Historical Figures

12. Vallabhbhai got the drunken English magistrate to write a verdict in favor of the innocent goldsmith

The goldsmith was accused of having entered a woman's house with the intention of adultery. The goldsmith was sure to be punished on the basis of false witnesses. The goldsmith made Vallabhbhai his lawyer. The false witnesses of the plaintiff were so strong that it was not possible to cut their point.

Therefore Vallabhbhai adopted another way to save the goldsmith. In the court in which this case was held, the English magistrate of that court used to come to the court after drinking alcohol and used to sleep while sitting in the chamber. His assistant used to hear the cases. Even when the goldsmith's case was heard, the magistrate's assistant began to hear the arguments of the case. To this Patel said that only the Magistrate has the right to hear the case.

On this the magistrate came out of his chamber and came to the court. The magistrate was drunk and could understand only half the words. This is what Vallabhbhai wanted, he told the magistrate that when such things happen in our backward and conservative society, it is considered a bad thing but it is not a crime in your advanced and modern society. The English magistrate was pleased to hear the praise of his society.

It was easily understood to him that the defendant's lawyer was praising the British. He also understood that what is not bad in the British, why should it be bad in the Indians. He left the goldsmith. The magistrate's assistant and the plaintiff's lawyer put in full force, but the intoxicated magistrate kept saying that what is not a crime for the British, how is it a crime for the Indians!