The Sun.
London, England, 1862-04-23 00:00:00

THE EXECUTION OF MOGUL BEG AT

DELHI.

The following are a few particulars regarding the appre-
hension, trial, and execution of one Mogul Beg, a ringleader
of a small but reckless band of men who commenced the
cruel slaughter of defenceless Europeans in the Palace of
Delhi on the 11th of May, 1857.
It can scarcely fail to be within the recollection of all
that when rebellion first openly broke out at Delhi, fiendish
passions which were absolutely disgraceful to humanity
gained a fearful ascendancy in the minds of the fanatical.
Under the influence of such inhuman feelings the turbulent
element of society became ungovernable, and atrocities were
then committed the recital of which will for ever darken
the page of Indian history.
It was on the eventful 11th of May that Mr. Simon
Fraser, Commissioner and Agent to the Lieutenant-Gover-
nor at Delhi ; Captain Douglas, Commandant of the Palace
Guards ; Mr. Hutchinson, the Rev. Mr. Jennings, Miss
Jennings, and Miss Clifford fell victims to the merciless
fury of those whom they had never in any way wronged.
The perpetrators of such base deeds escaped for a time all
punishment, and the sacred blood of our countrymen re-
mained unexpiated. But after mutiny was quelled by force
and peace re-established throughout the Indian Peninsula,
Justice again appeared, firmly demanding life for life.
Then began toe s6aren for those wuuao ursuws were us sum
a dyo as altogether to exclude them from the operation of
her Majesty's most gracious amnesty.
Among this number, Mogul Beg fled for his life from
place to place, making long journeys, with the full convic-
tion that he was being tracked. Rtwards were offered for
his apprehension' The search went on for years, until at
last he was taken in Scinde, many hundreds of miles from
the scene of his guilt.
The Palace murders occurred in May, 1857. He was
seized in the Khyrpoor gaol in November, 1861, sent down
to Delhi, and committed for trial January 27, 1862. His
identity was unquestionably determined as a former inha-
bitant of Delhi, and a sepoy in one of the two regiments
entertained by the ex• King.

The evidence against him was that of trustworthy " eye-
witnesses," who, in former days, well knew the prisoner by
sight. He was seen by six witnesses cutting down and
killing Mr. Fraser. He was seen, with his sword covered
from point to hilt with blood, standing over the corpses of
the young ladies. He was heard triumphing that he had
done so. He was proved to have gone, in company with
others, to ask a reward from the King for performing such
deeds. He was seen and heard giving orders how and when
the plate and other plundered property of those who had
been murdered should be removed. He exultingly displayed
in public the pistol which had belonged to Captain Douglas,
whom he had killed after he was seriously hint by his fall
into the moat. Altogether, judicial proof in such a case
could not have been more perfect.
The prisoner's defence was extremely weak. He endea-
voured to establish an alibi, naming four witnesses, two of
whom said not a word which could in any way clear the
prisoner, while the other two distinctly contradicted his own
defence. He admitted that between himself and several of
the witnesses there had been no personal enmity.
Thus, while the evidence for the prosecution was over-
whelming and conclusive, the prisoner's own defence
amounted to nothing at all. Accordingly, Mogul Beg was
found guilty of the murder of at least four Europeans, and
sentenced to be hanged in front of the Lahore-gate of the
Delhi P alace, wheal), nearly five years before, his crimes
had been committed.

On the morning of the 14th of March at daybreak the
prisoner slowly mounted the scaffold, which was guarded
by a body of mounted and foot police. He was a large
powerful man, with a sinister cast of countenance, aged 35.
In a few words ha called upon the Mahomedans who were
congregated in front of him to bear him in remembrance.
The rope and cap were adjusted, an order was given, the
drop fell, and the prisoner's fate was sealed. His body
hung for an hour with heavy fetters on the legs and the
arms pinioned.
The above facts are narrated in no vindictive spirit, and
in the sincere hope that they may not harass the feelings
of any surviving friends of those lamented ones who fell
early victims in the rebellion.

Tho following is an extract of the proceedings of the Ju-
dicial Commissioner of the Punjab in the case :
" Sad as are the details disclosed in this trial, still, as
regards the young ladies, it is comfort to be able to believe
firmly (as the evidence hero recorded warrants us in doing)
that they were murdered then and there in the first confu-
sion of the outbreak. The prisoner was seen standing with
drawn sword over their bodies.

ti it is also consolatory for the friends of the deceased
public officers to know that they fell at their posts, doing
their best to stem the outbreak, of the extent of which they
had no conception."

Comforting indeed it is (although it be but a mournful
comfort) to know that the death of the young ladies was
quick and hasty, and that they were in no way made the
victims of further insult or atrocity. Again, it is a source
of pride to think that our fellow-countrymen died like men,
doing all that lay in their power to stay disturbances which
it required a powerful army to quell.
Incidentally it is satisfactory to look back upon the co-
operation of the native States in bringing the criminal to
justice. His Highnest; the Maharajah of Jyepore himself
offered 5,000 rupees for his apprehension.
The moral effect of this protracted and finally successful
track of the murderer, extending over very nearly five
years, has been considerable.
It is well to know that all States and Powers in India
unite so cordially with the civil British Power in hunting
down great criminals against their common society.
Another circumstance affords satisfaction, and that is the
undoubted certainty of the guilt of the accused,, the utter
want of sympathy with him from first to last on the part of
his countrymen, and the conviction in their minds that the
sentence was meet and fit for the crime.

Among the crowd present at the execution the 'remark
passed round, and was overheard) " Truly this man has had
his deserts" (" Beskuk huk paia.")

METROPOLITAN FREE HOSPITAL, DEVONSHIRE-
sQUAitz, Crry.—The aggregate number of patients relieve 4
during the week ending April 19 Was—Medical, 1,203.; sur -
6iottl, 601— WWI, 4604) a which 588 were new cases.