in Damodar a fooling of hatred towards Europeans and the Government. His first overt act of hostility was the tarring of the Queen's, statue at Bombay.. He then went to Poona, where heoommittedseveral assaults oh persons belonging to the Eeformed party who were opposed to the Orthodo party. Qn subsequently returning t Bombay he failed in ah examination fc which be had entered, and went back! Poona, - where the plague operations ha begun. He began to steal arms agaii ind. frdm the statement, made by him t ihe police, it appears'that he systemati pally dogged Sir Band with the view o killing him on Jubilee Day. He went t St. Mary's church on that day and saw M Band there, but owing to ,the great crow he came away. Hater, hie went to th Council hall and again saw Mr Band, bu as there was a large force of police h ■again went away.. , OnJubileenighthe went to the Ganesh kind road and loitered there until past li o'clock- He saw Mr Band drive off ant quickly followed the carriage until it cami to a spot on the road which he though offered facilities for escape, r He then rar behind the carriage and thrusting a pisto against ■Mr Band's'; side . discharged ,it While he and bis accomplice .were still ir theroadway they saw Lieut. Ayerst’a gharrj close upon-them, and thinking they bad . been ‘ observed; by him. they, shot him through the' breast. Them;they made off I leaving their swords behind in the culvert Next day, fearing that the police might search his house among others, he put all the arms into a bundle and threw them into a well. On the following.day he went to Bombay, where be baa remained evei since. Ha has been brought before the magistrate and remanded. ■ The. police arc now looking for his companion.;. -