Mr. Cowan, a Deputy Commissioner in the Loodiana district, has
suppressed the Kooks revolt with great decision, unusual gallantry, and a total contempt for justice. Three hundred of the fanatics under Ram Singh attacked the petty fort of Malod, a place of four guns, situated in a little native state on the border of Puttiala. Mr. Cowan hearing of the occurrence, put himself at the head of 80 police and 30 armed guards, rode to Malod, charged the insurgents, killed 66, and so defeated the remainder that 29 of them submitted to 4 men. There the matter might have rested, but Mr. Cowan, a man trained we are told by General Nicholson, blew 49 prisoners untried from the cannon, and then asked his Com- missioner, Mr. Forsyth, for orders. Mr. Forsyth ordered trials,
but " sanctioned " the execution of 16 more, after some kind of trial which must have been very rapid. There may, of course, be error in the telegrams or explanations of which we know nothing, but as we have explained elsewhere, massacres of this sort are prima fade incapable of justification except upon arguments which would justify the wholesale execution of the members of the International. 'They are preaching a faith, too, which is highly inconvenient to orderly society. The Government has ordered the suspension of Mr. Cowan pending inquiry.
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