Chapter XXXIII: Appendix: III

DHINGRA’S DYING SPEECH AND EXECUTION

AS REPORTED BY THE “DAILY NEWS,” 18TH AUGUST, 1909

Dhingra, the Hindoo murderer of Sir Curzon Wyllie and Dr. Lalcaca, was executed yesterday morning at Pentonville.

A copy has been placed in our hands of the statement which he drew up before the murder, intending it to be read as if it had been subsequently drawn up. To this document the prisoner referred in the course of the trial, but it was not given to the public. We may add that a copy has been for some time in the possession of certain of Dhingra’s compatriots. The statement is as follows:

“I admit the other day I attempted to shed English blood as an humble
revenge for the inhuman hangings and deportations of patriotic Indian
youths. In this attempt I have consulted none but my own conscience. I
have conspired with none but my own duty.

“I believe that a nation held down by foreign bayonet is in a
perpetual state of war, since open battle is rendered impossible to a
disarmed race. I attacked by surprise; since guns were denied me I
drew forth my pistol and fired.

“As an Hindoo I felt that wrong to my country is an insult to God. Her
cause is the cause of Shri Ram, her service is the service of Shri
Krishna. Poor in wealth and intellect, a son like myself has nothing
else to offer to the Mother but his own blood, and so I have
sacrificed the same on her altar.

“The only lesson required in India at present is to learn how to die,
and the only way to teach it is by dying ourselves. Therefore I die,
and glory in my martyrdom.

“This war will continue so long as the Hindoo and English races last
(if this present unnatural relation does not cease).

“My only prayer to God is may I be reborn of the same Mother, and may
I re-die in the same sacred cause till the cause is successful, and
she stands free for the good of humanity and to the glory of
God.—BANDE MATARAM.”

At the police court, it will be remembered, Dhingra claimed his right to commit the deed as a patriot, and at the Old Bailey he denied the Lord Chief Justice’s power to pass sentence upon him. After one of the shortest trials of a capital charge on record, lasting hardly an hour, he was found guilty by the jury, and listened to the passing of the dread sentence without a tremor of his features.

Some little time before the execution took place a large crowd gathered outside the approach to the prison, but it was noticeable that there were very few Indian students among those present. Shortly after nine o’clock the Under-Sheriff left the prison, and in reply to a question as to how the execution passed off, said that everything had been in order, and that death had been instantaneous. Pierpont was the executioner. An application for leave to have the body cremated was refused, and it will be buried, in accordance with the usual custom, within the walls of the prison.

At the inquest at the prison, Mr. J. S. Master, representing the “Parsee,” Bombay, was the only Indian admitted to the inquest. The jury found that the sentence of the law was duly executed.

Mr. Master applied to the Deputy Under-Sheriff for admission to the prison, but was refused. He was referred to the Home Office, where, after waiting an hour and a half, he received an intimation to the following effect:

“The Under-Secretary of State is directed by the Secretary of State to say that he regrets that Mr. Master’s request to be allowed to visit the prisoner Dhingra cannot be complied with.”