Page:The Life of Lokamanya Tilak.djvu/219

 sions, which were favourable to him were made considerably milder.

When Mr. Tilak's house was searched, a post-card containing the names of two books " Hand-book on Modern Explosives " and " Nitro-explosives " was found. It was quite natural and proper for the editor of a newspaper to purchase books on explosives whea the Government was contemplating legislation on the subject. *' A book is not a bomb, much less the name ot It." The Post-card, however, received undue prominence and it was put in, as one of the Exhibits by the Prosecution. To explain the Post-Card, Mr. Tilak had to put a bundle of sundry papers, by which he lost his right of reply. Finding that this right, so precious- to an accused, especially in a trial by Jury, was thus taken away, Mr. Tilak put in 71 cutting from different papers, to show how his own articles formed part of a poUtical controversy.

In his written Statement, Mr. Tilak accepted full responsibility for the incriminating articles, gave his own English renderings for some of the Marathi words occurring in the articles, quoted his views on Political Reform from his statement before the Decentralization Commission and concluded by saying that the Charge- Articles formed part of a controversy, in which he had endeavoured to maintain and defend those views. He also successfully explained the post-card. He commenced his speech on "Wednesday, July 15th, at about 4 P.M. the speech occupied full 21 hours and 10 minutes, WTiile it was being delivered, * " The Judge, Jury an(i

• From the Modern Review.