The Advent of the Promised Messiah — Page 31
31 How can I say that one cannot do without lying? Such notions are sheer absurdity. The reality is that one Moreover, they said that acquittal could be secured with two or three false witnesses, otherwise the case was a difficult one, with no hope of escape. I told them all categorically that I would not swerve an inch from the truth, come what may. On the very same day or maybe a day after, I appeared in the court of an English magistrate and a superintendent of the post offices appeared as the plaintiff on behalf of the government. The magistrate proceeded to record my statement. The very first question he asked me was, ‘Did you put this letter in the packet and were the letter and packet dispatched by you?’ I answered without any hesitation whatsoever, ‘This is my letter and this is my packet. I myself placed the letter in the packet when I sent it, but I did not do this with any ill-intent to cause loss of revenue to the government. I did not consider the letter distinct and separate from the article enclosed in the packet, nor did the letter contain any personal matter. ’ On hearing this, God Almighty inclined the heart of the magistrate towards me. The superintendent of post offices created an uproar against me, and made long speeches in English, which I could not follow, except that each time he made a point, the magistrate would reject it saying , ‘No, no. ’ When the superintendent concluded his submission and finished venting his anger, the magistrate turned to write his verdict. After writing a line or two, he said, ‘Alright, you may leave. ’ Hearing this, I came out of the court room thanking my truly benevolent God, Who had upheld me in opposition to an English officer. I know full well that on this occasion, God Almighty delivered me from this misfortune due to the blessings of truthfulness. Before this case, I had seen in a dream that a man stretched forth his hand to take off my cap, whereupon I said, ‘What are you doing?’ At this, he left the cap on my head and