Information that comes from a city in the throes of revolt, one in which the fury of the mob is unrestrained and violence rules, usually is of questionable authenticity. This is true of Tehran today as the struggle to establish a rule of law and order after a reign of death and terror progresses.

It appears to be true, as a royalist-controlled radio reports from the beleaguered city, that the ousted Premier Mohammed Mossadegh and his wife and children have been captured. The new Premier, General Zahedi, has said that, on orders from the Shah, Mossadegh will be protected from the fury of the mob, which only a few weeks ago was his to command.

It is the purpose of the new government, according to General Zahedi, to hold the former Premier to an accountability under law for his conduct in office. He has a great deal for which he should answer, including the final debacle, which ended the lives of so many of his countrymen.

The restored royalist government will gain in strength and in the respect of the outside world if the difficult processes of adjustment are marked by moderation and even handed justice. The influence of Mohammed Mossadegh upon his country, it is true, has been evil and its fruitage has been deadly. Nevertheless, the interest of justice requires a fair and orderly procedure, not the work of a mob.