Page 180 - Gulf Precis (VI)_Neat

158 Part II.
127. Mr. Johannes Thaddous declared before the Court that he had only
recoivcd Rupees 3,700, when the hoondco was cashed, and by way of account­
ing for the deficiency of Rupees 300 he said tho Moonshco and a Jow, named
Yusoof George, on whom the hoondcc had been drawn, had stated that tho
money had been previously paid. Mr. Thaddeus nevertheless made tho deficit
good, saying that ho was to obtain a refund of the Rupoes 300 from the
Moonshco.
272 Tho Moonshco said he had lo4 tho thousand rupee note, and ho
petitioned to havo tho amount deduoted from his salary by instalments. A
sum of Rupees 512 was afterwards recovered from him and paid to tho ladios,
leaving a balanco of Rupees 458 still duo to them.
273. Colonel Nixon disbelieved Mr. Thaddous’ statement that the hoondee
could not havo boon cashed without his agency.
“ At all events,” he says—
“ His proceedings were most roprchensiblo, inasmuch as ho acted without my knowledge
and had been corresponding about this money without informing mo—a most daring proceed­
ing on his part.” And he adds :—
"Tho distressing conviction comes to my mind that tho Head Clerk and the rest of the
English Office had been in the habit of using the Moonshec as a tout to entrap unwary
pilgrims from India who visit the shrines in the neighbourhood, and that the loss of the
Rupees 1,000 would havo been made good if tho Moonshee Mirza Koochick had not given
evidence on tho trial of Kaja FyzO"))ah contrary to that which ho had first conspired to
gjve<" *•* * * * * * *
MI believe the rupees one thousand to havo been embezzled.”
274. Colonel Nixon has suspended tho Moonshee “ for losing the property ”
pending the orders of Government. With regard to tho other persons con­
cerned, ho wrote:—
“ Notwithstanding the profound seorecy which is maintained by tho union of the four
brothers, so much has transpired that 1 earnestly solicit that the English establishment of
this office may be broken up and a new set of men sent from India.”
275. Colonel Nixon then recommended that Mr. George Thaddeus, the
Dragoman, who was old and feeble, should be pensioned, and that Mr. Yakoob
Thaddeus, tho Accountant, and Mr. Gabriel Thaddeus, the Treasurer and Post
Office Clerk, should be transferred to similar appointments in India.
276. With respect to- Mr. Johannes Thaddeus, the Head Clerk, Colonel
Nixon solicited orders as to whether be is to be retained in the service. lie
had served 32 years, and is, Colonel Nixon says, entitled to pension. In para­
graph 11 of his letter No. 30, dated 14th October 1876, Colonel Nixon directly
accuses him of duplicity in connection with Kaja Pyzoollah’s case, and of
being concerned in the embezzlement of the property of the Hyderabad
ladies.
277. Colonel Nixon further recommended that the Deputy Postmaster at
Baghdad should be u separate official. He bad written to the Director General of
Post-Offices on the subject, and be explained that a feeling of insecurity
prevailed which had been increased by an English gentleman from Bussorah,
reporting that letters wore sent to him from Baghdad to bo posted at Bussorah.
278. Finally, Colonel Nixon thought it right to state that the “ Office
people” had very good testimonials from Sir Henry Rawlinson, who appointed
them in 1844 after having taken them from Bombay personally from Sir
Arthur Kemball, and also from Colonel Herbert, but he adds:—
” I am confident that it is not in the interest of Government that they should remain
longer in office in Baghdad. At all events I have formed an opinion of them from what has
trauspired and cannot bring myself to repose trust in them for the future.”
279. The orders of the Government of India wero given in their letter
No. 572-G., dated 7th March 1877, to the Political Agent:—
“In reply I am to say that the Governor-General in Council considers that tho circum­
stances connected with tho false charge preferred against Nawab Ahmed Aga, and the fraudulent
dealings with Begums Rumzani and Nujuiu-ul-nissa are so discreditable to the employes o£