INDIAN ASSASSINS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 734, 5 February 1910, Page 5

INDIAN ASSASSINS.

MR JACKSON'S MURDER

SOME COMMITTALS FOE TBIAL. By Teleeraph-Presa Aesociation-Copyrlsht,

Calcutta, February 3. ■ The Brahmin youth Ananta Luxman Eanare, aged about 18, who in December murdered Mr. A. M.' T. Jackson, Collector of Nasik, in'a theatre, firing seven successive shots from a Browning pistol, has been committed for trial.' '.'••■.■■

Six, other natives who were arrested in connection with the murder and with subsequent searches; at Nasik have also been committed for trial. : ■■ ,;■:' '< ,

METHODS OF, THEMURDERER. ',''". ■'■;..■ .SEVEN SHOTS/, "J/ ■ 'When Kanare..was arrested in the •j atl 'fm ft f? .'""W'dering 'Mr. Jackson, he ton Ca tch : me. I- hove done my duty. lam not' running away." ' The Scene In the Theatre, vW: : . • On the occasion of the -murder, Mr. Jackson, in company, with Mr. Jolly (Assistant collector) and two ladies, paid a visit to. Vijayanama' Theatre to witness a 1 favourite play known as Sharda. He was received' at the entrance by : Mr. Khopker, District Deputy Collector. The passage through which thoy had to pass •in order to reach the orchestra was narrow ; and ■':admitted of only- one 1 person walking along it,, so that Mr. Jackson was in the front and the two ladies walked behind'him singly, and they were followed by Mr. Khopker, and lastly by Mr. Jolly. Near the front.came rows of seats, reserved for the pit, but as these seats are in an elevated position one his to get down two or: three steps' -after- passing about three rows.'

It appears that as soon as Mr. Jackson got down thestens Kanafe came at close quarters facing.him. The eye-witness did not see from whore he came, but another witness asserts that:he.caught hold of a pole-which was'at the corner of the row and jumped down.., Immediately afterwards he seems to have pointed a Browne ing automatic pistol against; Mr. Jackson's chest apparently unseen by anybody and fired.-;;//' Seven shots were.'fired in quick; succession, but owing''tojthe construction 'of'tie weapon the sound of the shot being more subdued than that,of an. ordinary gunshot, people in the theatre thought this ; was only.' a fog. signal, used on'.the occasion, of the reception''of a distinguished guest.. ■ But after,; the first:, shot, Mr. •Jackson's hand .was, seen turned towards his chest.'He stepped back'and without uttering aword fell., . / •.■■'■■■ ,

The Assassin Seized., ' .%■'. Mr./ Khopker/seeing this ran up, held the assassin's 'right: arm .and .practically prevented him from 'making further use of. the weapon.. Deputy: Police Superintendent Marutirao -was also on tho spot at' tho same time, and snatched the ■: revolver from the, man's hand. The lattor then put his hand'in his left pocket anil drew but a revolver, one; of,'the ''ball dog" type, with what intention no:one is able, to say, bnt the, surmise' is that,seeing that escape' was hopeless, he might have used.it. against- himself/.. But whatever might have been his intention, ho, sooner, did he take out the' weapon than Or'. Jolly pounced upon ''..him, and seized, his left hand and rendered him utterly/helpless.. ~' .'';'■,'',■.■'.'■..• ;/ •'■':■ -■■'"..': - ' //', '■:' ,

, Mr. Jackson was hit in the,;chest and aaraon as he fell' Dr. Kulkarni, of.Kolah-' pur, who happened to be in.the audience, ran up to him,and felt his pulse, and pro-, nounced' himi dead. ; Drs.' Kirloskar and' .Sharfurazali, who,were there also,' gave the same opinion.. Not satisfied .with this, some people'.ran'up to Mr.: Ardeshir. Lai's shopand-'got a:bottle of smelling salts,; but it had no .effect., Captain.'Bolts, the Civil. Surgeon, :wos' ; then. sent, for,' and he was of opinion that'life extinct. '.'.'■ As Mr. Jackson.was in the'position, as it were, of a guest: at,, the 'theatre,: the indignation: of - tie.;:'audience was .keenly aroused, ;but they, exorcised self-control, on 'seeihg/ihe.assasrin .was, in ; :.the .custody, of th'o police. .;' One" account-says that, the audience at first/thought, that the', pistol shots/were crackers, let'off in honour, of •■th , e'-'gUest!^>''> : ".'i.i.-\-:.'. v 'fi'l ; . ■■;','■■;;"!•;'■ '""..• '•'.'"•■*•

A< Martyr :tb;Hls Good Traits.- ".-' The . late-i- Mr..' Jackson .'was one -of theablest and best'informed, civilians of the Bombay. Presidency, i:. Prom : the' date' of his arrival in Indiai'he devoted his great talents specially-to .the. study of' Sanskrit lore and, the vernaculars/:As a: Sanskrit scholar, he probably had no equal;in this Presidency,; with' the'exception, perhaps, of. Dr. Bhandarkar. ;'.. As ; ; a Mahratta.

scholar, .he''stood; equally high .amongst' the pundits.,.For,these reasons, ;he ; was spocially known/.' admired and; rospepted by all the Mahratta : speaking community.' But'he had other and.greater claims upon their, respect and. affection;.,'-' He' iwas. a genuine'• lover; ; of. India, and, deeply - in: terested. ( in''.his ; "work.:; .He;threw,him-, self heart and soul into'.every projebt for the ■advancement of the country.' He had a'' kindly nature, and-an unassuming, disposition, and the most suave of manners, and no ono who; came,in contact with him could do. so .without:pleasure or without oarrying:.away ■ the 'liveliest .recollections of his kindness-of disposition and heart. .These qualities him in every offico he held since joining, the Service twenty-one years ago. They had been particularly in.evidence in.Nasik. 'MriJackson's regime 1 in Nasik was one"of trust in'the pood loyalty of the people this notorious; centre. .He-.took every 'opportunity.-, of : coming ; into 'close contact,with'them at'the.weekly darbars held: in his own house, and on other occasions. But he owed his death'to these very traits of. his; character '—-':his amiability, '; his: courtesy, his / accessibility; perhaps,' also, his thorough' knowledge of Sanskrit, and Marathi,"-.'Being a 'Marathi: scholar .he" was ; tempted to -attend, a 'theatrical entertainment got up for' him, at which 'a: well-known Marathi drama was" to be performed.: There treacherous villainy was lurking to take.hia life, and 'with, success.; /'■:':'•'■ : '•'"■ : ; ■} •''.':'

' Kanare is. of middle height and slim build, and has marks of tattoo oh .the forehead between' the' eyebrows. He stated that he had taken 'an oath to .murder Mr. Jackson, because the latter had - convicted'Savarkar,.: the'-, Hindu,: who was recently sentenced' to .'■ transportation - for life for ; attempting to wage war - against the King.-. But Savarkar was sentenced by Mr.: Kennedy, Sessions Judge. , i