The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-02-10
JUSTICE TARDY. nut COMPLETE.
Innocence of Brothers Charged With
Crime Is Finally Established.

The British Indian government has just
performed an act of justice which. though
somewhat tardy viii cause universal sat
isfaction throughout India. On the day of
the celebration of the queens jubilee in
1897 several British officials were muir
dered in the Bombay presidency. Failing
to discover the criminals Immediately,
several OF the leading Hindoos at Poonah
were arrested by order of the Indian gov
eminent. Among others were the two
brothers Natu and Gangudhar Tilak. the
proprietor and editor OF the Kesari, ma
tive paper. and of the Mahratta, a paper
published in English. both printed at Poo
nah. Mr.. TIlak was tried for sedition and
sentenced to a long term Of Imprisonment.
although it was proved that he was not
personally responsible for the articles
complained of and that the seditien was
only constructive. Under great. pressure
the Indian government eventually or
dered his release and he was set at lib
erty early last year.
The case of the Natu brothers was Diff
ferent. They were arrested merely on
suspicion of being concerned in a conspir-
acy for the suhversion of British rule. Of
which the assassination Of the British Of
ficials was regarded as the first overt act
AS there was no proof against them, no
proceedings could be instituted in the reg
uar way, but an obsolete regulation was
used for the occasion and they were de-
tanned In close confinement without accu-
sation or trial and their property seQues-
trated. The British authorities, finding
that the prisoners health was failing
and beginning to recognize their error. the
two brothers were removed to another part
of the country and allowed to have a GER
tain restricted liberty. Meanwhile their
friends in India and England en-
deavored to secure their release. but In
effectually, the secretary Of state for India
alleging that their confinement was neccs-
sary in the interest of public tranquility.
With the departure. however. OF Lord Ell
gin from the viceroyalty OF India many
things done under his administration began
to be undone. Under Lord Curzon the
frontier policy of his predecessor has been
reversed and now II Is announced from
Bombay that the Natu brothers have been
informed that they are no longer state
prisoners and that the attachment on their
lands and estates has been cancelled.
SO far this ending Of an incident that has
deeply stirred native feeling In India is sat
isfactory. and 1t is undoubtedly due to Lord
: Curxon's perception of the desirability Of
conciliating the wounded sentiments of the
more educated and influential among the
leaders Of native opinion. At the same time
II is unfortunate that the circumstances at
tending the liberation of the brothers Natu
should be such as to raise doubts as to the
spontaneity Of the action Of the British
India Office In ordering their release.
1t may be mentioned that those implicat-
ed in the murder OF the British officials
referred to were discovered few months
ago and were tried, and executed II devel-
oping at their trial that the act was one
Of private revenge and having nothing to
do with any political or other conspiracy
New York Sun.