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**Phil Carter** · 10-21-2012, 08:49 PM

Hello Simon,

This makes fascinating reading. Thank you indeed for posting.

best wishes

Phil

**Phil Carter** · 10-22-2012, 03:09 PM

Hello Simon,

A thought.

On another thread, the mention of Monro not following the political line came up. I notice his past as both magistrate and judge on this thread.

Could it be that his "neutral" stance, like a judge, was the cause of the problem re the Cleveland Street scandal?

Just a thought.

best wishes

Phil

**Simon Wood** · 10-22-2012, 03:36 PM

The Black Cobra Sahib

Hi Phil,

In a letter to Melville Macnaghten, James Monro wrote, "My principle throughout has ever been that in policing, politics have no place — and this principle I followed during the whole time I was at Scotland Yard, under four different Secretaries of State . . ."

In "Indian and Home Memories", Sir Henry Cotton K.C.S.I. wrote—

"When I served under him [James Monro] he was in his prime, a terror to evildoers, a sleuth-hound in the detection of crime, fearing nothing, daring all things, deliberately straining every section of law and procedure, and falling many times under the correction of the High Court for irregularities and even worse transgressions. He was known among a certain class as the keate, or black cobra Sahib, and was the ideal of what is called in official language a strong Magistrate. He was my official superior. I was then very young, only twenty-four years of age, and I confess that I admired him greatly and was completely carried away by the glamour of his achievements."

I shall leave you to draw any conclusions from the foregoing.

Regards,

Simon

**Phil Carter** · 10-22-2012, 05:16 PM

Originally posted by Simon Wood View Post

Hi Phil,

In a letter to Melville Macnaghten, James Monro wrote, "My principle throughout has ever been that in policing, politics have no place � and this principle I followed during the whole time I was at Scotland Yard, under four different Secretaries of State . . ."

In "Indian and Home Memories", Sir Henry Cotton K.C.S.I. wrote�

"When I served under him [James Monro] he was in his prime, a terror to evildoers, a sleuth-hound in the detection of crime, fearing nothing, daring all things, deliberately straining every section of law and procedure, and falling many times under the correction of the High Court for irregularities and even worse transgressions. He was known among a certain class as the keate, or black cobra Sahib, and was the ideal of what is called in official language a strong Magistrate. He was my official superior. I was then very young, only twenty-four years of age, and I confess that I admired him greatly and was completely carried away by the glamour of his achievements."

I shall leave you to draw any conclusions from the foregoing.

Regards,

Simon

Hello Simon,

Without drawing conclusions, nor indeed tight comparisons, the straining of the law of how a pooliceman operates reminds me of a certain Sir Robert Anderson, and his coments such related. That both Anderson and Monro were of the same religious ilk is also of interest.

Thank you once again for your reply.

best wishes

Phil

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Monro in the Indian Civil Service

Monro in the Indian Civil Service

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