Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 57, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 March 1912 — WORLD'S FAMOUS POLICE MYSTERIES [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

WORLD'S FAMOUS POLICE MYSTERIES

TRUE RECORDS OF EXTRAORDINARY CABES IN ANNAL 6 OF CRIME

By H. M. EGBERT

“ T r - •' ''.s'-. ‘ ' The Mahratta’s Revenge

(Copyright, by W. G. Chapman)

HE Mahratta oountry, in toe western presidency of India, is the home of the finest of the Indian races. The pride of toe inhabitants and their consciousness of superiority to the tribes of other districts—for to® Mahrattas have in their time conquered all India —makes them peculiarly

susceptible to the claims of family pride, and this in tom has given rise to tragedies >of an abnormal and often horrifying character. “ One of the crimes that thrilled the whole country, and incidentally nearly brought to the gallows an innocent man, occurred shortly after the termination of toe American Civil war. During toe progress of this conflict the native cotton growers had accumulated enormous profits owing to the blockade of the southern ports. Cotton was at a premium everywhere, and millions of rupees poured , into the Mahratta country from the sale of the staple. Cultivators, who had formerly eked out a precarious existence suddenly found themselves enriched beyond their wildest ambitions. Ip fact their chief problem was how to dispose of their wealth. .'••• Among the most prosperous of these farmers was Yellapa Patel, who had one son, Bussapa. The boy was the pride of his old father and had been educated in much better style than was the custom among people of his class. When toe family suddenly became enriched through- their cotton sales Bussapa easily persuaded his father to launch out Into the wildest extravagances in order to “save toe face” of the family among the neighbors. All the cultivators vied with one another in display. Sarees, or petticoats of the most expensive tissues, were loaded upon the women, and gold and silver ornaments. High-priced trotting bullocks were purchased, and carts with silver tires, and harness with silver yokes and sliver mountings. The blooded bullocks were matched against each other in trotting races at which the whole countryside attended; and toe entire population of the district blossomed out with red silk sunshades which were sent out by an enterprising English firm and promptly purchased wholesale. Brandy, gtn and champagne now made their appearance for the first' time among the sober country folks. Riotous debauches began, and first among the revelers always was Yellapa, who was rarely sober during the last few months of fats life and, outdoing his pon t forced him to become a drunkard also. js - .

Yellapa Patel died when the war was at its height His son Bussapa plunged Into even wilder extravagances. Why should he think of money when wealth kept pouring in? Indeed, the, only persons who did not share the public prosperity were the i moneylenders, who had always previously held mortgages upon the' crops and were the acknowledged masters of the land. Dewchund, the village banker, had no silver tires to his carts, no trotting bullocks; 'and he went about with a long faoe, looking malignantly upon his neighbors and hoping for the time when the price of cotton would suddenly tumble —a time which the long-er-headed persons among the Mahratr. v tas had already begun to foresee. Bussapa Patel had one link that bound him to decency. This was his little son Bhow. Bussapa was a Mahratta and Dewchund, the money-lend- - sr, a despised Wania; bnt their families had been intimate for many year*, and had hml business transactions together, and they were as friendly ae persons of their-respective stations in - life could be. Little Bhow was an almost daily visitor at Dewchund’s booth In the bazar, where he was always sure of being given some sweetmeats or a handful of nuts or some other delhkcy dear to childhood. As Busftapa gave himself up more and more to his drunkenness and his violence Increased, little Bhow began to spend nearly all his time outside school hours with-Dewchund, who always petted him, while Bussapa’s violence frightened him. Bussapa was not slow to see the increasing intimacy between his son and the -money-lender, but he dismissed the subject from his mind, he had nothing against Dewchund; indeed, he derided him because the ban King business was at so low an ebb, and contemptuously dismissed him from farther thought. Dewchund, in the meantime, sat waiting to his booth. After a -while business gradually began to pick up again, for the Civil war was at an end and the price of cotton went downward, at first almost imperceptibly, then inore apd more swiftly. A series of bad seasons set in; the monsoon failed and'a drought parched the cotton fields./On top of tills came a plague of rats which destroyed the crops. The sliver tires and silver yokes became leas and less in evidence Hie women's s&rees no longer rustled as they went to the well. Trotting bullocks were sold for what they would fetch; and those that were not sold died from drought and : disease. s'*" «*»*■ m

cut their boats according to their cloth. Habits of drinking and reckless -extravagance formed during the period of- toe i cotton boom was not easily laid aside. Farms began to be mortgaged again, and Dewchund sat in his booth and rubbed his hands as he looked over his papers. Bussapa, whose extravagances had been the worst in the neighborhood, was one of those moat severely hit. Before the prolonged fimine had come to an end his affairs had become hopelessly involved. He had mortgaged his farm twice, he had even mortgaged his inam, or land granted for military service, and he was only able to keep A im* over his head by the aid of small temporary advances which Dewchund, the money-lender, made him. Meanwhile he drank even more heavily, becoming extremely violent when under the Influence of liquor and sullen and morose during his occasional sober intervals. So long as his wife lived he made some effqrt to retain his hold upon bis affairs, but her sudden death broke down all restraint. The only thing that Bussapa still cared for was little Bhow, now five or six years of age. The only evidences of wealth that were left to him were little Bhow’s bright crimson tunic and the silver anklets and bangles Which his pride forbade him to sell. So long as he cpuld send toe boy into the village dressed as befitted, the son of a wealthy man he could shut himself up in his lonely home and “keep up appearances.” Bussapa’s relations with Dewchund gradually became less cordial. The banker began to see little chance of regaining even toe principal amount that he had lent Bussapa, let alone the Interest. Moreover Bussapa angered him by his constant importunities for small sums which he devoted to the of liquor. When in his cups Bussapa was happy, and he continually postponed the day of reckoning. At last the time arrived when Dewchund found himself unable to accommodate Bussapa longer. One night, when the latter appeared before him in his usual drunken condition, the money-lender said: “Bussapa Patel, there is only one condition on which I will lend you any more money, and that is If you will let me go over your accounts and find out how much you are worth.” Bussapa refused and began to utter objurgations upon the money-lender. ‘1 tell you what I’ll do, Bussapa,” said Dewchund, after some moments' thought “If you will enter into a new bond with me, merging everything into a grand total, I will advance you a small sum further.” Bussapa’s only reply was to curse Dewchund for a thief. Then he strode away in the direction of his home. Qne feature of toe agreement between the two men had been that Bussapa should deal only with the banker. Some little while afterward, however, Dewchund learned that Bussapa had secretly entered into negotiations with a merchant at Coompta, from whom he had obtained an advance upon his coming .cotton crop.

= Dewchund, immediately upon receipt of this news, went over to Busappa’s house and taxed him with breach of faith. A violent' altercation between the two men ensued. Bussapa retorted with vile abuse and threatened to put Dewchund out of business. Finally Dewchund lost control of his temper and told Bussapa that unless he settled all bis claims within three days he would file a suit against him withlout further notice. So saying he betook himself homeward. Afterward it transpired that Dewchund had never-taken any steps to early out this threat, and he always declared that he had only uttered it in anger. If Bussapa had only shown himself fair and reasonable, he Stated, and had consented to an examination of his affairs, he would have been willing to allow postponement of toe debt for an indefinite period. When Dewchund was gone Bussapa) shut himself up alone with a bottle of brandy and began drinking. He continued this orgy during the next two days until all his liquor was gone. But this time, instead of stupefying, the potations roused an Insane devil in the farmer. He began to Speculate upon hia future, when Dewchund should have carried out his threat. He saw himself bereft of his homestead, turned out to starve, or perhaps work as a hired laborer in other men’s fields. Worst of all was the blow to his pride. And when there flashed into his mind a picture of little Bhow stripped of his ornaments, a beggar by the wayside. Better Bhow dead than that! TOn the third night after toe quayrel Dewchund had put up his shutters and was sitting in his slum about midnight, making up bis accounts, according to his custom. All at once he heard a knock at the window. He opened the shatter cautiously and looked out To his astonishment he saw Bussapa. He let him in, fastened the shutters again, ind turned to aSk his visitor whjr he had come, when, to Ids horror, he saw that Bussapa had retreated Into a corner of toe roott and, with a fearful

himself and trying to keep off some imaginary enemy. Clearly drink had affected Bussapa’s mind. “What is it? What do you see?” asked Dewchund, his knees shaking as his superstitious fears overcame him. - “Hold your tongue!” shouted Bussapa, apparenly regaining his self-con-trol. “You told me that you would bring suit against me within three days. -Well, I have brought you your money. Give me your account” Dewchund produced his ledger and at once began adding up the total amount of Bussapa’s indebtedness, together with toe , interest due. Bussapa, apparenly calmer, sat beside him and looked on. When the amount had been figured Bussapa began to wrangle for a reduction, in toe customary manner, so that to money-lender became convinced that his visitor had, in some unknown manner, obtained the money and was prepared to pay him. Dewchund, after_much bargaining, agreed to knock off a lump sum on codßltion of immediate settlement, and Bussapa, still grumbling, at length agreed to his terms. “Now bring out the mortgage deed and toe other bonds,” said the Mahratta, “and indorse them as discharged. Then you will write me out a receipt in full for all the money due.” Dewchund began to demur to this proposition. “Pay me my money first,” he said, thinking that Bussapa carried toe amount with him in toe form of notes. Bussapa became highly incensed. “Don’t you believe I have toe money?” he shouted. “I’m not lying. I have brought the full amount with me, but not in money. I put the bag in your stable. Come and see it” Dewchund was greatly alarmed at these words, thinking that his visitor meant to lure him out of the house and Murder him. But he was physically a match for the Mahratta, weakened as toe latter was by dissipation and, his cupidity conquering Ills fears, he rose and followed his visitor. Having stopped to light a lantern, he hurried in toe wake of toe Mahratta into a shed, in one corner of which was a quantity of dried fuel that had evidently been disturbed. Bussapa took toe lantern from toe money-lender and led toe way into the furthest corner, where he set it down; then, turning suddenly, he caught Dewchund by the throat with one hand so that he could not cry put, and forced him down upon toe ground. Then he said, hissing into his ear: “You devil, I have paid you'•with my son's life. I’ve killed little Bhow and hidden his body among toe fuel. If you don’t agree to what I say 11l raise the alarm at once and accuse you of having murdered him for the sake of bis ornaments and silver bangles. Quick! Make your decision! Cancel toe debt! If you consent, raise your right arm, and then come back with me to your shop.” , Stupefied with fear, Dewchund raised his arm obediently, and Bussapa, still holding him firmly, half led and half dragged him back into toe house where, after again threatening him in case he should call out, Bussapa released him. “Now you are paid,” he said in a low voice. “Give me toe papers and a receipt in full at once.” Dewchund, in whom the first shock of horror had abated, now said: “What is going to be done with the body?” * “We will take it away presently and bury it in toe watercourse,” answered, the Mahratta. Dewchund, trembling with fear, duly indorsed the papers and handed them to Bussapa, at the same time writing out a full receipt for all indebtedness. Then he took a light and followed Bussapa to the shed. Bussapa took toe Bttle body from among the fuel, wrapped it in his blanket and ordered Dewchund to lead the way to a dry watercourse a few yards distant and to bring a spade with him. There Bussapa dug a deep hole in the loose gravel and buried the victim, heaping large stones upon the body. Toward daylight, after making a considerable detour, they returned to the confines of toe village, where they separated, Bussapa assuring Dewchund togt he need have no fear. “There are some wandering Kaikarris encamped near the village,” he sajd to the money-lender. “Tomorrow I shall accuse them of having lured my son away and murdered him.” .. . The Kaikarris are one of toe tory tribes, something like gypsies, who, ostensibly carrying on toe trade of basket weaving, do not hesitate to rob, or even murder, when opportunity affords. In this. Instance the silver anklets of little Bhow would have furnished a satisfactory motive. ' Perhaps the devilish plot might have sncceded had Bussapa remained sober. But his brain was In no condition to bear the weight of this conspiracy. Dewchund crept home in a condition of abject fear and collapsed shortly atfer his arrival at his sfafip, feeling confident that his fate lay in Bussspa’s hands. But Bussapa, returning to his farm, first destroyed all the papers and then began to assuage his grief with

"Well, at any rate I have saved the honor of my family,” he mused. “That money-lender devil cannot bring infamy upon me. And I owe him noth-ing—-that’s a clear gain. But at what a price! How can I live without little Bhow? And I must give the alarm at once, or I shall be suspected. I will accuse the Kalkarris and have their camp searched. I can easily slip one of little Bhow’s silver anklets into one of their huts while the search is in progress, and later in the day the body will be found” He had completed his plot to his satisfaction when a fiendish emendation of it came into his mind}- He tossed oft another cup of brandy and started out of his place in a delirium of delight “Why shouldn’t I involve that devil Dewchund to the plot after all?” he muttered. *He forced me to kill my son. He ought to die for it!” He fell at last into a drunken stupor which lasted until a late hour In the morning, when he was aroused by a servant who asked him where Bhow Baba w£s. Instantly the evil resolution leaped into the drunkard’s brain. Crying out that his son was stolen and probably murdered, be called together a search party from among the neighbors and went from house to house in the village, inquiring everywhere and searching among the stables and outbuildings, until they reached Dewchund’s shop. At the first question Dewchund fell into a stupor of fear. That was sufficient to excite immediate suspicion, especially of a moneylender, always an object of hate among the villagers. A search was made of Dewchund’s stables, and the disturbed heap of fuel, the spade, coated with mud, increased the belief that Dewchund had killed the child. Then a neighbor came forward and testified that he had seen Dewchund re-entering his house at an early hour that morning. A Kaikarri, who had been prowling among the houses in the hope of obtaining plunder, stated that he had seen him returning home in a stealthy manner. Tracks were found leading from the shed. They ran In the direction of the watercourse. From that moment the discovery was only a matter of time. The searchers traced the tracks to the bottom of the gulley, where fresh earth was found and atones heaped up among the debris. The body of Bhow was speedily exhumed. Dewchund was seized and handed over to the police. Nobody doubted that he had really murdered the boy .for the take of his ornaments and disposed of the body to the middle Of the night His incoherent protests, his assertions that Bussapa was the murderer, were merely regarded as the last desperate plea at a detected criminal. The punchavat, or Cormier’s jury, found that the little boy had been strangled by Dewchund for the sake of his ornaments, and the moneylender was hurried off to jail amid the execrations of the villagers, While Bussapa went home and began again to regale himself with brandy. So great was the horror which this' crime aroused that it was with difficulty that a vakil or pleader could be found willing to assume the burden at tbe money-lender’s defense. Even be, when one had been found, placed no faith In Dewchund’s-statements for

a long time, but Instead recommended that he plead guilty. At last he Induced a magistrate to have a search made of Bussapa’s house, and there, wrapped up in a bundle of his own clothes, were found tbe silver anklets and the bangles of little Bhow. Bussapa, to his drunkenness, had forgotten to take them and secrete them to Dewchund’s house when the alarm was first given. He had intended to place them in the Kalkarris’ camp, but with the change of plan his wits failed him. He hqd remembered when it was too late, for upon Dewchund’s arrest the police nad taken possession of the premises and Bussapa had never afterward had an opportunity to carry out his design. Upon the discovery of the ornaments Bussapa was kept under strict surveillance and forbidden to have access to liquor. The deprivation of this;, stimulus shattered what little nerve remained to him, and Bussapa made a clean breast of his crime. The idea of sacrificing little Bhow, he affirmed, had never entered his mind until just before his entering Dewchund’s house on the night of the murder. His first intention, to fact, had been to go to Dewchund to plead for a respite in the matter of the debt It was not until his glance fell upon his son, sleeping at his side, that the idea came to him, in his fury and despair, of what a fine revenge this would be, furnishing at the same time a punishment for the money-lend-er and his own release from his clutches. Immediately upon the thought he strangled the boy, and, before he actually realised what he had done, he had lifted the body upon his shoulder and was out of his house and on the way to the money-lender’s shop. Dewchund was reteased upon tbe confession of Buwapa being obtained, and the latter was in due course placed upon his trial, convicted and hanged. To the last moment Bussapa continued to profess regret that he had not “done for” Dewchund. And, but for the failure of his drink-addled brain, he would undoubtedly have succeeded in this desire. The true story of the crime as told by tbe moneylender would have been refused credence universally. The chain of circumstantial evidence against Dewchund lacked but the one link, and had Bussapa not forgotten to take the silver anklets and other bangles to Dew* cbund’s house upon the morning of the arrest, Dewchund would undoubtedly have been hanged la his stead.