INDIAN PALACE SECRETS

Hokitika Guardian, 21 May 1925, Page 4

INDIAN PALACE SECRETS

Al DAIT aZ BlvG CM and her CHILI). LONDON. April ‘2O. ‘CM unit a* Begum was anxious in escape from the palace oi Indore, not because she wanted to leave the .Maharajah, hut because she wanted to take away l lie Indore jewellery.’’ This was the suggestion of counsel

for the defence during the re-examin-ation of Mumtaz Begum. the 22-yea rold Mohammedan girl, lormerly the Maharajah's mist l ess, with whose attempted abduction, and murder of

Abdul Kader Bawla, it Bombay merchant. nine natives of Indore Stale

! are being charged at the High Court. I Begum, Bavin (her protector). and ! another Indian were attacked when ■ motoring on Malabo!) Mill. Bombay, j in January, all being wounded. Bawla fatally. The abduction was fruslaicd 1 hy the intervention of four British officers. Mumtaz Begum staled that while ' in Bombay, on hearing that the Maharajah contemplated the issue ot a , warrant against her. she requested I Bawla to consult a lawyer. | The young woman later startled the , court room hy stating that a female j child which had K en horn to her was murdered hy the nurse. Counsel for the defence asked per-mi-sion to cross-examine Begum on j the allegation that the child was i murdered, llis case was that the child was stili-horn. j Counsel fur the prosecution replied that he put the question only to indicate Begum’s state of mind. Mumtaz Begum, continuing, said she implored Bawla in November. 1924. to protect her against an extradition Warrant from Indore issued on a false charge that she had taken away jewellery from the palace. Begum said she would rather commit suicide than be taken to India o. | because there she would he done to death. j Begum was then allowed to leave the witness-box after her three day s ordeal, which she had stood remavsably well.