THE EXECUTION OF MOGUL BEG AT DELHI.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVII, Issue 1742, 19 July 1862, Page 5

THE EXECUTION OF MOGUL BEG AT DELHI.

To the Editou of the Evening Mail,

Sir,- - As the subject of the capture and fate of murderers of European ladies in India during the disastrous year 1857 cannot fail sadly to interest many of the readers of your paper, I presume to send you a few particulars regarding the apprehension, trial, aud execution of oue 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 llth of May, 1857.

It can scarcely fail to be within the recollection of all your readers that when rebellion first openly broke out at Delhi, fiendish passions which were absolutely disgraceful to humanity gained a fearful ascendency in the minds of the fanatical. Under the influence of such inhuman feelings the turbulont element of society became ungovernable, and atrocities wore then committed the recital of which will for ever darken the page of Indian nistory.

It was on the eventful llth ot May that Mr. Simon Fraser, Commissioner and Agent to the Lieutenant-Governor at Delhi ; Captain Douglas, Commandant of the Palace Guards; Mr. Hutchiuson, the Rev. Mr, Jennings, Miss Jeunings, aud Miss Clifford fell viotitns to the merciless fury of those whom they had never in auy way wronged.

I The perpetrators of such base deeds escaped for a time all punishment, and the sacred blood of our countrymen remained unexpiated. But, after mutiny ; was quelled by force, and peace re-estab-lished throughout the Indian Peninsula, Justice again appeared, firmly demanding life for life. Then began the search for those whose crimes were of such a dye as altogether to exclude them from the operation of iJer Majesty's most gracious amnesty.

Among this number, Mogul fled for lifo frum placo to place, making long journey?, with the full conviction that he was being tracked. Rewards ware being offered for his apprehension. The search went on for years, until at last he was taken at Scinde, many hundreds of miles from the scene of bis guilt. The Palace murders occurred in May, 1857. He was seized in ihe Khyrdoor gaol in November, 1861, sent down to Delhi, and commuted for trial January 27, 1862. His identity was unquestionably determined as a former inhabitant of Delhi, and a sepoy in one of the two regiments entertaimed by the King. The evidence against him was that of a trustworthy " eye-witness," 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 Jadies. He was heard triumphing that he bad done so. tie was proved to have gone, in company with others, to ask a reward from the King fyr 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 wbich had belonged to Captain Douglas, vthom he had killed afler he was seriously hurt by his fall iuto the moat. Altogether, judicial proof in such a case could not have been more perfect. The prisoner's defence was extremely weak. He endeavoured to establish aa alibi, naming four witnesses, two of whom suid 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 overwhelming and conclusive, the prisoner's own defence amounted to nothing at all. Accordingly Mogul Bog was found guilty of the wilful murder of at least four Europeans, and sentenced to be hanged in front of the Lahoregate of Delhi Palace, were, nearly five years before, his crimes had beeu' committed.

Ou the morning of the Uth of March at day-break the prisoner slowly mounted the scaffold, which was guarded by a body of moimted and foot police. He was a large powerful man, with a sinister cast of countenance, aged 35. In a few words he called upon the Mahomedans who were congregated in front of him to bear him in remembrance. The rope aud 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*uo vindictive spirit, and the sincere hope that they may not harass the feelings of auy surviving friends of those lamented ones who fell early victims in the rebelliou.

The following is an extract of the proceedings of the Judicial Commissioner of the Punjaub in the case .* —

" Sad 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 here recorded warrants us in doing) that they were mnrdered then and there in the first confusion of the outbreak. The prisoner was seen standing wilh drawn sword over their bodies.

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

Comforting indeed itis (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 lo look back upon the co-operation of the native States in bringing the criminal to justice. His Highness 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, extended 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 civial 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 oq the part of his countrymen, and the conviction in their minds that the sentence was ueet and fit for the crime. Among the crowd present at the exeoution the remark passed round, and was overheard, "Trnly this man has had bis deserts " (" Beshuk huh paia "'). I am, Sir, &p., An Eye-witness to the Execu^ion^