The Saint Paul globe., 1897-11-04
INDIAN FANATIC ON TRIAL.
Man Who Murdered Commissioner
Rand and Tnrred VIctOrIa's


POONAH, Bombay Presidency, Nov.
3.-The trial Of Damodar Chapekar. the
Brahmfn lawyer, who was arrested in
October last, charged with being con-
nected with the murder of I,fe1t.
Ayerst and Commissioner Rand on
June % last, by shooting them from
ambush as they were leaving the re-
ception given by the governor of
Ganeshkind in honr of Queen Victoria s
jubilee, and who, on the day of his ar
rest, confessed having murdered Com
missioner Rand with the aid of an ac-
complice, and also admitted being the
author of the tarring of the queens
statue at Bombay, was commenced in
the court house here today.
In his statement made to the police
after his arrest Chapekar admitted that
he had systematically followed Com
missioner Rand with the object of
killing him on Jubilee day. He went
to st. Mary's church on that day. saw
the commissioner there, but was un-
able to accomplish his purpose on ac-
count of the crowd present. Later dur
ing the same day he again saw Com
sioner Rand in the council hall, but,
as there was a large force of police
present, Chapekar once more postponed
action. On Jubilee night Chapekar and
his aCCOmpliceS went to the Ganesh.
kind road and IOitered there until af-
ter II o'clock. He saw the commits.
sioner drive away from the governors
reception and quickly followed the car.
riage until it came to a spot which he
believed offered him the best oppOr.
tunity for escape. Chapekar then ran
up behind the carriage and thrusting q
pistol close to the commissioners side
he shot the man he had marked as his
victim. While Chapekar and his ac.
completes were still on the spot they
saw Lieut.. Ayerst's carriage close upon
them and, thinking he had witnessed
their crime, they shot him through the
chest and made off, leaving their swords
in a neighboring culvert. The next
day. fearing that the police might
search his house, Chapekar put all the
arms into a bundle and threw them
into well. He then escaped to BON.
bay and remained in that city until
arrested there by the police
The prisoner is about twenty-eight
years Of age and is pronounced to be
we'll educated. About two years ago
at Poonah and, after awhile, he pro.
posed that the members should, so far
as possible, collect all the arms they
could. When a certain quantity OF
arms had been collected Chapekar be-
gan teaching the members to fence.
When questioned as to his motives in
collecting the arms, Chapekar said they
would prove useful in the event Of fur
ther disturbances with the Mahom-
medans or against the Milenchas. But,
being twitted about his valor, Chapekar
grew angry and in the dispute which
followed the club was broken up and
all the arms collected were taken to
his house, while he was absent at Bonn
bay. On his return, Chapekar buried
arms and shortly afterwards applied
to the British military authorities
at Simla to be enlisted as a soldier. But
the reply he received was that his ap-
plication could not be granted, as it
was impossible to enlist a man of his
particular caste the Company's being
all of one caste. Then Chapekar offer
ed to raise a whole company Of Deccanl
Brahmins, provided he was given some
rank in the company This offer was
also declined. and from these facts
seems to have arisen Chapekar's hat
red of the British and Of the India6
government. which first led him TO
cover with tar the statue Of Queen Vic
toria at Bombay, which he followed up
by going to Poonah and committing
several assaults on people belonging to
the reformed party, who We're opposed
to the Narthod party.