The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-02-12

derabad, expecting that he was about to
make a sale which would put a small for
tune into his pocket. In this hope he was
disappointed. Tho niZam had changed his
minA. He had seen a model of tho dla-
mond and it did not come up to his c1pec-
tatiods. He had also been informed that
the sum asked for it was absurdly in ex-
cess of its real value. Another important
parsonage had. moreover, appeared on tha
scene. This was sir Dan1s Fitzpattlck, the
British resident. He informed his high
ness very frankly that. i'll view OF the fact
that the finances of Hyderabad wero not In
a tiourishing condition, and tnat there was
q prospect Of a famine in tho northern part
of the state, it was q very had time for the
great ruler to put so much money into a
wholly unproductive investment. his
highness said no" with much emphasis to
Mr.. Jacob. The dealer used all his bland
ishments to induce the nizam to change his
mind, but in vain. The sale WAS off.
Then MIR. Jacob began to talk Of compen.
sation for the expense he had incurred and
the trouble he had taken. He said he was
entitled to at least $4,000. This claim was
not disputed, but tho nizam delicatsly
limited that before the claim was paid the
twcnty-three lakhs of rupees which had
been deposited in the Calcutta bank should
be- returned. MIR. Jacob did not show any
~alacrity about complying with his I'M
portant part Of the operation. IN fact,
the money was not forthcoming at all, and
his highness brought criminal suit against
the dealer to recover it. This proceeding
was unsuccessful, and MIR. Jacob, up to this
writing, not only has the nlzam's S5OO.ODO
but has also triumphed over him III the
courts.
The telegraphic reports do not speak
definitely of the grounds of the acqnlttal.
All that is yet known is, that the accused
disclaimed all dishonest intentions and de-
clared that he had paid to the owner OF the
| stone nearly tho whole of the amount. It
remains to be seen whether the n;Zam has
| any prospect Of recovering his money by
any otheI procedure.
III court suggeste in its decision that q
civil suit might lie against Mr.. Jacob tor
the recovery of the money.
One curloug feaJare Of the affair is the
attitude of the %niZa.n's subjects. When 1t
became known throughout Hyderabad that
his highness intended to give testimony be-
fore a commission appointed for that pur-
DOES the people were highly Indignant.
They said it would be a humiliation and n
disgrace to the country for it's ruler to con-
descend to give Testimony like an ordinary
mortal. Thereupon his highness felt it his
duty to issue a proclamation in which he
set forth his grounds of action.
He said that iE the early days the word
of the nizam was law and superseded the
dictum of any other tribunal. But in these
good civilized times, he continued, this
idea had been righteously swept away. In
the course OF lndia's progress law courts
had been established. These courts were
the fount of justice, from which tho rich
and poor. rulers and subjects, might alike
expect to SEQ just claims affirmed and
wrongs punished. 1t was right and proper
for the ruler to appeal to these courts wher
he had occasion, and to furnish all the light
he could that would e1uedite the course o.
justice. His people were wrong in believing
that it was any depreciation of his dignit,
to give testimony in a law case.
Although his highness has been defeated
in the court TO which he appealed, he still
retains his very high opinion of legal tri
bunals.