Lord Northbrook has terminated the reign of Mulharrao, the Guicowar
of Baroda. An investigation, conducted by Sir Lewis Pelly and Mr. Soutar, Superintendent of Police in Bombay, showed grounds for suspecting that the Guicowar was implicated in the attempt to poison Colonel Phayre, and it became necessary, therefore, to suspend his authority. He was arrested in his own palace and conveyed to the Residency, where he is surrounded by a European guard. He will, it is stated, be publicly tried by a Commission, of which the Chief Justice of Bengal will be the head, a proceeding for which there is, we believe, only one pre- cedent,—the trial of the Emperor of Delhi. Lord Northbrook would never have sanctioned such a trial without strong evidence, and it is most unlikely that Mulharrao will be restored. The country is to be administered for the present by Sir Lewis Pelly, and when the trial is over will be entrusted to a Commissioner. as trustee for the Guicowar's son, who has already been acknow- ledged as heir by the paramount Power. Troops have been ordered to hold themselves in readiness, and the friends of the deposed Prince may try the experiment of insurrection. That is, however, improbable, unless the Guicowar escapes. On January 14 all was quiet at Baroda.
Previous page
