Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1913-06-12
ROMANTIC LAW SUIT
Hero of Novel Sues Ruler for a
Large Sum.
l. N. Jacob, Aid to Marion Crawford
Rudyard KipIing and Madame Bla-
vatsky, Seek sf,25o,ooo From
Present Nizam Of Hyderabad.

London-One of the most sensation
Il and romantic lawsuits ever heard
n India will be up for a hearing n
calcutta shortly. Action has been
brought by A. NJ Jacob, late of Simia,
low living in Bombay, against the
present Nizam of Hyderabad.
Jacob IS widely known in America
IS the hero of Marion Crawford's
novel, Mr.. Isaacs," as the original O.
lUrgsh Sahib, maker of rich pearls II
HipIng's Kim" He also is said TO
nave taught the late Nine. Blavatsky.
)ne of the founders of the American
TheosOphical society, more about oc-
;ultism than she had ever dreamed Of.
The suit is a sequel to an amazing
transaction, almost twenty-five years
ago by the late Nizam of Hyderabad
and Jacob over the imperial diamond
low in possession Of the new Nizam.
This diamond, one of the finest in
he world and worth a fortune, was
bought for the late niZam by Jacob
when the latter was at his power in
5imla. Only part Of the money was
paid, but the diamond was never given
up.
Again and again Jacob has sought
permission to sue the nizam for the
recovery Of money owing, $1,250,000.
That permission has always been re-
fused, but at the Durbar, through tn
help Of Maj. Gen. Stuart Beatson, aide
de camp of King George, Jacobs long
standing grievance was put before the
king, who said he would see what
could be done
Lord Hardinge, VicerOy, has now
agreed to the action and when the case
comes on some names that are house
hold words, including two vicerOys Of
India, one of them Lord CurZOn, the
private, as opposed to the public life
CT vicaroys viii be given. Financed
by a friend and confident of a triumph
ant verdict, Jacob undertakes the task
with all his heart in it.
For years he has been living in
Bombay with little money, due to the
disastrous diamond transaction;
whereas he was one of the richest
men in India. Former adviser of no
less than four viceroys and confdante
Of every fashionable and beautiful
w0man-in fact uncrowned king Of
SImIa-he taught Kipling much Of
what he knew OF India He made
name and early fame for Marion Craw-
ford. who sat at his feet in Delhi
SimIa.
When at the height of his fame and
power when all SimIa was 1Ocking to
his wonderful seances and his house,
stocked with precious stones and or
naments. was the most fashionable IN
Simla, the story of the fateful imperial
diamond began
The story is a long one and per
haps the most amazing that could be
told outside of fiction 1t shows in
trigue at its height and the action of
Lord Lansdowne, who at the time was
yiceroy, inf the sale of the diamond
was remarkable,
PUT very briefly, the case which is
To be recalled in a sensational fashion
is this
Jacob was approached BY the late
Nizam of Hyderabad to purchase for
him The famous imperial diamond. then
On sale in London. Jacob obtained
tine stone and offered it to the nizam
for S1.25O.00O The nizam accepted
aud paid Jacob $250.OOO on account.
He took the stone and never paid an
other rupee.
The sale had been stopped by the
president Of Hyderabad. who acted. it
is alleged under the influence of Lord
Lansdowue, who had quarreled with
Jacob Not only did Jacob lose the
money he paid out to obtain the dta-
mond, but soon after was sued by the
nizam of Calcutta on the charge Of
cheating. The case lasted 81 days and
ate up most of Jacobs money and
drove him from Simla.
He won the case, but never received
the diamond back and never got a
rupee OF the money due him.
At last Jacob will have a chance he
has long awaited to sue the present
nizam He could not sue without the
permission Of the government of India