OCCASIONAL NOTE
Nasrullah Khan’s conviction of complicity in the savage murder of his brother the late Amir will surprise nobody who has followed his career, from the time more than twenty years ago when he undertook his ungracious pilgrimage to England in order to negotiate certain concessions which his father, Amir Abdurrahman Khan, was anxious to secure from the British Government. Nasrullah Khan impressed all those who came into contact with him on that occasion as the most churlish Oriental who had ever set foot in England. Whether his mission might have been attended with greater success if the emissary had displayed a little more courtesy is, of course, doubtful. Indeed, it has been suspected that Abdurrahman Khan selected him for this inauspicious embassage in order that the discredit of its failure might strengthen the position of Habbibullah. Such, at all events, was its effect. Nasrullah never recovered the prestige which it cost him, and his subsequent career was that of a soured and disappointed man, “willing to wound”, but, until a few weeks ago “afraid to strike.” It is not surprising to be told that his sympathies in the war were as strongly pro-German as those of his brother were pro-Entente. In view of his weak, but dangerous, character it is certainly remarkable that his life should have been spared on the present occasion, but it is possible that the life-long imprisonment to which he has been condemned is merely an Afghan euphemism.
SEQUEL TO MOTOR-CAR ACCIDENT
OORGAUM, JUNE 25
A motoring accident resulting in the death of a person quit unconnected with it occurred here last night in the following circumstances:- Mrs. Pringle of the Mysore Mine was driving home from the Balaghat mine with Mrs. John Wynne at about 8 last night when near the detective police lines she saw a cow on the road and, fearing an accident, put on the brakes suddenly with the result that the car was upset. Medical aid was immediately summoned by telephone, but Dr. Freeman on arrival found both ladies uninjured. Mrs. Belsher, wife of an AngloIndian employee of the Nundy Droog Mine, residing close by, went to see what had happened and appears to have sustained a severe shock from the effect of which she died within five minutes. She was 50 years old, having been a resident there for thirty years. She had a weak heart.
FIRE AT NEGAPATAM
MADRAS, JUNE 25
The Madras Mail’s Negapatam correspondent writes:- At about 10-30 A.M. on Sunday the watchman on duty at the railway workshops noticed smoke issuing from the roof of a carriage fitting and paint shop. An alarm was immediately given and the workshops fire brigade was soon busy. The fire was got under control at midday. The whole of the shop in question, together with the paint store, was gutted and only the bare walls are left standing. The cause of the fire is not yet known. A body of labourers numbering about 500 were employed in this shop on daily wages. Owing to the prompt action of the authorities the fire was prevented from spreading to the offices and other shops in the vicinity.
WILLINGDON COLLEGE OPENED
Sir C.H. Setalvad, Vice-Chancellor, Bombay University, yesterday opened the new Willingdon College, erected through efforts of the Deccan Education Society at Sangli in the southern Mahratta country. H.E. Lord Willingdon, who had given much sympathetic help to the project of this college, telegraphed: “Sorry cannot be present for opening of new college. I wish it all prosperity and congratulate the Deccan Education Society on the success of their efforts.” Sir Chunilal in course of a speech warmly expressing the thanks which the Society owned to Lord Willingdon, said it was fortunate this institution would be under the direction of the Deccan Education Society for that body knew from its 30 years’ experience that education did not finish in the classroom and that the end and aim of collegiate education was not merely to impart knowledge to students, but to build up character.
SERIOUS LANDSLIP IN A QUARRY
BOMBAY, JUNE 25
A serious landslip occurred at Sewree, Bombay, yesterday which resulted in seven persons, including two women, who were working in a quarry, being crushed to death. It appears that the victims were working at the bottom of the quarry, whilst their muccadum was watching them from a distance. Suddenly large stones and earth came down, killing the seven workers. After several hours’ hard work the bodies were recovered and sent to the morgue.